1. Business & Economic Development Presentation

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Our Partners

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

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

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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

20. Washington Legislative Days
City of Eagle Pass Washington Days – May
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.

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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