This podcast contains comments from the CEO of the Brazos Valley economic development corporation, Matt Prochaska, and the city of College Station's economic development manager, Aubrey Nettles, during the March 22, 2021 College Station city council meeting.

Monday's special meeting of the College Station city council included an industry recruitment update.

The CEO of the Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation (BVEDC), Matt Prochaska, reported that in 2020, BVEDC had 55 prospects. They were a finalist in 15 of the 55 and was successful in landing ten of the 55 prospects. Those ten projects generated 817 new jobs in nearly 150,000 square feet of business space that resulted in capital expenditures of almost $96 million dollars.

College Station's economic development manager, Aubrey Nettles, told the council city incentives can be offered to prospects that employ a large number of people, will have a high average salary, and will make a large capital investment. Another incentive is offering free or reduced price land at one of the city of College Station's two business parks.

When asked about placing more focus on College Station's quality of life, Prochaska said that is highly specific to the prospect's desires and needs. For some companies, Prochaska says quality of life is their top priority and with others that "may not even drop in their first eight."

Prochaska also brought up BVEDC efforts in local business retention and expansion.