NewsLocal NewsIn Your NeighborhoodBrazos County

Actions

Brazos Valley Business Summit held to provide local business leaders insight on the economy

Posted at 5:27 PM, Sep 25, 2020
and last updated 2020-09-25 20:51:55-04

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS — The Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation held it's annual Business Valley Business Summit Friday.

The 2020 Brazos Valley Business Summit was held at the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center. The main purpose of the event is to share insight from the Brazos Valley economy to the area's business community.

The Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation serves Brazos County, the City of Bryan, the City of College Station, Texas A&M and the surrounding region.

"Today is a day for the business community to come together and learn more about our amazing economy," said Matt Prochaska, President of BVEDC.

The program included insight on statistics on the economy, as well as a networking opportunity. This year's event also had a combination of both an in-person and virtual attendance option.

"Because we do economic development, it is all about our business community, so you'll have all of our major jurisdictions, both the cities and the county and Texas A&M University representatives are here because they make up representatives of our board of directors," Prochaska said.

Also in attendance were private investors who belong to the group Invest Brazos Valley.

"We want to thank you as members of our business community. We would not get to this point today without your great work and service and support of all that is required during this pandemic," said Chad Wootton with Texas A&M.

One of Friday's keynote speakers was Dr. Ray Perryman, an economic researcher and analyst. Dr. Perryman says an event like the Business Summit is always a great idea to inform a community.

"It is very important because it lets people understand a lot of the big picture things... things in their day-to-day lives that they don't have to think about day-to-day, as well as local numbers and what is going on locally," he said.

Texas Secretary of State Ruth Hughs was also a featured speaker during Friday's event. Hughs gave an update on the Texas business landscape and the advantages the state provides to business owners.

"We've been the top exporting state for the last 18 years, the top destination for foreign direct investment. We are home to more than 1,500 corporations, 32 foreign trade zones, of course home to some of best cities to live in in the United States, and not to mention we have the 2nd largest workforce in the nation," he explained.

Leaders of the event say they hope people will take away the awareness and resiliency of the economy. They also hope Brazos Valley businesses will connect with the resources available to them.

"The number one thing we really want to do is serve our local businesses, and so that is what we do as an organization," Prochaska added.

According to leaders of the event, the combination of both the in-person and virtual attendance displayed the highest number of attendees they have had for the event.

With the current model, this is the 3rd year the Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation has had. The event includes many business leaders from the community.