d owntown improvements energize district
Local economy booms with new businesses
12
Downtown
18
Convenient location attracts
22
Lightly
24
Arts
26
Staying
TakE
Easily
CliCk
SprEad
Get
2013 EdITIOn
content director | Lisa Battles
contributing Writers | John McBryde, Jessica Mozo, Braxton Shoop, Carol Stuart
content coordinator | Jessica Walker
staff Writer | Kevin Litwin
proofreading manager | Raven Petty
lead designer | Kacey Passmore
senior graphic designers | Stacey Allis, Laura Gallagher, Kris Sexton, Jake Shores, Vikki Williams
graphic designers | Erica Lampley, Kara Leiby
creative technology analyst | Becca Ary
lead photographer | Jeff Adkins
senior photographer | Brian McCord
staff photographers | Todd Bennett, Michael Conti, Martin B. Cherry
color imaging technician | Alison Hunter
integrated media manager | Ginny Ellsworth
sales support project manager | Sara Quint
ad production manager | Katie Middendorf
ad traffic assistants | Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan
digital project manager | Jill Ridenour
Web project manager | David Day
Web development lead | Yamel Hall
Web developer i | Nels Noseworthy
Web designer ii | Richard Stevens
Web product manager | John Hood
chairman | Greg Thurman
president/publisher | Bob Schwartzman
executive vice president | Ray Langen
senior v p./sales | Todd Potter
senior v p./client development | Jeff Heefner
senior v p./operations | Casey Hester
v p./sales | Jarek Swekosky
v p./content operations | Natasha Lorens
audience development director | Deanna Nelson
creative services director | Christina Carden
distribution director | Gary Smith
photography director | Jeffrey S. Otto
Web services director | Allison Davis
controller | Chris Dudley
senior accountant | Lisa Owens
accounts payable coordinator | Maria McFarland
accounts receivable coordinator | Diana Guzman
system administrator | Daniel Cantrell
executive secretary | Kristy Duncan
human resources manager | Peggy Blake
receptionist | Linda Bishop
Livability Victoria, Texas is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the victoria chamber of commerce and its member businesses.
For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by email at info@jnlcom.com.
For more information, contact: victoria chamber of commerce
3404 north ben Wilson street • victoria, tX 77901 phone: (361) 573-5277 • fax: (361) 573-5911 www.victoriachamber.org
Visit Livability Victoria, Texas online at livability.com/victoria
©Copyright 2012 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.
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• Trinity is a private, faith-based Episcopal school for students between the ages of 3 and 8th grade.
• 21st-century skills are taught to every child using extensive technology resources in every classroom.
• For more than a decade, our standardized test scores have averaged in the 98th percentile among all schools nationally.
• In the past six years, Trinity has produced six high school valedictorians and/or salutatorians.
• We offer numerous enrichment opportunities, including outdoor education trips, art and music instruction, Spanish instruction, after-school robotic programs, athletics, competitive academic contests, and many community service projects. Regular field trips and guest speakers take learning from the classroom and into the real world.
For more information about the school and the admissions process, visit www.tecvictoria.org. Trinity Episcopal School
a quick, comprehensive overvieW of What’s great about the community
Rich in history and heavy on charm, Victoria epitomizes southern Texas living. One of the oldest cities in the state, Victoria’s “South Texas Crossroads” nickname comes from its location almost equidistant from Austin, San Antonio and Houston and just 85 miles north of Corpus Christi and the Gulf of Mexico, making it a cultural, entertainment and economic center for seven counties.
ViBraNT liViNg
Classic homes, some dating to the pre-Civil War era, line the streets in the city’s historic areas, which have more than 100 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Amenities include two hospitals, a highly rated education system, pristine parks, cultural attractions, festivals, great restaurants and shopping. There are more than 60 colleges and universities within a 125-mile radius of Victoria. People love to boat and fish on the Guadalupe River, Lake Texana and Coleto Creek, while golfers choose among three courses in the city or six others nearby. Victoria’s arts and culture scene includes a Bach Festival, ballet, live theater, five museums and a symphony orchestra.
