For a greater Waco

New Year's Day is the traditional time to make resolutions and set goals.

Greater Waco appears poised to make significant strides forward in 2006.

Goals for Greater Waco in 2006 should include:

nEconomic development – Communities literally thrive or decline based on how well they meet their economic development goals.

Economic development means jobs that stay in the community and new, good-paying jobs that add prosperity and a higher standard of living for the residents.

This past year, the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce adopted a Strategic Economic Development Plan with five primary goals designed to achieve a stronger, more sustainable economy and quality of life in Greater Waco.

Those goals include growing Waco, developing the workforce, changing perceptions, revitalizing strategic community areas and building a culture of implementation.—Editorial, Waco Tribune Herald

Waco area success stories and outlook

"We've been working on some rather significant items, and I think they will come to fruition in 2006," banker Monte Hulse told me in a recent interview.

He means new industry bringing new jobs.

I talked with Hulse and several other business leaders about the big stories of 2005 and what 2006 may hold for economic development.—Mike Copeland, Waco Tribune-Herald