Grow Waco
Whether expanding, relocating or launching a new venture, the Greater Waco Chamber team of experienced economic development professionals has the resources and contacts to help you obtain the information you need to make a confident decision about choosing the Greater Waco region. The team is dedicated to carrying out the Chamber’s mission “to enhance Greater Waco as a center of excellence and the community of choice for business.”
The economic development team is the primary point of contact for clients and consultants evaluating the Greater Waco area for new and expanding investments. They serve clients throughout the development process in site selection, incentive negotiations and project management. Their knowledgeable team acts as your community liaison, connecting your company to myriad facts and resources, including:
Community Tours
Site Selection Analysis
Real Estate Market Search
Custom Research
Development Proposals
Local, State and Federal Incentive negotiations
Access to Government Officials and Local Business leaders
Labor Market Analysis
Training Partnerships
Recruitment Assistance
Permitting Assistance
Site Development & Utilities
Market Research
The Chamber economic development team develops and maintains demographic, business, workforce and development publications for Waco MSA and the 18 cities within its jurisdiction. They also produce custom research as a resource for the community and for companies considering expansion in the Greater Waco area. Click here to create your own Custom Report.
Real Estate
The Chamber economic development team assists the local commercial real estate community by keeping an ongoing database of available buildings and sites, marketing the properties directly and through the Chamber website. They lead the asset development and management of the Waco Industrial Foundation 1,800-acre portfolio at the Texas Central Park and Waco International Aviation Park at Texas State Technical College Airport.
Target Industries
The Chamber’s Strategic Economic Development Plan identifies five target industries that have the highest probability of sustained success for building a stronger economy in Greater Waco: Aerospace and Defense, Advanced Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, Health Care and Professional and Financial Services.
Business Retention and Expansion
The Chamber economic development team leads an active local industry on-site visit program to more than 100 area employers each year. The business retention and expansion manager is the “customer service” representative for Greater Waco-area businesses and works with a team of Chamber volunteers, staff and elected local officials to meet with business managers, tour facilities and assist with issues large and small to ensure the health of the local tax base and employment. The program has developed a thorough database of local business issues for community improvement and attracting new business to the Greater Waco area.
E-Synchronist Business Retention and Expansion database reports the information and opportunities collected in the more than 100 on-site visitations with businesses throughout McLennan County. The Chamber team analyzes key reports on a regular basis and can keep businesses and public properties informed about opportunities or challenges in our region.
If you are seeking information about business climate issues, please contact our economic development team to see if they have the information you need. Public partners throughout the region can request “template” forms to assist in establishing focused communications with area businesses.
The Grow Waco campaign is about growing the Waco economy. This is job No. 1. To grow Waco, the Greater Waco Chamber works to attract, retain, expand and develop business activity in Greater Waco. The four areas of activities are elaborated below:
Attract
Working to recruit new businesses from five target industries (aerospace and defense, manufacturing, finance and professional services, healthcare and supply chain management).
Retain
Supporting existing businesses via public policy initiatives, advocacy, outreach, networking and strategic alliances throughout Central Texas.
History of Success
Greater Waco has a history of successfully supporting projects, from the earliest stages of site selection through incentive negotiations, to project announcement. Once located here, our local cities and McLennan County have demonstrated a commitment to provide ongoing, aggressive support for the expansion of existing businesses. Since 2006 to YE 2018, our team has supported 45 new attraction projects and 74 expansion projects creating nearly 9,000 new jobs and securing more than $1.5 billion in new capital investment for the Greater Waco community. Chamber staff is available to assist and facilitate all incentive applications and contracts, both locally and through the State of Texas.
Expand
Working to enhance market intelligence for existing local companies, developing workforce and linkages to help businesses grow.
Develop
Advancing opportunities for entrepreneurship, the Greater Waco Chamber aspires to develop the Greater Waco area as a hub for start-up activity. Outstanding resources are in place for the Chamber and its partners to continue working together to pull these entrepreneurs into a seamless next level entrepreneurial ecosystem.