BOOmiNg BuSiNESS
Plastic manufacturing and the petrochemical industry provide the majority of jobs here, but the economy is well balanced, and the median household income surpasses $44,000. The city’s retail and trade sector serves more than 250,000 people. Businesses enjoy the transportation advantages of being at the intersection of several major Texas highways and access to a regional airport. Local colleges and technical and training institutions help Victoria keep a highly skilled and educated workforce.
lOCaTiON
Victoria is in southeast Texas, 30 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico.
pOpulaTiON
62,592
diSTaNCES TO FOur majOr CiTiES NE arBy
Austin, 122 miles
Corpus Christi, 85 miles
Houston, 127 miles
San Antonio, 120 miles
mOrE iNFOrmaTiON
3404 North Ben Wilson Street
Victoria, TX 77901
phone: (361) 573-5277
Fax: (361) 573-5911
victoriachamber.org
Victoria’s must-do attractions, activities and dining
g rab a camera and head to the Texas Zoo, known as t he national Zoo of texas, where approximately 100 animals live, including lions, tigers, red wolves, and baboons.
ChOw dOwN
Enjoy a sandwich at Fossati’s delicatessen, which is the oldest deli in the state and one of the oldest restaurants in the country. Open for lunch, the deli also hosts political and social events, and Willie Nelson once played the restaurant.
See why Victoria was named a Texas main Street City on a walking tour. More than 100 buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places, and be sure to visit downtown, the courthouse and Theatre Victoria.
Buy local produce and goods from the Victoria Farmers market . The market is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. depending on product availability. Vendors must come from within a 100-mile radius in order to sell.
ENlighTEN yOurSElF
Visit the museum of the Coastal Bend to learn about Victoria’s culture and history. Join a volunteer for storytelling as they guide you through the museum, or explore on your own. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
TakE a lOad OFF
Take a kayak and paddle down the Riverside Park Paddling Trail , which gently pushes you down the Guadalupe River. Riverside Park has places for fishing and picnics, and visitors may see wildlife such as bald eagles and deer.
take the annual historic homes and cemetery tours, sponsored by Victoria Preservation, Inc. , to learn about the city’s past and see many of its original structures.
mOVE iT, mOVE iT
Get your heart rate up while exploring the Lone Tree Hike and Bike Trail
The paved and lighted trail measures 2.1 miles and runs from Victoria East High School to Airline Road. Visitors can hike, bike, run and rollerblade.
SplaSh arOuNd
Cool off at the Victoria Splash Park located at the Lone Tree Creek Park. This 2,400-square-foot water attraction offers water sprayers and squirters, as well as sports fields, natural recreation areas and facilities.
Public and private investment recently reinvigorated Victoria’s downtown district with brick sidewalks and magnolia trees, revived buildings, new restaurants and shops. Add the brand-new Bootfest to a lively calendar of established events, and residents and visitors have even more reason to visit the city’s historic center.
morgan rhodes, left, and casey staudt walk down main street in downtown v ictoria, texas. d owntown victoria has recently undergone completion of $46 million in street and infrastructure improvements.
“The whole feel of downtown just has such a charm, such a life to it. It’s very green. It’s a beautiful place to work and to live, and I’m just so glad that it’s getting the investment and attention it deserves.”
NiNa di lEO, BACH FESTIVAL DIRECTOR
“It was wonderful to see thousands of people milling around. It brought life back to downtown,” City of Victoria Director of Development Services Jared Mayfield says of the first Bootfest in 2011. “The plaza was full of families, sitting with their lawn chairs or dogs, wandering around eating snow cones, listening to the music. Some people were dancing in the streets.”
Bootfest unveiled major improvements to Main Street and DeLeon Plaza, says Mayfield. A $2.168 million project repaired/ replaced curbs, repaved streets and installed brick-paver sidewalks with ADA accessibility.
