Copperas Cove EDC seeks input on economic development strategy

By LYNETTE SOWELL 

Cove Leader-Press 

The Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation is seeking public input on the Economic Development Strategy recently presented by TIP Strategies at the recent Copperas Cove City Council Workshop held on Nov. 5. 

To watch the presentation, view the slides, and fill out the public input form, visit https://coveedc.com/copperas-cove-economic-development-strategy-public-i...

The brief survey can be completed after watching the presentation, and seeks comments on what residents like, don’t like, would like to see changed on the strategic plan, and also provides an opportunity to share thoughts on Copperas Cove’s economic development and growth in general. 

This is a renewed effort of the EDC, who contracted with TIP Strategies for $25,000 to conduct an area analysis as well as of Copperas Cove’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and “threats”. During the Nov. 5 workshop, TIP Strategies reps shared the results of their analysis. 

Among the strengths are the city’s affordability, its location in central Texas, its strong ISD with interest in CTE, as well as access to transportation networks like I-14 and I-35. 

Another plus is that roughly 25 percent of the city’s population age 18 and up are veterans

Opportunities are the local college and university nearby, and the workforce. Weaknesses observed are that the city hasn’t kept up with its infrastructure, water supply in the north and west, deferred maintenance. Also, the city is “landlocked” by the post and Hill Country topography, and its industrial, office, and retail inventory is limited and aging. There are also few community-based amenities like restaurants, public gathering spaces – no town square. 

“Threats” identified include that there is not sufficient relief from the state for the loss of tax revenue from the disabled veteran property tax exemption, and also that the south and west of Copperas Cove are zoned for different school district and in different counties. Also, other cities like Killeen, Harker Heights and Temple have attraction advantages for residents to visit. There is also weak voter engagement, and also a “low self image.” 

After the presentation, Mayor Dan Yancey commented on the presentation. 

“I think you know, for my part, everything I heard tonight I’ve heard before, every bit of the strengths, opportunities, threats,” Yancey said. “So from this point forward, It’s going to be tantamount to everybody, the EDC, council, the citizens of Copperas Cove to decide that they’re going to work together to try to figure out a strategic plan and then to actually implement it. That it’s not just on a piece of paper that we actually go forward and do the things that need to be done. Sometimes they might be a little tough, but I don’t think anybody ever got to where they are by everything was a rosy picture all the way through. I think there were challenges along the way, and I think our city has challenges, but we also have great opportunities, and I appreciate you bringing those up.”

This presentation was a renewed effort by the EDC to work on a revised strategic plan.

Back in 2019, the EDC had contracted with Avalanche Consulting and held one workshop in June of that year, during which the EDC and the city council discussed the future priorities for attracting business to the city. In addition to the EDC board, city staff and council, city manager Ryan Haverlah, the Copperas Cove Chamber of Commerce president and Jimmy Clark with the Copperas Cove Industrial Foundation, also joined the discussion at the meeting. There was never any progress after that initial workshop.