Marlin: City, county leaders create economic action team

A plan is in the works to bring jobs back to Falls County and its cities.

"On the most part, big employers haven't come to Falls County," said Falls County Judge Jay Elliott. "I'm really looking for jobs."

Falls County and the City of Marlin are working with the Texas Rural Economic Action Team (TREAT) to develop a five-year economic development plan for the area.

"We were already working on soliciting economic development when we were approached by TREAT--they were a new pretty much start up group, so this was kind of a pilot for them to help us in this effort, so it was a win-win for both of us," said Marlin Mayor Carolyn Lofton. "I think a lot of the groundwork is there, we just need to put it into a plan."

Part of TREAT's strategy for the city and county is creating the Falls County/City of Marlin Economic Action Team, a group of area residents charged with devising the plan to bring in business.

"You're right on the highway--why can't you be successful? Want to make Marlin the gateway to Waco, the gateway to College Station?" said TREAT's Andy Martinez. "This is a first step for Marlin looking into the future."

The team will be comprised of roughly 15 commissioners appointed by the city and county; for the city, each council member and the mayor got to pick someone to be on the commission.

"A diverse group of individuals from different backgrounds, business people," Lofton said of the commissioners.

Some of the commissioners' spots are still waiting to be filled, but those already appointed were at the Men's Civic Center in Marlin Tuesday night for a kickoff reception.

"We're meeting to convene the economic development group that will do the planning for how to move Marlin forward, refurbish ourselves," said Lofton.

Once fully assembled, the new commission will meet with TREAT regularly.

"We really want to make Marlin and Falls county pop," said Marlin City Manager Cedric Davis.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, less than 18,000 people call Falls County home, and fewer live there now than in 1980.

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over again, hence, that's why we're trying to do this," said Elliott.

County and city leaders attribute the decline to a lack of employment opportunities.

"I'd like to see so many businesses coming in that we don't have room to hold them," said Lofton.

Lofton, who took office in May, says the interest is there.

"We've had individuals call that would like to put hotels here, apartment complexes, we've even had someone call about a Schlitterbahn here in Marlin, so the interest is varied and great," she said. "I think people see that Marlin is on the rise and they want to be a part of it."

Elliott says the need to bring businesses in, not just to Marlin but the rest of the county, is desperate.

"One of the things we have the ability to do is some tax abatement and other stuff, which isn't huge money, but in the big scheme, it saves them money," said Elliott.

Problem is, counties and cities need money to make money and economic development doesn't happen in a flash, he says.

So they're giving this new action team about six-months to come up with a five-year plan to attract businesses to the area: an area with things like the old VA, a historic Hilton Hotel, Marlin's Mineral Wells, and highway-friendly locations which officials say has the potential to pick Falls County up.

"We have U.S. 77 right there, not far from Highway 6, not far from I-35, from 320, so I mean, it's trying to sell what we have and/or improving it through grants and other stuff which, through an economic plan, we'd be able to improve infrastructure in all of Falls County," said Elliott.

The City of Marlin was recently approved for a Texas Water Development Board grant to help repair the city's decaying infrastructure: Elliott says it's a step in the right direction.

"I'd like to see truck stops and distribution centers," said Elliott.

The Mayor of Marlin, the county-seat, admits making the city prosperous is as tall order, but believes it can be done.

"I think the tourism is going to be a major piece of that, having something that others can come to Marlin to see, so that's gong to be a great lift for us but we definitely need the jobs here," said Lofton. "I'd like to see us being a mecca for tourism and economic growth, I believe we can do it, with God all things are possible."

In addition to several Marlin council members, a representative from State Senator Brian Birdwell's office came to the reception which included a keynote speech from Jesse Ancira, the former Mayor of Taylor.