Marshall Texas is building together in large part because of its amazing teammates. These teammates include employers, city and county officials, developers, and educators.
It is a community that continues to invest in its most important resource, people. In late February nearly 50 East Texas employers filled the Marshall Convention Center floor to greet nearly 800 area high school students ready to learn about potential career opportunities in the area at the Career Fair 2024 event. Students were able to discuss with company representatives what type of education they would need to achieve various job opportunities and became more aware of what people with jobs actually do. Additionally, in attendance were representatives from the four institutions of higher education found in Marshall and two from neighboring communities.
Marshall has a unique distinction by being home to Texas State Technical College (TSTC), Panola College – Marshall, East Texas Baptist University (ETBU), and Wiley University. Marshall Independent School District has pathways for area students to take advantage of these colleges and universities to obtain advanced education through career and technical training and dual enrollment, positioning students and employers for joint success.
“We have community leaders who are hyper-focused on economic growth by investing in human capital and the physical infrastructure businesses and families need to succeed, enjoy life, and find opportunity,” said Rush Harris, CEcD, Executive Director of Marshall Economic Development.
Marshall Economic Development’s Career Fair 2024 was produced in collaboration with the City of Marshall, Workforce Solutions East Texas, and the Texas Workforce Commission’s Job’s Yall program. Programs like Career Fair 2024 allow the Marshall community to intentionally build a growing foundation for future economic growth by providing a quality workforce for Marshall and the entire East Texas region. Additional information about Career Fair 2024 and future fairs can be found by visiting MarshallCareerFair.com.
A prime example of Marshall leading change through synergistic partnerships in its approach to economic development included the gathering of local and regional elected and appointed officials, community leaders, and interested stakeholders to participate in the Economic Summit 2024 | Leadership Conference. This year’s event was held on March 7, and was hosted by Marshall Economic Development at one of East Texas’ hidden gems, Memorial City Hall Performance Center.
This year’s event featured Ray Perryman, PhD, President/CEO of The Perryman Group, Michael Reeser, Chancellor/CEO of Texas State Technical College, and Glenn Hegar, Texas Comptroller. Mr. Hegar hosted a panel discussion that included Krist Swimberghe, PhD, Dean of the Soules College of Business at UT Tyler; Felecia Herndon, PhD, COO of the Tyler Economic Development Council; and Eric Basinger, Manager of Economic and Business Development at American Electric Power.
“This (the economic summit) is something really special, to have your community leaders all come together for selfless collaboration,” said Michael Reeser, Chancellor/CEO of TSTC.
The event’s selfless collaboration did not just have to do with area leaders taking time out of their schedules to listen, learn, and communicate, but also had a purpose to raise funds for the Marshall Education Foundation. Proceeds from ticket and promotional sales during the event were donated to the foundation to help meet the foundation’s mission of enriching the lives of our community by delivering incentives and grants to local teachers and staff to improve the educational environment in Marshall ISD schools. This year’s edition of the economic summit really is full circle as it is the current crop of leadership investing in the next generation of leaders. More information about the Economic Summit can be found by visiting MarshallSummit.com.
While the economic summit provided financial investment in future leadership, the first installment of the Student Leadership Forum was held in the lobby of ETBU’s Synergy Park building directly after the Economic Summit allowing current esteemed leaders to impart wisdom and invest time and transformational energy into future community leadership. This question-and-answer style panel discussion allowed area college and high school students to interact with the Texas Comptroller, COO of Tyler Economic Development Council and Bart Day, TSTC – Marshall provost.
Meaningful discussions were had about how to achieve goals, and how to enter the workforce with an aspirational mindset.
”This was really a great opportunity for our young leaders,” said Robert Andrade, Business Retention, Expansion, and Workforce Development Manager at Marshall Economic Development. “It included a diverse mix of students from our campuses and was actually led by the media team at Spar Productions, a young startup company formed by sisters from Marshall who now go to two of our local colleges in town.”
Marshall, Texas’ central location offers access to transportation infrastructure like I-20, which connects the region with the east and west coasts of the country. The city is strategically placed to take advantage of the I-69 corridor currently under construction that will connect trade traffic from Mexico to Canada. If you are an organization that needs rail service, Marshall has both passenger and freight opportunities. Individual spurs are even available within Harrison County. The Harrison County Airport offers two asphalt runways up to 5,000 feet with hanger space available, allowing private jets and plane enthusiast excellent access. Commercial flights to international airports are available within a 30-minute drive of Marshall.
Organizations that are attracted to the market by transportation infrastructure and the active workforce development programs will also benefit from Marshall, boasting a cost of living at 70% of the national average and electrical rates within the Southwest Power Pool of 14% lower than the Texas average and 23% below the national average.
To learn more about Marshall and all the advantages of doing business in Harrison County, visit MarshallEDC.org.
Marshall has a rekindled spirit, determined leaders, and the ambition to be business-friendly, family-friendly, and proactive in its approach to smart growth. The community provides a great location, amazing cost of living, high quality of life, and educational opportunities. Marshall is whole-heartedly committed to developing its most valuable resources, its people.
Marshall, TX is committed to building together and winning together. Come see it for yourself.