Business & Economic Development Presentation

EMC Strategy Group, LLC Established January 2015 Family business, woman owned, veteran led The name: Ernie (E), Mitch (M), Cristiana (C) Registered through the Texas Secretary of State, Texas Ethics Commission, and U.S. Congress Provide Professional Lobbying Services in Austin and Washington, D.C. Provide Business & Economic Development Services Provide Marketing & Communication Services Current Partner Cities are Eagle Pass, and San Diego Past clients: Cities of Brownsville, Falfurrias, and Freer

EMC Leadership has proven experience…. Policy and issue experience: Advocacy for local city projects City, County, State and Federal Government Executive, Legislative and Judicial Business & Economic Development Transportation & Infrastructure Border Security & Public Safety Grand & Project Management

Janice M. Gonzalez, Business & Economic Development Consultant Owner & Founder, EMC Strategy Group, LLC, San Antonio, TX Federal lobbyist Business & Economic Development Director, El Paso Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, J & E Government Relations Consultants, Washington, DC Public Relations Director, Harlingen Family Dentistry, Harlingen, TX City Secretary, Brownsville, TX Assistant Chief of Staff, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC Human Relations Director, Lopez Supermarkets, Brownsville, TX

Ernie Gonzalez, Jr., Government Relations Consultant President & CEO, EMC Strategy Group, LLC, San Antonio, TX State and Federal lobbyist Chief Operating Officer, Boy Scouts of America, San Antonio, TX, El Paso, TX and Rio Grande Valley, TX Government Relations & Development Director, Boy Scouts, Washington, DC Public Policy Director, J & E Government Relations Consultants, Washington, DC Special Projects & Grants Director, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC Public Relations Director, Boy Scouts of America, Rio Grande Valley, TX Deputy District Clerk In-Charge of Juries, Cameron County, Brownsville, TX Government Relations Intern, City Manager’s Office, Brownsville, TX

EMC clients….Business, Education, Government, Healthcare, Veterans and Youth.

EMC municipal services… Business & Economic Development Support local businesses Seek government funding opportunities to support local business Conduct awareness campaigns to promote initiatives through social media, website and local newspaper Conduct business workshops and mentorship Government Relations Form collaborative efforts to advocate community’s top priorities Determine State and Federal funding eligibility Federal and State Government Outreach Conduct Legislative Days in Austin and Washington, DC Represent city at key statewide meetings (Council of Governments, Ports to Plains, TEX-21, Eagle Ford Consortium) Marketing & Communications (Media relations and social media) Website and social media development and management Positive Public Relations Crisis Management

Determining your local needs Research community opportunities Engage business community Conduct listening sessions and focus groups Department government relations workshop Develop action plans and strategies to address business & economic development priorities Draft legislative priorities Begin action plans and advocate

Goliad, TX (source www.statsamerica.org) Population 2,111 (2015) 786 households 985 total housing units 920 labor workforce 7.6% unemployment Median Household Income $46,548 Median Family Income $57,056 Poverty Rate 18.1% Regional Economic Growth Rate 1% Median Age 39

Access to State & Federal Resources USDA Office of Rural Development Governor’s Office on Economic Development Texas Department of Agriculture - CDBG Economic Development Administration Texas Workforce Commission Texas Department of Transportation

Our Partners

Prepared by EMC Strategy Group, LLC Business & Economic Development: Best Practices, Hybrid, Local, Regional and Evolving EDC Brand Protection Economic Development Board Training EDC Organizational Opportunities (Standing Committees) EDC Collaborative Opportunities Identify Industry Opportunities Identify Local Business Needs Promote P3s (Private, Public, Partnerships) Outreach to Industry Groups and Unions Prepared by EMC Strategy Group, LLC

Collaborative Efforts Work with local, state and federal agencies to support business & economic development needs: Goliad County Goliad Independent School district Victoria College/University of Houston Coastal Bend College Golden Crescent Regional Planning Commission (COG) Workforce Solutions Golden Crescent Eagle Ford Consortium Prepared by EMC Strategy Group, LLC

Suggested EDC committees City/County Intergovernmental Committee Labor Workforce Training (LWT) Business Industry & Government Relations Transportation & Infrastructure Amenities, Marketing & Tourism Energy & Natural Resources (5-7 people per committee) Prepared by EMC Strategy Group, LLC

Business & Economic Development Recruitment and retention Mentorship Complete business start-up services Access to funding opportunities Business certification assistance Public Private Partnerships P3s Procurement training Marketing Annual Business Awards Reception

Business Economic Development Committee 65 business & community leaders Collaborative efforts Committee Development Ten standing sub-committees

State and Federal Outreach U.S. Senator Ted Cruz Senator Chuy Hinojosa Congressman Henry Cuellar Texas Land Commissioner George Bush Erica Garza, Assist AG Commissioner USDA Regional Director Roel Gomez Representative J.M. Lozano Commissioner Julian Alvarez TWC

Austin Legislative Days City of Freer/San Diego Capitol Days –March 7 & 8 City delegation met with 12 legislative offices. Meetings targeted republicans and democrats for a bi-partisan approach. Delegation presented city’s priorities: Municipal Airport, Infrastructure, Business & Economic Development, Public Safety and Quality of Life. Meetings included committee chairs and co-chairs for: Business & Industry, Small Business, Homeland Security and Transportation.

State Legislative Advocacy Police Chiefs (Falfurrias, Freer, San Diego) testified before Homeland Security Committee. Police Chiefs participate in first “Tri-City Public Safety Legislative Day” at Capitol. Representative Agrees to file legislative to support targeted funding for small cities. EMC testified before Senate Business & Economic Development Committee. EMC presented testimony relating to Public Safety, Transportation, Small Business and Business & Industry during 85th legislative session and Special Session

Washington Legislative Days City of Eagle Pass Washington Days – May 15-18. City delegation met with 16 legislative offices and 2 executive branch offices. Meetings targeted republicans and democrats in a bi-partisan approach. Delegation presented city’s priorities: Municipal Airport, Infrastructure, Business & Economic Development, Public Safety and Quality of Life. Meetings included committee chairs and co-chairs for: Business & Industry, Small Business, Homeland Security and Transportation, and the Texas Border Caucus.

Recent Successes Sgt. Wade Wilson Memorial Highway (Highway 45 in Centerville) TXDOT Chief Engineer Visit TWC Commissioner Visit Two Career Fairs Two Procurement Workshops Advocated for Freer and San Diego ISD to obtain Texas Workforce Commission Skills Development Training Grant 10 million in Homeland Security and Public Safety for small cities Congressional Office in San Diego Bag Ban Bill stopped Eagle Pass Business & Economic Development Initiative Public Safety Grants for police vehicles, personnel, communications equipment, and overtime $139,000 for San Diego TXDOT Aviation Grant $100,000 for Freer

Accountability & Transparency… Constant communication Weekly city leadership update Present to city council as directed Prepare monthly newsletter for city Texas Ethics Commission U.S. Congress

Thank you! Experience Benefits Next step Proven Business & Economic Development success Experience in city, county, state and federal government Judicial, Legislative and Executive experience State and Federal Government Outreach Constant Presence in Austin Represent City in Statewide Meetings Most Competitive Government Relations and Business & Economic Development Services in Texas Agreement Begin scope of services Experience Benefits Next step