Development Corporation of Snyder (DCOS) Executive Director Brooke Proctor has ideas for promoting Snyder to future manufacturers and industries.
During today’s board meeting, Proctor discussed two different ways the DCOS could help promote the community — a manufacturing program allowing high school students to tour and meet with manufacturers and a billboard on U.S. Hwy. 84. The board did not take action on either issue.
Proctor said she will get information from the Gainesville Economic Development Corporation staff about the manufacturing program. She said Gainesville manufacturers open their doors to high school students and provide information on salaries and benefits.
“They expose what they have in town to the students and teachers,” Proctor said. “Whatever manner we do it in Snyder, I think it will be a huge asset to our manufacturers. We need to show that we have viable workers in Snyder.”
Proctor told the board she plans to talk to local manufacturers about the program to gauge interest.
Board chairman Mark McClain said talking with the oilfield service companies may also be a route for the program.
Proctor said a billboard highlighting Snyder would be a good way to promote the city and industries. She said 10,077 vehicles pass the U.S. Hwy. 180 exit each day, but little signage shows what Snyder has to offer.
“If 25 of those cars stopped at my business, I may not be here right now,” Proctor said of her former business, The Manhattan CoffeeHouse.
A billboard is available two miles from the U.S. 180 exit for $6,000. However, board member Michael Hoyle said while in favor of the billboard, he did have some concerns of how the DCOS would see a return on that investment.
“If we don’t do anything, nothing gets done. Effort equals results,” board member Dennis Westmoreland said.
Hoyle asked if Proctor could pull retail data of credit cards swiped at local businesses from out-of-town customers. He said that would be a way to gauge the effectiveness of people stopping in Snyder. Proctor said the data is available and would look into the cost.
Board members did vote to set a $2,500 limit Proctor could spend without board approval, but did not take action of replacing the building facade or landscaping at the SnTx Industrial Park.
Proctor received a $3,200 quote from Cody Childs to replace the facade. Owners of The Blessed Nest and H&R Block are also looking to replace the facades and Proctor said they plan to apply for a Board of County Development business improvement grant to recoup up to $1,000.
Megan Thomas quoted a price of $3,166 for landscaping the entrance to the industrial park. It would include boulders and Native American feather grass. Board members asked Proctor to contact other local landscapers for a quote before they vote on the project.
Following a 15-minute closed session to discuss a business prospect, the board took no action.
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