Business View Civil and Municipal | Volume 3, Issue 3

168 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 travelling to nearby technology companies like L3Harris Technologies in Waco, a 20-minute drive north of Robinson. Over in McGregor, just 33-minutes away, Elon Musk’s SpaceX Rocket Development Facility also employs some Robinson residents. Despite the many commuters, there are a lot of employers within the city. The Robinson Independent School District is one of the largest, along with Brookshire’s Food & Pharmacy. The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce leads regional economic development in ensuring residents have access to employment opportunities within their own communities. The Chamber also partners and staffs the non- profit Waco Industrial Foundation (WIF). The foundation was formed in the mid-1950s with economic development in mind. Kris Collins, Senior Vice President of Economic Development for the Chamber explains, “The way WIF works, is we acquire and hold land, then develop it specifically for the purpose of attracting industry to generate new jobs for the marketplace while also expanding the area’s tax base. It’s different than a private developer who comes in to develop a property for profit. The foundation is driven to help create prosperity across the community.” In 2013, the Foundation purchased 635 acres at the southeast corner of Interstate 35 and South Loop 340/State Highway 6. The goal is to have commercial development in the front with light industrial in the back. Currently, 35 acres are under contract for a speculative warehouse development and there is also potential for some multi-family housing too. Although Collins specifies that these residences would only be for those working on the property, as opposed to a single-family housing development. She notes, “The city and the foundation would love to see this Robinson Business Park developed as quickly as possible. Robinson has done a Water Well Service Water Pump Sales & Service Sewage Pump Sales & Service 18099 N HWY 6, Valley Mills, Texas | 254-932-6251 www.jurgensenpump.com E X P E R T I N W A T E R W E L L A N D P U M P S A L E S A N D S E R V I C E