2 days ago
2025 State of Economy event held in Longview discuss new laws to help East Texans
LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK)– LEDCO addresses tariffs to KETK News at the 2025 State of Economy. The event was held by the Longview Chamber of Commerce to hear about how new laws will help the local economy.
The nonprofit organization, Texas 2036 spoke about how additional funds to public education, water infrastructure, and healthcare will boost the economy and set the state up for success.
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Texas 2036 is a non partisan organization that uses long term data to secure Texas' future.
Another push to help rural East Texans is expanding the reach for career readiness out of high school.
'To ensure and support more students becoming college and career ready. How do we ensure that they are ready for the workforce even when they're coming out of high school?' senior vice president of strategy and operations of Texas 2036, Justin Coppedge said.
Coppedge said the state's economy boomed over the past few years and LEDCO president, Wayne Mansfield sees the growth in Longview.
'A lot of new construction and redevelopment occurring,' Mansfield said. Several businesses are currently expanding, still able to find employees, so I think the overall the economy is doing quite well coupled with the fact that the four school districts in our city have bond issues.'
Mansfield does not believe tariffs will have a negative impact on businesses but may bring more companies.
'One positive aspect of it is that we've had a lot more inquiries from international companies looking for locations or potential locations to move out of the countries like Canada and Mexico in particular, or even Europe wanting to move their company here into Texas to get relief from the tariffs,' Mansfield said.
Some people fear that foreign companies have ill intentions, but Mansfield said it gives East Texans more job opportunities.
'Generally, when companies from other countries, particularly Europe, locate in a community, they're there for the duration,' Mansfield said. 'They do not intend to leave any time. They want to come locate, become profitable, become parts of the community and stay for a long, long periods of time, ' Mansfield said.'
Even though the legislative session is over, seeds have been planted at the state level, so years down the line Texans will reap the benefits.
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