The new Victoria Main Street Program also planted 50 trees through private donations.
“It looks like a downtown shopping area should look,” downtown resident Sara Hounshell says.
Another $2.913 million project replaced water/sewer lines as part of a $46 million city-wide infrastructure improvement plan.
BarS, rESTauraNTS, rETail mOVE BaCk iN
The public investment is paying dividends with private dollars flowing into downtown.
“I probably wouldn’t have even chosen to live downtown initially
Downtown Victoria rEcEntLY unDErwEnt
$46 miLLion in strEE t anD infrastructurE improVEmEnts.
because there wasn’t that much going on,” Hounshell says.
“Everything at 5 o’clock just kind of shut down. Now it’s just completely different.”
Hounshell lived downtown in Bloomington, Ind., and Indianapolis, and liked being able to walk to restaurants, bars, shopping and festivals.
“If you go out with friends, you don’t have to worry about who’s driving or where to park,” she says.
Now, there are several afterwork options: 77901 wine bar and Lauren Bade’s shop, The Golden Gecko, Steve-a-reno’s rock/blues bar, and Greek’s 205 with patio and live music. Downtown had its first pub crawl in August.
dOWnTOWn
c ars drive up and down main street past historic buildings in downtown v ictoria, texas. downtown victoria has recently undergone completion of $46 million in street and infrastructure improvements.
located in the center of downtown v ictoria is deLeon Plaza t he historic plaza is a lighted park with shade trees, sidewalks, 23 park benches, the six flags and confederate monuments, and a bandstand for live music.
A microbrewery is among suggestions for a shuttered downtown building bought by business owner Torin Bales. The Victoria Advocate printing plant is being renovated into retail downstairs and 212 South Main into a restaurant with rooftop bar/dining.
The Main Street organization has façade restoration grants to uncover architecture.
Bootfest, marking its second year in October, was generated from a “bring your boots to Victoria” visitors marketing campaign. About 23,000 attended the first event.
Artisans made boots or artwork with boots, and there were concerts, a rock wall, sumo wrestling and
fireworks shot off One O’Connor Plaza.
Other celebrations bring people downtown too, such as a Cinco de Mayo celebration, the nationally recognized Victoria Bach Festival in June, plus street dances and the Victoria Symphony’s Downtown Rhythms concert each April.
“What’s fun about festivals is that it really transforms a place that you see every day,” says Nina Di Leo, Bach Festival director and Old Victoria resident.
Victoria College acquired the Welder Center, home to Theatre Victoria, and daytime restaurants stay open afterward. Nave Museum holds events at DeLeon Plaza.
The monthly Market Days feature furniture, jewelry, plants and other booths.
“The whole feel of downtown just has such a charm, such a life to
it. It’s very green,” Di Leo says. “It’s a beautiful place to work and to live, and I’m just so glad that it’s getting the investment and attention it deserves.”
by Carol Stuart by staff photographer Jeff Adkins
digiTal magaziNE
Victoria shoppers don’t need to drive to Houston or San Antonio to snag great deals on the latest fashions. There are a bundle of diverse shops, boutiques and chain stores in their own backyard.
As the largest city in a seven-county region and located equidistant from Austin, Houston, San Antonio and Corpus Christi, convenience and location have helped make Victoria the shopping oasis for the area.
“Victoria is a wonderful place to shop because the small-business retail stores are so diverse with a variety of different types of merchandise,” says Pat McDonald, owner and manager of Days Gone Bye!, a gift shop and clothing store in Victoria’s historic downtown. “In addition to the smaller mom-and-pop stores, Victoria has the big-box stores surrounding the Victoria Mall.”
Anchored by JCPenney, Dillard’s, Sears, Best Buy, Burke’s Outlet, Bealls and the newly opened T.J.Maxx, Victoria Mall offers 80 popular retailers for shoppers craving national chain store merchandise. The property is one of 20 malls in eight states owned by Hull Storey Gibson Companies LLC, based in Augusta, Ga.
