We love locking arms with our fellow Texans to make big things happen.
By Weston Martinez
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas It wasnt easy for Texas to win the intense competition be become the site of
Toyotas truck factory in south Bexar County from sites in several other Southern states. Project Starbright" its code name was the ultimate economic development prize promising thousands of construction jobs thousands more permanent jobs and a multibillion-dollar impact on the Texas economy.
The competition drew in governors congressmen and business titans from across the South. But in the end Texas won the day. It was a victory of cooperation collaboration and creativity.
Toyotas 1794 Edition of the Tundra pickup truck commemorates the year
Juan Ignacio de Casanova received a grant for a fertile tract of land that would become the site of Toyotas south Bexar County truck factory more than 200 years later. It couldnt have been easy for Casanova or his son who later took over the family ranch to make a living while Mexico rebelled against Spain followed by Texas rebelling against Mexico. But they persevered and the land remained in the familys hands until Toyota Motor Manufacturing purchased it in 2003.
Before Toyota selected San Antonio for the plant the ad hoc Team Toyota" came together to tackle every possible obstacle. The team included representatives of the governors office local elected officials business leaders lawyers
the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation and anyone who could help make the Texas pitch stronger.
It was a testament to the Texas spirit we pull together we think big and we fight for Texas.
Winning the Toyota sweepstakes ushered in more than $2.7 billion in direct and indirect capital investment and about 5700 jobs from Toyota and its suppliers" the San Antonio Express-News reported in 2013. More recently Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said the main plant and its surrounding suppliers employ almost 7000 people.
Those investments and good-paying jobs have a ripple effect throughout Texas adding significantly to the economic vitality of our state.
Toyotas commitment to Texas and our nation goes beyond jobs and the economy. The company has provided millions of dollars to support projects in education quality of life and other priorities in Texas.
Nationally Toyotas partnership with
the National Center for Family Literacy includes three separate programs that reach children and their families through more than 180 family literacy sites in 29 cities in 21 states. Brings to mind a great Lyle Lovett lyric: Thats right youre not from Texas but Texas wants you anyway" which all Texans should be happy to say about Toyota.
A full 15 years after Texas landed on the list of finalists for the giant plant now located in south San Antonio youve probably heard that the city is pursuing a $1.6 billion joint Toyota-Mazda plant. The new facility is expected to create about 4000 jobs. Thats big.
Now is the time for Texas to come together again marshal the resources and people necessary and go all-in to win the latest competition for a new Toyota (and Mazda) plant. We have the huge advantages of
15 years experience working with Toyota and an existing plant with land and suppliers already in place.
All Texans should also rally behind Gov. Greg Abbott using Texas Enterprise Fund money to help close the deal. The Enterprise Fund was created when the competition for the Tundra factory 15 year ago exposed the states lack of a deal-closing fund which some other states already had.
Texas also secured the Toyota Motor
North America headquarters project in Plano and its estimated 6400 jobs with help from a $40 million Texas Enterprise Fund grant. Lets use the fund again to seal the deal for the new Toyota-Mazda plant.
Besides cash the secret sauce that won over Toyota back in 2003 was the cooperation collaboration and creativity they saw in Texas. No doubt it was the same when Toyota announced in 2014 that it would move its U.S. headquarters to Plano. Its the Texas way we love locking arms with our fellow Texans to make big things happen.
Lets pull out all the stops and add a new chapter Toyota/Mazda to the amazing success story that
is Texas.
Weston Martinez is a member of the Texas Real Estate Commission and vice president of business development at Patel Gaines a Texas-based law firm.
