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Secretary Pablos Leads Rural Economic Development Summit In Lufkin

"A win in your community is a win for the State of Texas"

April 24, 2017
Contact: Sam Taylor
512-463-6116
Secretary Pablos posing with students holding up a Welcome banner.
Secretary Pablos is greeted by students from
Hemphill ISD.

Secretary Pablos standing at a podium in a metal warehouse.

Secretary Pablos speaks to local business leaders
in Jasper, TX.

LUFKIN, TX – Secretary of State Rolando Pablos today led the second in a series of rural economic development summits as part of Governor Abbott's Texas Rural Economic Development Initiative. The summit, hosted by the Texas Forest Country Partnership, brought together public officials, private sector leaders, and economic development organizations from Angelina, Houston, Jasper, Nacogdoches, Newton, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, and Tyler Counties. Secretary Pablos began the summit by touring the Lufkin Industries facilities and delivering a presentation to summit attendees on the importance of regional economic development in Texas. Secretary Pablos then took a helicopter tour through the region with stops in Hemphill and Jasper before returning to Lufkin. Following the tour, Secretary Pablos thanked the summit hosts and attendees for their commitment to strengthening regional cooperation in economic development.
 
"East Texas has incredible resources to offer companies seeking to expand and relocate here," Secretary Pablos said. "A win in your community is a win for the State of Texas, so we want to make sure everyone here today has access to the best resources to move forward in developing community capacity, both here in Lufkin and throughout the entire twelve-county region we visited today. More and more, we are seeing new opportunities for investment and job growth in rural Texas, and I look forward to continuing our conversations with local officials and economic development organizations to help close deals and bring even greater prosperity to this region."
 
"This rural economic summit is the perfect opportunity for local officials from rural East Texas to come together, share ideas and address the unique economic issues in our region," State Senator Robert Nichols said. "Our rural communities in East Texas are rich in resources, and provide great possibilities for our state."
 
“I am very pleased to welcome Secretary Pablos to the Texas Forest Country region and appreciate his genuine interest in helping foster economic development opportunities in our part of the state,” State Representative Trent Ashby said.  “I know he shares my goal of job creation, and I’m confident he will hear firsthand that East Texans are interested in working with his office on identifying additional opportunities for attracting good paying wage jobs to our region.”
  
"I'm extremely excited about Secretary Pablos' visit to rural East Texas to discuss growing our local prosperity with a world class public school system, 21st century infrastructure, smart civil justice, and a predictable and less burdensome regulating system," State Representative James White said.
 
"It was a great day for rural East Texas as we had the opportunity to sit down with Secretary Pablos to discuss the economic resources our region has to offer, as well as how we can work with the State to address the needs of our community," State Representative Ernest Bailes said. "San Jacinto County is excited to collaborate with our neighboring counties to stimulate economic growth in our region."

Learn more about the the Texas Forest Country Partnership's economic development activities in East Texas.

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