“Victoria is an economic bright spot in our portfolio – it’s a great market, a great community and a great property for us,” says John Gibson, managing partner of Hull Story Gibson Companies. “We’re at 95 percent occupancy in the Victoria
customers can browse among unusual gifts in an old-fashioned setting at days gone bye!, a downtown gift shop.
Mall, and by early 2013, we hope to be at 100 percent. We love going to Victoria, and we try to get there as often as possible.”
Gibson says Victoria’s vibrant downtown with its specialty retailers and restaurants is complementary to the mall, rather than competing with it.
“One of the beauties of Victoria is that its downtown is so wonderful – the courthouse is a jewel, and the city has done so much work to revitalize the area,” Gibson says. “We love going downtown and to the mall. And we’ve noticed that when downtown does well, we also do well.”
McDonald opened Days Gone Bye! in 2006 with her husband Will in a restored 1947 drugstore. The couple chose the name because of their love for “the good old days, when everyone in the city knew you and your kids,” McDonald says.
The boutique is an inviting refuge from the outside world, with the soft scent of candles burning, 1920s music playing, and complimentary cookies, lemonade and coffee from Victoria Coffee Roasters.
Shoppers can browse an enticing collection of home decor, PANDORA jewelry, personalized luggage and totes, bath and body products, clothing, and many more treasures McDonald brings to Victoria from retail markets in New York, Atlanta and Dallas.
MadiTay’s is another fun boutique that opened in Victoria in 2006. Owner Melissa Foeh named the store
after her two daughters, Madison (Madi) and Taylor (Tay). The shop carries baby gifts, accessories, fashion jewelry, purses, rhinestone belts and headbands, decorative flip flops, rhinestone T-shirts, custom hair bows and monogrammed gifts, and everything can be gift wrapped for free.
“We offer many items you just can’t find anywhere else, and we pride ourselves in excellent service and going out of our way to make people happy,” Foeh says. “The thing I like most about doing business in Victoria is the support from the community. We have the best customers, and we do our best to make sure they know they’re appreciated. We hope that’s why they keep coming back.”
by Jessica Mozo by staff photographer Jeff Adkins
“Victoria is an economic bright spot in our portfolio. It’s a great market, a great community and a great property for us. We’re at 95 percent occupancy in the Victoria Mall, and by early 2013, we hope to be at 100 percent. We love going to Victoria, and we try to get there as often as possible”
jOhN g iBSON , MANAGING PARTNER OF HuLL
S TORY G IBSON COMPANIES
victoria has plenty of interesting dining options
Eat, drink and chill at several intriguing dining spots throughout Victoria, with menus that vary as much as the atmospheres.
o ne of v ictoria’s newest restaurants, Sendera , provides an elegant environment complete with specialty menu items and an assortment of wine, beer and mixed drinks. residents can dine for lunch and dinner, but the restaurant also accommodates large groups up to 300 people for wedding receptions or rehearsals, business functions and celebrations.
grEEk’S 205 Bar
Brothers George and Tom Charkalis opened their first restaurant in El Campo in 1985, and today they also operate g reek’s 205 Bar in downtown Victoria. The dining destination offers dishes such as Greek salads, steaks, chicken, pasta, shrimp and redfish, plus a full bar that includes an extensive wine list. There are also 11 different martinis available to patrons. Greek’s 205 Bar also offers live nighttime bands Thursday through Saturday.
rOSEBud FOuNTaiN aNd grill
For a 1940s soda fountain experience, try rosebud’s on South Main, which serves a variety of home-cooked food ranging from burgers, french fries and onion rings to seafood including fried shrimp, oysters, frog legs and catfish. The soda fountain produces malts, shakes and other beverages, all made from real ice cream.
