Posted on Jun 13, 2018

Still a relatively new organization, Parker County Economic Development Council Executive Director Tim Von Kennel and Executive Assistant Robin Dalton spoke at a well-attended Rotary Club of Mineral Wells meeting Wednesday that focused in part on how the council can work with the City of Mineral Wells as well as Parker County and Weatherford.

Regional economic development efforts are not uncommon. They are often ways for two or more areas to combine and pool economic development resources and dollars to help compete against larger economic development entities and efforts.

Rotarian and Mineral Wells City Manager Lance Howerton, who attended along with city council members Tammy Underwood, Doyle Light and Rotarian Beth Watson, said there is a strong spirit of cooperation between the city and the Parker County Economic Development Council.

Von Kennel praised Howerton, Area Growth Council Executive Director Steve Butcher and Mineral Wells Municipal Airport Manager Wayne Sanderson on their working closely with the PCEDC on trying to land an airplane single-engine manufacturer at the airport that would bring some 35 jobs.

While the airport is owned and operated by the City of Mineral Wells, most of it is in Parker County, especially the business side of the airport. Not only is most of the airport in Parker County, so is almost all of Mineral Wells' Wolters Industrial Park.

Kennel said the company is seeking an airport with at least a 5,000-foot runway, which the Mineral Wells Airport has (a 6,000-foot LED-lighted, main runway with an Instrument Landing System along with a secondary 4,400-foot long LED-lighted runway) and 50,000 square feet of operational space, which the airport also has available.

Kennel said Howerton has submitted an economic development incentive proposal from the city to help attract the company.

"We haven't been told yes, but we haven't been told no," Kennel said.

He said because of the city's airport and facilities he feels Mineral Wells has a good shot at bringing the company to Mineral Wells and Parker County.

The recently created Parker County Economic Development Council is comprised of private local business men and women, financially committed to attracting economic development and recruitment of large employers in the area. Twenty-four board members represent the companies that have made financial commitments to support the council. Those businesses can be viewed here.

Jim Eggleston chairs the executive committee with Tim Clark serving as vice chairman. Other executive committee members are Lynn Mills, Jay Gibbs, James Hotopp, Jeff Jones, Tim Hasty, Wayne Garrett, Pat Deen and Patrick Lawler.

Kennel noted the council is not financially supported by city or county tax dollars.

Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at noon at Holiday Hills Country Club for lunch, networking, updates on club projects and a program of interest.