Wednesday, September 24, 1997
DCOA renews contracts with four organizations
By ANTHONY WILSON / Abilene Reporter-News
Development Corporation of Abilene board members approved spending
$1.5 million Tuesday to strengthen Dyess' standing in the Air
Force, lure industry and run the city's business incubator.
In the past year, the DCOA spent $1.38 million on the same
four contracts with the Abilene Industrial Foundation, the Caruth
Small Business Development Center, the city and the Abilene Regional
Business and Education Center, and the Military Affairs Committee.
City leaders deemed the financial return worthy of the seven-figure
investment.
"It's a lot of money," DCOA board chairman Tucker
Bridwell said. "It's clear to me that cities that can fund
economic development with a half-cent sales tax are the cities
landing projects. It'd be difficult to compete without it."
Two of the four contracts relate to bolstering Dyess Air Force
Base's position in the armed forces.
DCOA board members approved $25,000 in expenses for the Chamber
of Commerce's Military Affairs Committee. The money will fund
community leaders' travel to Washington, D.C., to lobby government
and military officials on Dyess' behalf.
The $762,225 contract with the Abilene Industrial Foundation
includes $200,150 for two consulting firms who work not only to
protect Dyess from downsizing, but also to pursue growth and "super
base" status.
At last month's meeting, the lobbyists assured board members
of strides made in securing more B-1 bombers and C-130 transport
planes for Dyess, a B-1 engine maintenance facility, funding for
B-1 upgrades to conventional weaponry, and nearly $60 million
in base construction.
The lobbyists also are monitoring the possibility of adding
an Air Reserve unit and other aircraft at Dyess.
"The Air Force is going to continue to downsize,"
consultant Barry Berkoff told the board. "We see Dyess as
a receiver. It can handle one more full-blown mission. We can
enhance Dyess' future and the economic impact it has on Abilene."
Economic Development Director John Breier, a retired Army officer,
added: "That's why Dyess is alive, well and growing."
The lobbying is coordinated by the industrial foundation, which
is headed by former Dyess commander Bill Ehrie.
"Don't look at it in a 1997 time frame," Ehrie said
of the expense. "We're making an investment for the future."
The balance of the AIF's contract involves $387,075 in operating
costs and $175,000 for the implementation of its marketing plan,
though the latter expense could be lower. The foundation expects
to refund about $30,000 to the DCOA this year.
The AIF, an arm of the Chamber of Commerce, promotes and markets
the community to target industries through advertising.
Breier, a former foundation executive, noted Zoltek's recent
arrival is due in large measure to the AIF.
"The process of the Abilene Industrial Foundation doing
the recruiting and marketing is absolutely essential," he
said. "If you pull them out, the whole process doesn't work
as well."
The contract for the city's economic development department
and the regional business and education center totalled $602,815.
Its nearly $100,000 increase is related mostly to Breier's addition
to the staff.
ARBEC, the city's business incubator, provides professional,
technical and financial programs to assist new or expanding businesses.
The DCOA board also approved $110,000 for the Small Business
Development Center. The money will fund counseling services for
local business owners and will leverage other government funding
for the program.
The counseling touches on business plans, record keeping, market
feasibility, inventory control and accounting procedures.
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Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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