FrESh prOduCE & mOrE
Victoria Farmers m arket sells fresh produce to as many as 1,500 visitors on a spring day. The market is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. depending on product availability. Located at the Pattie Dodson Public Health Center, vendors are limited to a 100-mile residential radius in order to sell.
FOSSaTi’S dEliCaTESSEN
Dating to 1882 when immigrant Fraschio Napolean Fossati first opened its doors, Fossati’s holds the title of “Oldest Deli in Texas,” is on the National Register of Historic Places and once staged a Willie Nelson gig. Notable menu items include potato soup, apple crisp and chicken salad, and the deli offers delivery, too.
The PumpHouse overlooks the g uadalupe r iver and gets its name from its 1800s function as a pump house, providing water to residents. t he restaurant’s building and its property were added to the national register of historic places in 1986 and named a texas historic landmark in 2011. menu items today include pecan-crusted chicken breast, grilled ahi tuna and slow-roasted pulled pork. t he restaurant has a large wine list and is open tuesday-saturday for lunch and dinner, and sundays for brunch. t he pumphouse can be reserved on mondays for special events.
creative inspiration takes center stage
Staring is encouraged in Victoria with regard to the arts, with many choices for concerts, performing arts, ballet and museums.
besides performances such as The Nutcracker and Peter and the Wolf, the nonprofit Victoria Ballet Theatre educates young people, trains dancers and provides a foundation for those interested in pursuing a career in the arts.
Music
SwEET SOuNdS OF ViCTOria: BaCh FESTiVal, SymphONy
For astounding sounds, be sure to catch the Victoria Bach Festival , a full week each June filled with intimate concerts, oratorio and symphonic performances, and family outdoor concerts. Grammy winner Craig Hella Johnson leads a small creative team that shapes the festival’s performances. Local and nationally acclaimed musicians collaborate throughout the event, giving visitors an engaging musical experience.
Meanwhile, the Victoria Symphony presents concerts by professional musicians from around the world. Founded in 1974, the orchestra enriches, entertains, and educates the community through concerts and educational opportunities.
ThE aTrE ViCTOria
Theatre Victoria, a resident of the leo j welder Center for the performing a rts, presents a variety of live musicals and plays. The Center opened in 2004 with a mission to promote both the arts and Victoria’s downtown. Officials with Victoria College, which in 2012 purchased the center, say that mission will continue for the facility. Upcoming events include live theatre, music, pageants and fellowship assemblies.
STrOll ThrOugh yESTEryE ar
Victoria Preservation Inc. maps out self-guided walking and driving tours of town, aiming to educate and raise awareness for Victoria’s historically significant structures.
Visitors need only visit the heart of downtown’s d eleon plaza – a park complete with a gazebo and shade trees – for another quick history lesson. One of four public squares designed by colony founder Martin de Leon, the area has six flags welcoming visitors within to its memorials, convenient benches, bandstand and great view of Victoria’s impressive courthouse adjacent to the park.
arts patrons visit victoria regional museum associations’ nave museum, the area’s only fine arts museum, to see six to eight diverse exhibits each year, many including works by such artists as andy Warhol, mary c assatt, Joan mitchell and freida k ahlo. t he museum’s architecture –a 1932 majestic greek revival temple built in memorial to celebrated texas artist royston nave – inspires on its own. hours are from noon to 4 p.m. tuesday through s unday, and noon to 7 p.m. on t hursday.
residents keep busy and fit at local parks
With plenty of parks, trails, golf courses and more, Victoria is a perfect place for anyone looking to enjoy outdoor fun.
Riverside Park‘s 565 acres include such sites as a rose garden with 1,300 blooming roses and activities ranging from fishing the g uadalupe river, playing disc golf or jogging to paddling the v ictoria paddling trail.
