Powerful Partnerships
The Lone Star College System serves a large and extremely diverse region. Situated just north of downtown Houston, the college district serves an area that includes as many as a dozen independent school districts, an even greater number of incorporated cities, portions of two counties, a population exceeding one million residents, twelve chambers of commerce and the North Houston Association responsible for the economic development of their respective communities.

With twelve local chambers, all with limited resources and understaffed offices, attempting to develop the economy of their communities, an obvious need emerged for some cooperation and consolidation of effort. Because of the well established and recognized reputation of the community college as a valuable resource, and base of community leadership, the chambers of commerce and the communities they serve naturally turned to the Lone Star College System.

The college district was quite ready to accept this opportunity. Their Board of trustees had already adopted economic development as a major mission of the district, and had long ago recognized economic and community development as an emerging role for all progressive community colleges.

The result of these efforts was a newly formed coalition of the eleven chambers of commerce in 1992 and later the addition of Crosby-Huffman Chamber and the North Houston Association known as the North Houston Economic Development Alliance. The resolution calls for the college district's Center for Business and Economic Development to serve as the regional economic development data depository and contact point for relocation prospects. This site explains a few examples of how the community has already benefited from this exciting initiative.

Economic Development
In order to further the economic development efforts of the region, Harris County Commissioners Court awarded the college district's Center for Business and Economic Development a $100,000 contract. The funds are used for community and economic development projects specifically designed to assist existing businesses, attract new industry, and increase employment opportunities in the north Houston area. Some of the uses of the funds included assistance to area small businesses through the college district's Small Business Development Center, sponsorship of numerous conferences, trade shows and other economic development initiatives conducted an area wide business survey and the development of community promotional material described below. One indicator of the success of the partnership is an additional $100,000 contract awarded by Harris County in February, 1996.

Design of an Economic Development Base
An exciting software package called Fast Retrieval of Economic Development Information, known as FREDI, was developed by the college district in response to the desperate need in the community for important economic development data. FREDI allows for quick and easy response, in a customized format, to requests for demographic information that can be extremely valuable to businesses and organizations making critical planning decisions. FREDI has been provided to each chamber along with a brand new Compaq 486-50, donated by Compaq Computer Corporation in response to a request from the college district, and several software packages plus training and internet sites to further the effectiveness of local chambers of commerce and their staff.

Development of Community Promotional Material
CBED has developed some much needed community marketing materials. The two primary pieces are the video entitles "North Houston - It's just what you're looking for" and a high quality and versatile marketing brochure. Both items were developed to create a positive image and impress upon potential employers the benefits of locating and doing business in north Houston.

Taking Education to Work
Taking Education to Work is a coalition of businesses and education partners in North Houston that have come together to improve the employability and work skills of students and teachers through increased workplace experiential learning.

Facilitation of Leadership North Houston Program
The program has just begun its fifth year as a community leadership program involving the area chambers and operating through the college district. This important initiative allows the leaders in the community to be better informed regarding the workforce, economy, government and other key issues. The program also provides connectivity to further expand other existing partnerships.