Economic Development Partnerships

Economic Development Partnerships and why so important? March 1, 2025

Naturally, we all care most about what develops in our own communities. But most communities do not have all the homes, population, commerce, or services available to self-sustain. Communities have situations which help form a landing spot for a business which still needs the region to shore up some local shortcomings. Therefore, we need to participate regionally with all our strengths to provide the most complete economy, regionally and therefore locally.

New Boston has a strong and diverse economy for a community of approximately 5,000. However, not everyone is able to work or complete all their shopping in New Boston. New Boston is a part of the Texarkana demographic region which encompasses 260,000 population within 50-miles from Texarkana, 995,000 within 75-miles and 13,000,000 within 200-miles. These numbers help New Boston by being a part of the “region.” Businesses need critical mass numbers.

We are reliant upon other close by and regional communities to have varying jobs, services, and products available. This demands our Northeast Texas Region works together and partners to improve the regional and therefore local economic ecosystem.

For example, a large manufacturing or industrial development business that can generate a significant amount of high paying jobs might want to locate within proximity to one’s community. It is not being built in one’s community, why should they assist other communities or agencies trying to recruit and provide items to assist in bringing in this project? The reason is based on regional economic multipliers which are where incoming monies cascade throughout the community and region.

Not all the benefits of good paying jobs and pay are directly borne just into the community which lands the business. People from New Boston and surrounding areas drive to Red River Army Depot to work, TexAmericas Center, Texarkana, Ashdown or other to other communities. They take their pay back to their home communities by spending it locally, and regionally.
Vendors for the businesses will locate in proximity, in New Boston, Texarkana, De Kalb or TexAmericas to assist the plant. More people move in, eat at local restaurants, shop downtown or at the local hardware store, or even get a cup of coffee.
To land these types of developments, companies research regions and then locally. To be a part of this development process, normally incentives are needed to land an important project. Counties and cities can partner to sell the region and provide incentives to the project to improve their economic ecosystem.

Partnering is the keystone to regional success. Everyone benefits from more jobs and opportunities and outside money coming in regionally. When money from outside the region comes in, this increases wealth locally and is circulated within the region. More wealth coming in helps improve regional quality of life and a more diverse economy provides stability from economic downturns. A growing region attracts more businesses!

Let us all Shop New Boston First!

Allow me to introduce you to our regional partnerships:

AR-TX REDI: is a non-profit group born from a unified vision for the future of Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas. The organization is committed to helping business connect with economic development opportunities throughout the entire Texarkana region. Currently New Boston is working with AR-TX REDI, Hooks SIDC and Bowie County to bring development opportunities to Central Bowie County with jointly owned property.
TexAmericas Center: our Special Industrial Development Board has a seat on the Board of Directors for the TexAmericas Center, which is one of the largest mixed-use industrial parks in the Americas. The organization has 12,000 acres and 3.5 million square feet of commercial and industrial property. Their mission is to create 12,000 jobs on our footprint by redeveloping the former Department of Defense property into functional space for commercial and industrial businesses. TexAmericas Center is actively accomplishing this mission, with thirty-three corporate citizens and over 1.1 million square feet of space leased. As a State of Texas-sanctioned Local Redevelopment Authority, TexAmericas Center functions as a unique hybrid of an economic development organization and an industrial real estate development and management company. This allows us to offer our tenants custom real estate solutions, value-added services, and unparalleled speed-to-market.
Ark-Tex Council of Governments Northeast Texas Economic Development District: recently the New Boston SIDC/CDC Executive Director attended a conference with this group in Austin at the state Capitol to network and discuss how our elected officials could assist our region. This organization provides programs to drive sustainable growth across Northeast Texas. Through innovative programs like SBA 504 loans, revolving loan funds, and grant support, this organization empowers local governments and businesses to tackle infrastructure projects, enhance economic resilience, and foster vibrant communities.
Riverbend Water Resources District: the New Boston Special Industrial Development Corporation has a seat on this organization’s Board of Directors. It is a locally controlled regional water district that was created to protect, conserve and manage our area’s water resources in the most southeastern part of the Sulphur River such as Lake Wright Patman. Riverbend was legislatively created in 2009 and then legislatively restructured in 2011 to its current five members, appointed Board of Directors. Riverbend started with eight member entities and has now grown to include eighteen members. Current members include Annona, Atlanta, Avery, Dekalb, Hooks, Leary, Maud, Nash, New Boston, Redwater, Texarkana, TX, Wake Village, Tex Americas Center, Central Bowie County Water Supply Corporation, Oak Grove Water Corporation, as well as Bowie, Cass, and Red River Counties.
Northeast Texas Small Business Development Center: this organization offers no cost one-on-one advising for start-up and existing businesses in the retail, wholesale, manufacturing, and service industries. SBDC serves Northeast Texas in the following counties: Bowie, Cass, Titus, Morris, Franklin, and Camp.
Work Force Solutions Northeast Texas: The mission of this organization is to be a “driving” force in the area to provide employers with workforce support for the economic benefit of the communities served. Workforce Solutions Northeast Texas provides workforce development services in Bowie, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Hopkins, Lamar, Morris, Red River, and Titus Counties. We link employers to a large pool of skilled workers. We connect job seekers to training opportunities. We help young adults identify career and training options for their future. We link employers to training options for their workforce. We link the workforce, economic, and community development for the continued growth of the region.