Residents are excited about a new, 2,400-square-foot splash park planned to open in 2013 in the lone Tree Creek park on East Airline Road. Many community sporting events take place at the Victoria youth Sports Complex , which includes a basketball pavilion, two tennis courts, five softball fields and seven baseball fields. The complex also draws people to its 15,000-square-foot skate park, a 223,000-gallon pool and baby pool. Each summer as soon as it’s warm enough to go for a dip, the g ary T. moses municipal pool comes alive with activity. The pool facility offers offers a 25-meter pool, a children’s pool area and bathhouse.
NaTural BE auT y aNd CampiNg
g oliad State park has a character defined by beautiful scenery and interesting sites spanning over the park’s 188 acres. Among these sites are a replica of the 1722 Mission Nuestra Señora del Espiritu Santo de Zuñiga and ruins of the 1754 Mission Nuestra Señora Del Rosario.
Located on 575 acres, lake Texana State park offers water-oriented activities –thanks to its location on Lake Texana – consisting of boating, swimming, fishing, sailing, canoeing and more.
To enjoy the peacefulness of nature, the Coleto Creek park and reservoir contains 190 acres, of which only 40 acres have been developed. Much of this park is undeveloped to enable visitors to appreciate nature in its entirety. Coleto Creek offers a 3,100-acre lake, a 200-foot fishing pier and more than 50 campsites.
Saxet l ake features a 250-acre park with amenities for picnicking and grilling, and activities including boating, fishing, swimming and jet skiing in a lake that measures up to 100 feet deep.
Victoria’s golf courses include riverside g olf Course, The Club at Colony Creek and Victoria Country Club. In addition to the tournaments and activities at these courses, Victoria also hosts the annual Wildgame Tournament and the Labor Day Invitational tournament.
riverside golf Course is a public course featuring 27 holes, while Colony Creek Country Club is a semi-private club offering a brilliant 18-hole course, a driving range and putting green. The Victoria Country Club is a private club that offers a PGA-quality 18-hole course designed by Joe Finger, as well as high-quality tennis courts, fine dining and a refreshing pool area.
Lone Tree Creek Hike and Bike Trail spans 2.1 miles between v ictoria e ast high school and airline road. the trail draws walkers, runners, bikers and skaters with its fully lit and paved path.
“o ur emphasis has been finding out what types of amenities residents really want, and more than that, to consider the types of activities that would get people out of their houses and get them exercising for an overall healthier community,” says d oug cochran, city of v ictoria parks and recreation director.
Take Your Time a visitor views work by artist tom Jones as part of the Art on the Hoof exhibit at t he nave museum, the area’s only fine arts museum, located in downtown victoria.
see more photos that showcase victoria’s many amenities at livability.com/victoria/tx/ photos-video
v ictoria independent school d istrict’s brand new aquatic center, located at 1006 sam houston d rive, gives school swim teams a great place to train and local residents another way to stay fit during public swimming hours.
Schools, health care and neighborhoods in Victoria
preservation efforts in v ictoria ensure generations to come will enjoy the city’s many historical homes. t he city has more than 100 residential and commercial structures on the national register of historic places.
read more stories that showcase victoria’s many amenities at livability.com/victoria/tx/living.
students have e Xcellent education options at every level
With a four-year university, two-year college and strong public school system for K-12 students, Victoria’s educational institutions give residents good options at all levels.
Victoria College offers quality allied health programs in its stateof-the-art h ealth s ciences c enter. t he two-year college now offers five programs, while its Workforce and continuing education d epartment trains students in three courses. v ictoria college has two extension centers, one in port l avaca and another in g onzales, two vocational nursing programs in cuero and hallettsville, and serves many other sites through a distance learning system.
Vocational
TExaS VOCaTiONal SChOOl S (TVS)
TVS, a post-secondary education institute, trains students in the following fields: medical office specialist, legal office specialist, accounting, office assistant and advanced combination of welding. The school also guides students with resume assistance and job searching tips.
Victoria College sports teams are club-based, while the university of houston-Victoria teams are part of the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) –and all are strong in terms of participation and competitiveness.
