Business View Civil and Municipal | May/June 2022

75 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 5 C I TY OF KERRV I LLE AND KERR COUNTY , TEXAS Gilberto Salinas, Kerr EDC Executive Director, adds his perspective on the community. He relates, “If you’re an entrepreneur, or you’re interested in working in a huge corporation, this is definitely an area that can help you get that done. That pioneer spirit is very well and alive. We are wide open for business. We are right on the periphery of the Austin and San Antonio mega economic corridor, so that puts us in a very strategic position as far as project activity – from high tech, to aviation, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, even to heavy industrial.” Killdeer Mountain Manufacturing, specializing in electronic components for military and aerospace industries, has recently located in Kerrville’s Airport Commerce Park adjacent to the Kerrville Airport. Salinas reports, “They are already retrofitting their building to move into later this year. They’ve also amassed a few other acres around there for some of their suppliers that they’re anticipating to bring into the area in the next few years. They’re a tier one supplier, so they’re able to bring in some of their tier twos, and tier threes. That was our plan when we started working with them.” Not far from Airport Commerce Park is James Avery Artisan Jewelry, a jewelry design and manufacturing company that has been in Kerrville since 1954 and has grown to include 600 employees. All Plastics, a company creating products for the pharmaceuticals, medical, industrial, and consumer markets, is another growing Kerr County employer. Healthcare is the other major source of employment in the community. As Hoppe explains, “Medical is our largest industry here in Kerrville. We have over 1200 employees that work for Peterson Hospital, as well as the Kerrville State Hospital, and the Veterans’ Association that also has a hospital facility here in Kerrville.” Workforce development is at the forefront