(972) 227-2579

Are you ready? Well, ready or not, a new year is starting. With all of the great things happening in our city, 2012 should prove to be an exciting year for the Lancaster Chamber. Construction has started for the first In-and-Out Burger south of downtown Dallas, and it's opening in Lancaster. The chamber is rolling out a new membership program to help make joining more economincal for small businesses. We will also offer a monthly dues payment plan. The chamber will be working hard to give businesses in the area more opportunities for business to business networking with chamber members. In just a few short months, the chamber will join the tech elite by issuing smart phone app that will allow members to easily find each other. And that's what it's all about: Encouraging local growth by encouraging local business.

Happy New Year to all! It is my hope that everyone enjoyed the holiday season, and is energized for 2012. I am excited about the direction our community is moving. I look forward to sharing with you many of the highlights and accomplishments over the past years, and speak to the future at the annual "State of the City" luncheon held by the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce on January 12, 2012. I look forward to seeing you!

December 2011 – Merry Christmas! … And Best Wishes for a great New Year in 2012!  … At your Chamber, we’ll begin formal preparations for the New Year at our Annual Board Planning Session on December 7, 2010, at Bienvenidos Tex-Mex Restaurant from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.  We’ll get our inspiration from Chair-elect Doug Hunt, who will lead us in 2012.

Happy Holidays

In this time of Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations, we are mindful of our bountiful blessings. … In fact, last November, so many good things were happening around here, that your Board suggested that I publish a Good Things Are Happening in Lancaster piece, with the updated rendering found on page ___.  … There is now a companion piece – also good news – entitled Lancaster’s Restaurant Row, consisting of 16 restaurants/eateries on Lancaster’s side of I-35E between Belt Line Rd. and Pleasant Run Rd. … We need to shed the doom and gloom attitude of the past year and move on to better attitudes, outlooks, and results. … Good Things ARE Happening in Lancaster!

And speaking of happenings, please go to page ___ to see a listing of all the events coming up very soon as we celebrate Christmas in Olde Towne Lancaster! … Such as a Preview Party for the Lighted Tour of Homes – and the next day, the actual Tour of Homes. … In addition to a December 3rd “Saturday on the Square”… there’s also a December 10th “2nd Saturday on the Square” which concludes with the 57th Annual Lancaster Parade of Lights.  For more information on all these festivities please go to WWW.LancasterTX.org or call 972-227-2579.

Mfg. & Logistics Roundtable & BREP

On November 17, 2011, at Dart Transport, we held our last Manufacturers and Logistics Roundtable of the year – and it was a good one! … Stephanie Williamson with Dart hosted us and presented a brief on indications of business recovery from the trucking industry’s viewpoint. … She indicated that retail sales are up 4.5% and she does not have enough drivers – that Dart could use 300 immediately! …Doug Chaney with DC Logistics reminded us that the railroads – BNSF and UP – are back to hauling almost at the pre-2008 levels. … A good sign! … The next day, Friday, November 18th, the BREP Team visited BrassCraft-Lancaster and its new Director of Operations Michael Hansen. … Michael is a long-time BrassCraft employee who was sent from Lancaster to California to review shutting down a plant there. … He did such a good with that plant that it is now going strong and Michael was brought back to Lancaster to replace the retired Jim Bevan. …  While reminiscing with him about when I came here in 2000, BrassCraft had about 450 employees then producing little brass valves and flexible connectors - and that today they have about 230 employees producing the same volume. … Of course there are several new machines of over $1 M each spitting out those little valves! … That’s progress.

Looking Back … and Looking Forward

In 2011 your Chamber represented its members on various local, state and federal issues, and as member of the Best Southwest Partnership we had a strong legislative position in the 2011 Texas Legislature.  As a member of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, we’ll participate in issues of national importance such as health care – especially as to how they affect us in Texas.  All of these efforts on your behalf are part of why you joined your Chamber, and why you renew your investment in us each year.  Thanks so much for the confidence you have shown in us, and we’ll strive and expect even better things in 2012.

That’s all folks – for 2011. … And we’ll …    

...See You Around and About!

I want to focus my comments this month on the Big Brother Big Sister "100 Mentors in 100 Days" challenge. Our community has an interesting challenge to recruit the most mentors compared to our Best Southwest neighboring communities by the end of October. The winning community will secure a $5000 award to their respective school district. As a "Big" I want to encourage our community to seriously consider investing time in our young people. Please view the City of Lancaster website for details..

At the September 12, 2011, city council meeting council will adopt a budget for fiscal year 2011-2012. There is NO tax rate increase in the proposed budget. Additionally, council will continue to be briefed on the Redistricting process for our community, which will require realignment of City Council districts due to significant growth in the northern portion of Lancaster since 2000. We continue to see an increase in new home starts, as well as a steady stream on inquiries for possible commercial development opportunities.

This month the city launched our third Civic Leadership Academy, which provides residents an in-depth look at municipal government operations. Please utilize our city website and "Live Around Town" features to stay abreast of the myriad of activities in our city. All the Best!