FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Melanie Appelt, Administrator
Columbus Community Industrial Development Corporation
Phone: 979/732-8282
FAX: 979/732-5813
E-Mail: ccidc@columbustexas.net
March 2007
Columbus
Community Industrial Development
Awards Grant Funds
Columbus, Texas - The Columbus Community and
Industrial Development Corporation (CCIDC) recently selected recipients
of its community grant funds sponsorship program. They are:
-
Live Oak Dance Center - Signage
-
Columbus Ball Park - Renovations (construction of
a backstop)
-
Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau -
Information kiosks, information racks, improvements on community
information sign, banners
-
Columbus Little League - Pitching screens, astro
turf, sun screen, sprinkler system and batter box templates
-
Veterans Memorial Center Building - Building
restoration
-
Live Oak Art Center - Restoration of
Brunson Building
-
Columbus Garden Club- Downtown beautification
projects (planters, benches, banners, signage)
Eligible activities for receipt of these
funds are outlined in the proposition section of City Ordinance
No.12-95. A summary of the eligible uses for these funds may be
described as being for the promotion and development of new or expanded
enterprise These include parks, buildings, equipment, facilities, and
other improvements required or suited for amateur sports; athletic,
entertainment, tourist, convention and public park facilities, including
stadiums, ballparks, auditoriums, amphitheaters, concert halls, library/
learning centers, municipal buildings, museum facilities, parking and
transportation facilities; and maintenance or operating costs associated
with the above projects. Other projects not listed in this summary
may also be eligible.
The CCIDC board administers the city’s
half-cent 4-B sales tax revenues- approved by voters in 1995- for
economic and community development. “Community Grant Funds
available for eligible organizations or projects are for the current
CCIDC fiscal year ending September 30, 2007,” says Chuck Rankin, CCIDC
Board President. CCIDC is not obligated to award funds for any eligible
project and reserves the right to reject any or all applications.
The next grant process is scheduled to begin Fall 2007.
For questions or information about Community
Grant Funds, call CCIDC at 979-732-8282, or speak with any CCIDC board
member.
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Melanie Appelt, Administrator
Columbus Community Industrial Development Corporation
Phone: 979/732-8282
FAX: 979/732-5813
E-Mail: ccidc@columbustexas.net
August 2006
Columbus
Community Industrial Development Corporation
Unveils Strategic Plan
COLUMBUS,
TX
–
After considerable research, meetings and discussions, the Columbus
Community Industrial Development Corporation (CCIDC) is ready to unveil
a strategic plan for ensuring a prosperous economic future for the
community and its residents.
By leveraging the City’s existing strengths and
taking advantage of key opportunities, the CCIDC aims to create a vital,
diverse economy that includes retail, restaurants, other commercial
establishments, and industry. “Growth is coming,” states Board President
Chuck Rankin. “Our job is to shape the direction of the change that is
taking place and make sure that it provides the best economic benefit
possible to the community.”
Funded with revenue generated by the 4B sales
tax, the CCIDC is tasked by the City of Columbus to maintain, manage and
recruit businesses into Texas Crossroads Business Park and lead the
City’s business retention, expansion, and attraction efforts.
Historically, the 4B sales tax has been used to
recruit employers that will create a large number of jobs, however, in
2005, HB 2928 gave rural communities the flexibility to use 4B sales tax
funds to also attract and support retail development. “We are very
excited about the possibility that CCIDC can now help in recruiting and
retaining a broad range of businesses,” says CCIDC Administrator Tonya
Britton.
As the cornerstone of its new strategic plan,
the CCIDC has adopted a mission statement, which is: “To promote,
encourage and enhance the creation of jobs and expansion of the local
tax base through projects which assist in the retention and expansion of
primary employers, including industrial, service and commercial
enterprises and which attract new employers and aid in their development
and growth.”
Goals adopted by the Board are to increase the number of
jobs available for citizens, to expand the tax base and to strengthen
and diversify the industrial, commercial and service sectors of the
local economy.“
“Our next task is to develop and implement
specific action steps for 2007. We are interested in getting as much
input as possible from business and community organizations as we move
through this process,” says Rankin. “Our decision-making will be guided
by our mission, budget, feedback from the community, laws regulating the
use of the 4B sales tax, and the city’s strategic position as a site for
economic and industrial development.”
Although the population for the city of Columbus
has remained stable, the area surrounding the city is experiencing
unprecedented growth, land prices are rising in value and commercial
interest in the area is increasing. Texas is at the forefront of
emerging markets and industries and Columbus is well positioned to take
advantage of the economic development opportunities that are flowing
into the state. The city’s strengths include its location along major
transportation routes, low taxes, a viable business park, a respected
healthcare system, and easy access to three community college campuses,
all located within 35 miles of the city. The infrastructure
improvements currently being implemented by city management, and which
are partially funded by CCIDC, have also caught the attention of several
business prospects interested in locating here.
"The city of Columbus is poised for sustainable
growth. Our future looks bright. I am confident prospective industries
will notice the economic future that our community and its residents have
to offer,” says City of Columbus Mayor Richard Heffley.
The CCIDC manages an annual budget of roughly
$300,000, with a fiscal year that runs from October 1 to September 30.
The budget review process for fiscal year 2007 begins in early August
and the board is seeking input from local residents. “I would
encourage citizens to attend our board meetings to learn how CCIDC can
assist business owners with expansion or relocation into the city, as
well as provide us with ideas about projects that will encourage
commercial and industrial development in Columbus,” says Board President
Chuck Rankin.
Meetings are held the third Monday of each month
at 6:30pm at City Hall in Columbus. Citizen’s comments are included as
an agenda item, however, specific items may be added to the agenda for
discussion upon request.
The CCIDC Board is appointed by the Columbus City
Council and includes the following members: Brian Berger, Jerry Haluska,
Larry Hoelscher, Rene Lerma, Diane Matus, Lisa McNutt, Chuck Rankin.
The organization also maintains a contract for administrative and
marketing services with the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“I
am quite proud of our CCIDC Board and feel they will successfully
achieve the goals that our city council & myself have entrusted in
them,” says City of Columbus Mayor Richard Heffley.
To request an item be placed on the agenda or
for a copy of the detailed action plan for 2007 contact Tonya Britton at
the Visitors Center at 425 Spring Street on the 1st floor of
the Stafford Opera House or call 979-732-8385.
-30-
Additional News About Columbus Can Be Found At
www.columbustexas.org
Local Newspapers, Radio and TV
Search Google News for Columbus, Texas
Search Yahoo News for Columbus, Texas
ABOUT US: The Columbus Community
Industrial Development Corporation (CCIDC) administers the city’s
half-cent 4-B sales tax revenues- approved by voters in 1995- for
economic and community development. Eligible activities for receipt of these
funds are outlined in the proposition section of City Ordinance
No.12-95. The Corporation manages the Texas Crossroads Business
Park and administers a community grants program. A Corporation is
managed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Columbus City Council
and maintains a contract for administrative services with the Columbus
Convention and Visitors Bureau. Contact the CCIDC at 979-733-8282
or e-mail
ccidc@columbustexas.net
