Seguin, Texas

8 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 6 SEGUIN, TEXAS started to wonder what is so special about Seguin. A lot of people just fall in love with Seguin after they get here.” Quoting an economic development adage, “retail follows rooftop,” Schneuker relays that with so much housing development in the city, Seguin is getting noticed by commercial real estate developers and national retailers. “They’re finally taking notice of the opportunity that exists here in Seguin,” he shares, noting the recent purchase of a shopping center by a Houston developer will see millions of dollars in renovations. “They’ve got a lot of good prospects in the pipeline that are going to be looking to execute leases at that shopping center,” says Schneuker. “It has really helped to prove that there is a ton of interest in this market from retailers. More developers are now looking at other opportunities for brand-new development in the city, just because of the interest we are seeing from tenants that are trying to get into the Crossroads Shopping Center.” The manufacturing industry is vital to the Seguin economy, making up approximately 30% of the workforce. As the city continues to recruit new companies, there is a focus on workforce development, starting in the Seguin school system, where manufacturing careers are promoted. “We want to provide industry exposure, making sure that the residents and the kids know the opportunities that are available in the companies that are well established here in Seguin, while also working to develop new partnerships and programs,” says Schneuker. One program the city is working to establish is FAME (Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education), a two-year associate degree program sponsored by local manufacturing companies. That will serve as a talent pipeline for students that are looking to get into the manufacturing industry, specifically in careers associated with industrial maintenance positions. The goal is to get young people an education, and then give them a career in which they have opportunity to continue to grow and earn a good wage. Working with Texas State Technical College, the training provider for the FAME program, students spend