Schertz Economic Development Corporation (TX) – Comprehensive Economic Development Strategic Plan

Challenge

Situated along the I-35 and I-10 corridors between San Antonio and Austin, the City of Schertz, Texas, benefits from a premier location in a rapidly growing metropolitan region. As one of the largest suburban communities in the San Antonio area, Schertz has significantly expanded its industrial footprint—adding over 10 million square feet of space between 2023 and 2025—to offset the tax burden on residents. However, this rapid expansion has also brought distinct challenges, including heavy dependence on warehousing and infrastructure constraints.

Response

Recognizing the importance of diversifying the economic base and securing long-term tax revenue without sacrificing the community’s quality of place, the Schertz Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), the city’s Type B entity, engaged TIP in early 2026 to develop the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategic Plan (CEDS). The process paired quantitative research, delivered via an interactive data visualization analyzing regional economic trends and comparing Schertz to peer communities, with input from over 50 community stakeholders and a project advisory committee. This qualitative and analytical baseline informed a robust SWOT analysis, aligning the strategic plan directly with the 2024 City of Schertz Comprehensive Plan and local capital improvement priorities. The resulting framework centered on three strategic goals: (1) business attraction and retention, (2) talent and workforce development, and (3) quality of place. The CEDS established clear strategies to prepare shovel-ready sites, coordinate workforce pipelines with higher education partners, and drive retail and mixed-use redevelopment throughout key corridors. Alongside the public CEDS framework, TIP delivered an internal marketing plan and a detailed implementation matrix outlining staffing capacity, performance metrics, and partner responsibilities. By equipping the SEDC to lead proactive business recruitment and tell a unified story of stability and growth, the planning process has positioned Schertz to move from strategy to execution, ensuring long-term competitiveness and sustainable economic prosperity.