Gov. Perry Announces Council to Ensure Continued Economic Growth

Gov. Perry Announces Council to Ensure Continued Economic Growth

Gov. Rick Perry today announced the creation of a new Governor's Competitive Council, which will create a framework for communication, growth and innovation in state government through a collaborative effort with key regulatory industries, the private sector and institutions of higher education. This announcement came during the Texas Lyceum 2006 Public Conference in San Antonio, where business and community leaders and elected officials gathered in an effort to create a public policy agenda for economic growth in the state.

"We need to create a seamless system of opportunity and innovation that starts in grade school and continues until a young Texan graduates from college qualified for a good job in the 21st Century economy," Perry said.

Perry noted that in order for the Texas economy to grow and prosper, Texas must build on recent progress and be even more competitive and nimble in the effort to attract jobs, corporate expansions and relocation projects.

The Texas Enterprise Fund has leveraged more than $9 billion in new investment and to bring more than 40,000 new jobs to Texas. And recent Emerging Technology Fund grants have begun to attract top-notch faculty to Texas colleges and universities and to make new technologies commercially viable in the state.

"Today, I want to build on our previous efforts to make Texas more competitive in the 21st century by announcing a new ‘Governor's Competitive Council' that will bring together leaders in state government, higher education and the private sector to ensure we have a collaborative blueprint for economic growth in Texas," Perry said.

The council will be comprised of industry leaders, representatives of the academic community, and key regulatory state agencies. It will also have representatives from the economic development community and the K-12 system. It will have a broad cross-section of experts familiar with economic development challenges, workforce training, regulatory impediments and education needs. The council will begin meeting after the first of the year. Specific membership and the size of the council has yet to be determined.

Perry also reflected on the conclusion of the recent campaign and the importance of a unified, bipartisan approach in the Capitol. "There are no second rate dreams, no second class citizens in this place we call Texas," Perry said. "My goal as governor is not merely success but significance. We have a great opportunity to make a significant difference for future Texans and it is that cause for which I will labor for the next four years."

http://www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/press/pressreleases/PressRelease.2006-11-14.4926