Longview, Texas

Organizational Analysis and Economic Development Action Agenda

Located in the oil-rich east Texas region, Longview is a thriving small city known statewide for its robust industrial growth and development in recent years. Longview is consistently identified by the Milken Institute as one of its “Best Performing Cities” and in 2009 was recognized the #2 best performing city among small metro areas.

The primary economic development group for the area is the Longview Economic Development Corporation (LEDCO), a public organization initiated by Longview voters to create and retain primary jobs for the industrial and economic growth and development of the City of Longview. LEDCO owns two business parks spanning 1,200 acres of land in Longview. Since 1991, LEDCO has provided assistance to hundreds of firms, channeling more than 8,000 new jobs and $350 million in new investment to Longview.

The Longview Partnership houses the Longview Chamber of Commerce, the Longview Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Longview Downtown Development. Its mission is to “enhance economic growth of the Longview trade area by focusing on education, promotion, and development of the business community, and those areas of the community affecting business.”

To sustain the community’s competitive advantage and develop in this changing economy, LEDCO and the Partnership must continue to challenge themselves as organizations to think of economic development beyond their current realms. In 2009, Market Street guided LEDCO and the Longview Partnership in closely examining their choices for the future and reviewing their long-term opportunities and challenges. Market Street analyzed their structures, funding models, and relationships with local partnering organizations and the private sector.