On April 1, 2016, TIP senior consultant Alex Cooke attended a luncheon hosted by the Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Council to celebrate the community’s successful implementation of its economic development strategic plan. Located just 30 miles south of Dallas on IH-35, Waxahachie is a vibrant, tight-knit community that is rapidly emerging as a destination for new investment and talent within the southern DFW Metroplex.

Jon Roberts and Alex Cooke worked closely with the City of Waxahachie, the Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce, and the Economic Development Council to craft the plan, which was finalized in March 2012. The plan offered strategies to diversify Waxahachie’s economic base, to improve its image along IH-35, to become a regional center for health care and higher education, to serve as an alternative to northern Metroplex cities for high-level investment and jobs, and to enhance the community’s authentic downtown and overall quality of place.

To guide the implementation of the plan, community partners organized five task forces, each responsible for leading the execution of the plan’s strategic goals. These task forces included medical, education, marketing and image, downtown revitalization, and land development. Waxahachie Mayor, Kevin Strength, credits the plan’s successful implementation with almost $500 million in new community investments. These investments include the Baylor Scott & White Medical Center ($180 million), a new high school ($125 million), and a highway beautification/expansion project ($175 million). Congratulations to the leaders, businesses, and citizens of Waxahachie for all of your efforts and achievements.