Waller County economic development leader explains how jobs, tax base build sustainable communities – Covering Katy News

Report on Waller County’s Economic Development Strategy and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Economic Development as a Catalyst for Sustainable Communities

An analysis of Waller County’s economic development strategy, as articulated by Vince Yokom, Executive Director of the Waller County Economic Development Partnership (WCEDP), reveals a framework deeply aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The county’s approach prioritizes quality economic growth to fund essential public services and infrastructure, directly supporting the creation of resilient and sustainable communities. This strategy is centered on achieving long-term prosperity by fostering local employment and managing growth effectively, reflecting the core principles of several key SDGs.

Core Pillars of Economic Development and SDG Integration

The economic development model for Waller County is built upon two foundational components that are essential for achieving sustainable growth and community well-being.

• Capital Investment: This pillar focuses on attracting investment in physical improvements and business assets. This directly contributes to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) by enhancing the local infrastructure and building a resilient industrial base. The resulting increase in taxable value provides critical funding for public services, a cornerstone of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
• Quality Job Creation: The second pillar is the creation of local employment opportunities. This initiative is a direct implementation of SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). By enabling residents to work closer to home, the strategy reduces commute times, lowers fuel costs, and improves overall quality of life, further supporting the objectives of SDG 11.

Strategic Objectives for Sustainable Growth

Fostering Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8)

The primary objective is to cultivate a robust local economy where residents have access to quality jobs. A strong local job market is presented as the foundation for a high quality of life. This approach not only provides financial stability for individuals but also strengthens the community’s economic fabric, preventing the decline seen in “ghost towns” where investment and employment have departed.

Building Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11)

Economic development is positioned as a critical tool for ensuring community longevity and sustainability. By actively guiding investment and growth, local governments can prevent economic stagnation and ensure the community remains viable for future generations. A strong industrial tax base helps reduce the financial burden on residential taxpayers, contributing to a more equitable and sustainable municipal funding model.

Leveraging Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

The operational structure of economic development in the region highlights the importance of collaboration. The choice of an economic development organization (EDO) model is a key strategic decision that influences how these goals are pursued. The emphasis on public-private partnerships exemplifies the principles of SDG 17, which advocates for multi-stakeholder collaborations to achieve sustainable development.

Operational Models for Economic Development Organizations (EDOs) in Texas

Texas law provides for two primary structures for EDOs, each with distinct funding mechanisms and operational scopes.

1. Sales Tax-Funded Economic Development Corporations (EDCs)

   These entities are funded by a dedicated portion of local sales tax revenue. They are established as either Type A or Type B corporations, with Type B corporations generally having a broader mandate that can include infrastructure projects and community beautification, aligning with SDG 9 and SDG 11. These organizations operate as quasi-governmental bodies with public oversight.

2. Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)

   This model, utilized by Waller County, operates through contractual agreements between a non-profit organization and a government entity. It aligns directly with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by leveraging private sector funding and expertise for public benefit. This structure offers greater operational flexibility and allows for broader community and business involvement in shaping economic strategy.

The Waller County Model: A Commitment to SDG 17

The Waller County Economic Development Partnership (WCEDP) exemplifies the public-private partnership model. It operates via a contract with the county and is supported by private funding from member organizations. This structure allows the WCEDP to pursue economic growth without relying on sales tax revenue.

Advantages of the Public-Private Model:

• Enhanced Flexibility: The PPP model allows for a wider range of activities and a more agile response to economic opportunities compared to more rigid governmental structures.
• Leveraging Private Resources: It effectively channels private investment and resources toward achieving public goods, such as job creation and infrastructure development, a core tenet of SDG 17.
• Broad-Based Involvement: This model facilitates greater participation from a diverse base of local stakeholders, ensuring that development strategies reflect the community’s comprehensive needs.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article’s primary focus is on economic development as a means to create “quality employment opportunities” and “more jobs in the community.” It emphasizes that a good quality of life starts with a good job, directly aligning with the goal of promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

  The text explicitly links economic development to funding for “road maintenance and infrastructure improvements.” It discusses how capital investment in physical improvements and a robust industrial tax base are essential for building and maintaining the infrastructure necessary for a growing population, which connects to the goal of building resilient infrastructure and promoting sustainable industrialization.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The concept of “sustainable communities” is a recurring theme. The article argues that economic development is crucial to prevent community decline (avoiding “ghost towns”) and to sustain communities by adding new value and jobs. It also touches on the importance of local government planning to “guide the growth,” which relates to making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article provides a detailed explanation of different structures for economic development organizations, specifically highlighting the “public-private partnership” model used by Waller County. This model, which uses “private dollars for a public good” and involves a contractual relationship between the county and a non-profit corporation, is a direct example of the multi-stakeholder partnerships promoted by SDG 17 to achieve sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation. The entire article advocates for economic development programs as a policy to create jobs and build local economies.
   • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value. The article’s emphasis on creating “quality jobs” and “more opportunity for citizens to work locally” directly supports this target.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being. The article states that revenue from economic development is needed to fund “road maintenance and infrastructure improvements.”
   • Target 9.2: Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization. The call for a “strong industrial tax base” to provide both revenue and jobs aligns with this target.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.3: By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries. The article discusses giving “local government a seat at the table” to “plan to guide the growth,” reflecting the principles of sustainable planning and management.
   • Target 11.a: Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning. The Waller County Economic Development Partnership serves multiple communities, demonstrating a regional approach to development planning.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships. The article explicitly details the structure and benefits of the “public-private partnership EDO” in Waller County, showcasing it as an effective model.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

   • Number of local jobs created: Implied by the phrase “More jobs in the community means more opportunity for citizens to work locally.”
   • Reduction in commute times: Mentioned directly as a benefit of working locally, which “enhances the quality of life because you don’t have to spend hours in a car.”

2. For SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)

   • Amount of capital investment: The article identifies “capital investment that builds the tax base” as a key component of developing economies.
   • Growth in taxable value: Mentioned as a direct outcome of business investment (“companies invest in the community by adding taxable value”).

3. For SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)

   • Strength of the industrial tax base: The article refers to a “strong industrial tax base” as a building block of a sustainable community.
   • Ratio of industrial to residential tax burden: Implied by the statement that a strong industrial tax base can “help reduce the tax burden on citizens.”

4. For SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

   • Amount of private funding leveraged for public good: The article highlights that in a public-private partnership, “private funding helps to benefit the local community without using sales tax revenue.”
   • Number and effectiveness of public-private partnerships: The existence and operation of the Waller County Economic Development Partnership itself serves as an indicator of this type of collaboration.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: coveringkaty.com