Council, EDC to continue Copperas Cove Economic and Business Forum with local stakeholders

By LYNETTE SOWELL 
Leader-Press 

Copperas Cove city officials and the Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation are going forward with a relatively new initiative to bring business and economic development to Copperas Cove. 
During the most recent city council meeting on March 1, City Manager Ryan Haverlah said that the Copperas Cove Economic and Business Forum began in January 2021, when the council and EDC had a special workshop meeting, and then the Chamber of Commerce and CCISD representatives were invited to attend, as well as Coryell County officials and the Copperas Cove Industrial Foundation. 
Haverlah at that time said this forum is similar to the 14-Forward forum which has a plan and goals for the future to execute. He also said he looks forward to the EDC’s role with this forum expanding, and new Executive Director Fred Welch taking on the role of coordinator. 
“The forum originated with a simple concept of communicating, having open communication, so that all entities can work together as a collaborative group to enhance business development within the Copperas Cove community,” explained Kevin Keller, Director of Public Relations for the City of Copperas Cove. 
The idea of the forum originated in December 2020, when during a joint meeting between the city council, EDC, and chamber of commerce, then EDC executive director Jonas Titas gave a presentation on the Copperas Cove business climate, trends, sales tax revenue growth, employment and unemployment numbers, annual home sales numbers, as well as a rundown of the EDC prospects list at that time. 
With that workshop unfinished, the council decided to meet again in early 2021, when Titas continued his presentation on long leads, short leads, and how relationships with regional brokers are needed, and he also explained about market-driven busines projects. 
The council agreed at that time that semi-annual updates were needed. 
So far, Keller said that board members and staff from the various entities, to include the City of Copperas Cove, the Copperas Cove EDC, the Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce, and CCISD have attended the gatherings. 
Keller said these are posted public meetings, which citizens may attend as well. 
The council held two such economic and business forums in 2021, on Jan. 7 as a City Council Special Workshop, and on Nov. 15, listed as a Forum, with that meeting’s agenda as “Discussion and direction related to economic development and community businesses in collaboration with community partners.”
The outcome from the November 15 meeting was that the each entity had the opportunity to introduce themselves and share what they were doing to bring economic development to the city. 
Additionally, the focus was on contracting with a company that specializes in the retail consumer-driven usage trends through cell phone location data. 
According to the minutes, the data could be used to market Copperas Cove, to encourage companies and industries to look at bringing their businesses to the community. 
According to the agenda, all present were in support of using this retail consumer location data to expand and grow businesses in Copperas Cove.
The City is now looking at firming up dates among local stakeholders for a future meeting to continue discussions that will also be open to the public.