Tyler Economic Development Council, Texas
Tyler Vision 2010
The Challenge
Tyler Vision 2010 is an extension of a communitywide visioning process begun by the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and the Tyler Economic Development Council in 1994 and repeated in 1999. The goal for this planning initiative was to produce a list of priority strategies or projects that business and community leaders in Tyler felt would be the most feasible to accomplish during the next five years but will have the greatest positive impact on Tyler’s business climate over the next ten to fifteen years.
The Approach
Members of the Tyler Vision 2010 task force met four times over a four-month period beginning in September 2004. The task force was comprised of the steering committee, whose members represent a broad cross-section of community organizations, as well as over 100 other key business and community leaders from throughout Tyler. At the outset of the process task force members were divided into strategy teams that corresponded with each of the five goal areas. These teams discussed and documented Tyler’s challenges in each goal area and crafted a listing of potential strategies or projects to enhance the city’s position within each.
The Outcome
The Tyler Visioning process has proven highly successful at identifying projects that have had a positive impact on Tyler. The new airport terminal, Loop 49 construction, passage of the half-cent sales tax for community infrastructure, the establishment of The University of Texas at Tyler as a four-year campus with an engineering school, and the construction of the Skills Training Center on the Tyler Junior College-West Campus are just a few examples of projects that were initiated or enhanced by the visioning process. Projects identified during the recent exercise include conducting a downtown master plan, enhancing a bioscience strategy, and pursuing a new arena and convention center.
Mr. Tom Mullins President & CEO Tyler Economic Development Council 315 North Broadway Ave. 3rd Floor Tyler, TX 75702 903.593.2004 tgm@tedc.org
