Business View Civil & Municipal Apr-2023

52 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 4 and that makes me incredibly proud of our city and its huge heart,” says Mayor Chacon. The city has been focusing on injecting new life into its business sector by developing the Economic Development Corporation’s (EDC) Bois D’Arc Business Park. Currently, 40% of the 108 acres have been sold already, and the team is looking to attract more businesses to the park. The three largest companies based at the new EDC Business Park are Texas Star Pharmaceuticals, Buff and Shine, and Princeton Storage. With these three companies buying into the park, the excitement is growing. Another factor for developing the business park is that it is situated between several growing cities. The city is excited to see businesses moving in, gaining additional tax revenue, improving job growth, and developing new areas. Princeton is taking a more hands-on approach to this by encouraging businesses to talk with them directly, enabling the city to advise of the direct incentives offered by the EDC based on the needs of the business. “We have some tax abatements that we’re willing to look into for businesses as well,” says Economic Development Corporation Board Chairman, Terrance Johnson. Johnson is currently involved with an entrepreneurial program through AEYL, that serves individuals across the entire Collin County area and is run in partnership with the Texas Workforce Commission. This program offers courses in resumé building, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship for individuals interested in venturing into the market independently. “We focus on training these individuals here in Princeton. They need to be ready for the workforce as companies move into the area,” says Johnson. Princeton maintains a solid relationship with Collin College, which offers a wide range of degree programs and certificate courses, including biotechnology, civil engineering, robotics, nursing, firefighting, and law enforcement training. The City also works closely with the Princeton Independent School District (PISD). “We have a great relationship with our ISD. Currently, they offer students who are not bound for college, trade skills, which they can learn in high school. These programs now include nursing, cosmetology, coding, automotive services, carpentry, plumbing, and more,” says Mayor Chacon. The goal is to equip students with trade skills so if they want to avoid student debt and need to immediately step into the job market, they are able to do so. Collin College has also started to offer a more hands-on course where students can obtain certification in programs offered by their Tech Lab. Another collaborative effort between the college and ISD is the dual credit system that allows students to easily transition into college or graduate high school with an associate or EM certification at a fraction of the cost. “Our Community Development Corporation (CDC) along with the city is constantly engaged in assisting with courses for residents, many of which are hosted by the Police and Fire Departments as well as more specialized emergency teams. The city’s fire department hosts classes sponsored by our Community Development Corporation,