The Chamber’s Economic Development Council met for its first time in 2023 last week at VelocityTX to review last year’s accomplishments and strategize 2023 priorities. Council Chair Kevin Matula, Director - Government Affairs and Public Policy, Zachry Group, welcomed a group of business leaders and economic development professionals to lay out his vision for the Council in 2023, and garnered feedback on issues of importance the Council is looking to explore.
To begin the meeting, Derek Drozd, Director of Business Development, VelocityTX, provided the Council with an overview of VelocityTX’s unique niche within the innovation hub of San Antonio and the current projects underway at their E Houston St. location. The E Houston location boasts 130,000 square feet and sits on a 5-acre parcel and is already home to VelocityTX headquarters and co-work space, Scorpion Biological Services and GenCure – a subsidiary of BioBridge Global. Future developments at the Houston St location include future office and lab space at the Merchants Building and BSL2 Co-Labs across from GenCure that will be available within Q1 of 2023.
At their core, VelocityTX helps early-stage bioscience companies launch innovative breathroughs to enhance and save lives, and do so by fostering entrepreneurial development, accelerating the process of commercialization through incubator and accelerator programs, and assist in accessing capital and funding opportunities. Last year, VelocityTX served 132 companies, created 31 jobs, and welcomed 8,103 attendees through its doors. The healthcare and bioscience industry is identified by the City of San Antonio as one of the targeted industry clusters ripe for growth, and VelocityTX is positioned to continue elevating the industry by helping innovative thinkers and startups right here in San Antonio.
After the presentation, 2022 Economic Development Council Chair Charlie Weil, Vice President, Transwestern, led the Council through a year in review of last year’s meetings and accomplishments, including the various panel discussions on topics like the state of downtown, the future of bioscience in San Antonio, supply chain issues, and the economic outlook for 2023. Charlie emphasized many of these issues are still ongoing, and the Council’s 2022 efforts will still be monitored and reported back to the Council should any developments arise. Following Charlie’s review of 2022, Kevin laid out his goals and objectives for 2023, which emphasize the need to find actionable items the Council can take when it comes to the Chamber’s role in San Antonio’s economic development strategy and business retention and growth. The Council then reviewed its State Legislative Agenda in preparation for VIVA on February 28 and made a call for Federal Legislative Priorities for the Chamber’s annual SA to DC.
You can submit federal priorities by using this form.
For more information on the Economic Development Council, click here.