Greetings Friends,
We are so fortunate to live in Texas! There is so much good news to report, we don’t know where to begin…
Welcome – Tex Toler, Executive Director of Giddings Economic Development Corporation,
We are pleased to have Tex as our new Executive Director for the Giddings Economic Development Corporation. He is already working hard for our community by attending several of our meetings and getting to know our members. Stop by the Red Depot for a cup of coffee and to visit.
HonorVet.org Project Update – Join us in welcoming Corporal Sean and Anna Friedrich to Giddings
Community Helps Vet Start New Life in Giddings
Ribbon Cuttings and Open Houses –
- •· St. Mark’s Professional Building is hosting their Grand Opening of their new location at 185 Decker Drive and FM 141. This new location has X-Ray and Lab offices in addition to the physician facilities.
- •· Pizza Hut will host their Grand Opening of their new location with a ribbon cutting on February 7th at 10:30 am.
- •· Future ribbon cuttings will also be held for Salon Tonic and Pauly’s Restaurant. We are just waiting for them to let us know when.
- •· Special recognition goes out to Los Patrones on their new façade upgrade! They have made a huge investment in their business and the community appreciates their efforts. GOOD JOB!
Sales Tax Report - January numbers indicate that there were additional taxable sales in the amount of $1,500,000 in Giddings over the same time frame as last year. Great job by our businesses in this economy!
Unemployment Rate - Unemployment Rates Fall in All Counties of the Rural Capital Area; Largest Declines are in Bastrop and Caldwell Counties
Posted on November 5, 2012 by headlight
The Rural Capital Area unemployment rate currently stands at 5.5%, which is relatively low compared to the US rate of 7.6% and represents a drop of -0.6% over the past six months. Currently 23,400 workers are unemployed in the Rural Capital Area.
Unemployment rates continue to vary within the Rural Capital Area. The counties with the highest unemployment rates are Caldwell County (6.4% rate; 1,100 unemployed); Williamson County (6.3% rate; 12,800 unemployed); and Llano County (6.3% rate; 500 unemployed). The counties with the lowest unemployment rates remain Lee County (4.5% rate; 500 unemployed) and Fayette County (4.5% rate; 600 unemployed).
The change in the unemployment rate over the past six months reveals sizeable drops in some counties. The counties in the Rural Capital Area with the greatest drop in unemployment rate between March and September were Bastrop County (-1.5% drop) and Caldwell County (-1.0% drop). By comparison, the Rural Capital Area’s rate fell -0.6% while the State of Texas and US rates dropped -0.7% and -0.8%, respectively.
Board of Directors Notes – The Board of Directors has voted to create a task force that will investigate the possibility of making Giddings known as a Pet Friendly Community. This Task Force is forming to look at the costs and effectiveness of developing a recognizable logo and designated areas throughout the community that welcome pets as a way to get more traffic to stop as they travel through Giddings. Stoppers are Shoppers! Call the Chamber to get details!
Education and Training – Education and training is important in every field at every level. We have lots of information for you and your business about possible training. We have access to Texas State Small Business Development programs, SCORE and SBA. There is also plans to have several seminars in the future to help Non-Profits stay in compliance with the new IRS rules. Let us know if you have a training need. One of the all time favorites is Customer Service Training for your staff.
Chamber Luncheons – We are pleased to announce the return of our Chamber Membership Networking Luncheons. This is a great way to develop new contacts for your business. They are held on the third Friday of each month. We will let you know where they will be located for the February luncheon.
As you can see, we have a lot to be thankful for today! Our blessings are many and our troubles are few if we keep smiling and work hard.
Thank you to our Board of Directors, our community leaders, and the many hard working businesses that strive daily to make a difference!
