January 2020 SEDC Newsletter

Top Story

NISD gifted large tech machinery, funds to store it

Through an anonymous donation, Navarro High School is slated to receive high-tech machinery that will broaden the horizons of its engineering and manufacturing students.

The Navarro Independent School District’s board of trustees unanimously accepted the donation of an Odysseus saw and an Atlas Robot along with $24,000 for storage rent of the equipment during Monday’s regular board meeting. The motion was made by trustee Hank Dietert and seconded by trustee Tracy Large.

Navarro ISD Superintendent Dee Carter advocated for the acquisition of the equipment. However, she admitted that many factors come with its procurement. Read more.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

MORE NEWS

Texas Economic Indicators

The Texas economy continues to grow at a healthy pace. Job growth ticked up in November, and the October growth rate was revised up. The unemployment rate remained at a record low, indicating continued tightness in the labor market. The Texas Business-Cycle Index rose, and firms responding to the Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey reported increased production on net. Texas crude oil production grew through mid-December, while Texas exports fell in October. Read more.

Texas Employment Forecast

Incorporating November job growth of 4.0 percent and a pickup in the leading index, the Texas Employment Forecast suggests jobs will grow 1.9 percent this year (December/December), with an 80 percent confidence band of 1.6 to 2.2 percent. Based on the forecast, 243,500 jobs will be added in the state this year, and employment in December 2019 will be 12.9 million. Read more.

Texas is the No. One State for Population

Growth in 2019

Texas had the largest numeric population growth in the nation in the last year, according to estimates recently released by the U.S. Census Bureau . The number of people in the Lone Star State grew by 367,000 from mid-2018 to mid-2019. Read more.

Texas is Business Facilities'

2019 State of the Year

TINTON FALLS, NJ – Texas has been named Business Facilities’ 2019 State of the Year, becoming the first state to win BF’s top honor for the fourth time. The Lone Star State won the magazine’s inaugural SOTY designation in 2007; Texas also was BF’s State of the Year winner in 2012 and 2016. Read more.

Home Sales Continue to Climb

into the Holidays

San Antonio home sales continue to climb into the holidays with November's numbers toppling last year. The San Antonio Board of Realtors reported that 2,448 homes sold in November — up 2% over the November 2018 total of 2,407, according to the Multiple Listings Service report. Read More.

Business Bootcamp Aims at Building

up Women Entrepreneurs

Management at Workforce Solutions Alamo is looking for a few good women. The regional branch of the statewide service agency plans to host a series of seminars aimed at women who have already started their own businesses or are looking to began one. Sparked by a grant from the Texas Workforce Commission, the seminars will be grouped together as a “Women’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp” and comprise a virtual participation aspect for people in different areas to attend, said Tiffany Harris, Workforce Solutions Alamo business engagement manager. Read more.