Welcome Message
We are pleased to publish this inaugural issue of the Aqua Book as an annual review
of the South Texas economy. Our readership includes public officials, business leaders,
entrepreneurs, and other community stakeholders.
This new publication is an initiative of the proposed South Texas Economic
Development Center at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The center aims at
fostering sustainable economic and community development in our region. This annual
update on the regional economy supplements the Regional Economic Indicators
Newsflash, which provides a monthly snapshot of overall economic conditions in
the Coastal Bend’s metro area. In comparison, this annual report provides a deeper
overview of recent economic and business development across the region’s various
communities.
The title of this publication parallels the informal names of some well-known economic
reports such as the so-called Beige Book or Green Book, issued by the Federal Reserve.
As a color, ‘aqua’ is a mix between blue and green, the two official colors of our
university. Aqua also reflects the unique natural environment that defines our Island
University—water. Today water, as a resource, is also one of the most pressing issues for
many communities in South Texas.
Our economy is always in flux. In this issue, we are fortunate to report mostly good
news about recent economic development. With growth come opportunities and
challenges. Community officials and business leaders are heading into uncharted
territory. The main objective of our economic programs is to help the region keep
its economic edge. We hope this publication will help you ride the current wave of
economic growth in South Texas. We welcome your input in improving our research
work and its presentation.
Thank you for your support.
Dr. Jim Lee
Chief Economist
Proposed South Texas Economic Development Center