Economic development, like most things, has changed over the years. Traditional economic development once focused mostly on job creation and retention, with little consideration given to workforce. In earlier times, labor was abundant (i.e., higher unemployment) and assumed to be available and trainable.

Given our current and future demographics, workforce is now clearly at the heart of any economic development program (not to dismiss the traditional all together). The MDC is very aware that there are likely to be more jobs created than individuals available to fill those jobs. Therefore, we believe a shift from traditional economic development practices to more workforce-based practice is now more important than ever! The overwhelming majority of businesses today are more concerned with the availability and skills of local workforces than at anytime in our history. This leads me to the MDC’s strategic plan.

The MDC developed their strategic plan based on the aforementioned items knowing Midland has, for some time, led the State of Texas and often the nation in unemployment rates. A big part of this plan can be summed up with this question: how do we attract and retain a quality workforce to Midland? I will be discussing our entire workforce program soon, but I want to focus on young professionals for now.

Our research shows the younger generations choose a location to begin their careers unlike prior generations that went where their careers took them. This is very significant, since we know that a majority of the young professionals wish to live and socialize in an urban environment. One only has to look around the state and country and see the effects this has had on redeveloping the central business districts. We refer to this as Quality of Place. QOP is how folks outside of Midland view Midland. How young people perceive Midland indicates the probability of them choosing Midland to begin and/or continue their careers here. Armed with this information, the MDC desires to improve our QOP by improving the Central Business District and develop partnerships with private developers and other essential partners to encourage more mixed-use buildings in the CBD. The MDC encourages the demolition of dilapidated buildings that cannot affordably be redeveloped and rebuilding new buildings with a mix of retail, office and residential. I have been encouraged lately with the activity in the CBD and the MDC Board of Directors is to be commended for their commitment to this area of Midland.

Midland has a great deal of history in its CBD and there are many opportunities to retain that history and improve this area with new development. Our desire is to see the CBD redeveloped so people are attracted here to work, live and play.