The University of HoustonVictoria’s athletics teams are known as the Jaguars, and UHV has fielded strong baseball and softball teams since the 20072008 school year. The head baseball coach is Terry Puhl, a former outfielder with the Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals. In fall 2010, the school added men’s and women’s soccer and golf teams, with the latter squads practicing and hosting meets at Victoria Country Club and The Club at Colony Creek.
Meanwhile, many students show interest in Victoria College because of strong local club sports, such as tennis, dance, volleyball, archery and men’s basketball.
k-12
ViCTOria iNdEpENdENT SChOOl diSTriCT (ViSd)
Parents and students choose from an array of schools in the V i S d, the primary provider of education for grades K-12. The district offers 17 elementary schools and 18 middle and high schools (many of which are magnet schools), along with nine private schools.
in 2010, the University of Houston-Victoria transitioned from a two-year college for juniors, seniors and graduate students to a four-year state university. UHV’s enrollment tops 4,300 students in its four colleges: the School of arts and Sciences, School of Business administration, School of Education and Human Development, and School of Nursing. t he university offers 31 bachelor’s and 20 master’s programs and awards more than 800 degrees annually.
detar facilities and citiZens medical give residents trio of choices
For Victoria residents, peace of mind comes from knowing their health-care needs can all be met close to home at one of three hospitals, Citizens Medical Center or one of two DeTar Healthcare System facilities. Story by Kevin Litwin
deTar Healthcare System has two hospitals in v ictoria and also maintains a strong connection to the community by offering classes in cpr, diabetes education, prenatal and pregnancy, and water work exercises. d etar hospital navarro has 193 beds and services such as an accredited chest pain center, a cardiac center, cancer center, level iii trauma center and an intensive care unit. meanwhile, d etar hospital north has 115 beds and offers services such as advanced technological imaging, labor and delivery, a pediatrics unit and a level iv trauma center.
how do you mend a broken heart? physicians at Citizens medical Center in victoria know the answers. in 2012, cmc was presented with the a merican heart a ssociation’s mission: lifeline bronze q uality achievement award, in recognition of the hospital’s care for stemi (st elevation myocardial infarction) heart attack patients. cmc serves victoria and south texas in its 344-bed facility with 220 physicians covering 36 specialties, four family medicine clinics and a helicopter service –citizens air medical – to transport the critically ill or injured.
Long-Term acute Care (LTaC)
Complex medical management and therapeutic care –24 hours a day/7 days a week
Comprehensive Wound Care Center
Providing the latest in wound care advancements and technology including Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO)
Outpatient rehabilitation
Spinal Cord Injuries • Stroke • Brain Injuries
Other Neurological Disorders • Low Back/Neck Pain
Work Related Injuries • Joint Replacements
General Orthopedic Rehabilitation • Hand Injuries
Amputees • Chronic Pulmonary Disease • Sports Medicine
Gait/Balance Disorders • Arthritis/Degenerative Joint Disease
www.warmsprings.org
see a sunset over the coleto creek park and reservoir between victoria and goliad. visitors can enjoy boating, camping, water skiing, swimming and fishing on the lighted 200-foot pier.
see more photos that showcase victoria’s unique offerings at livability.com/victoria/tx/ photos-video
t he historic v ictoria county courthouse, built in 1892 of texas granite and indiana limestone, has a clock in the tower that still strikes on the hour.
Info on Victoria’s top employers, jobs and success stories
v ictoria’s central location and proximity to major cities, along with recent investments, generate new ideas and expansion projects including the rail system.
see more photos that showcase the victoria’s unique offerings at livability.com/victoria/tx/ photos-video.
• Income
Individual & Business
• Corporation & Partnerships
• Notary Services
Carmen N. Garza
“You Have a Friend in the Business”
1001 E. Rio Grande • Victoria, TX 77901 (361) 578-6481 • (361) 578-6561 Fax best6481@sbcglobal.net www.bestwaybookandtax.com
Caterpillar www.cat.com
Citizens HealthPlex www.citizenshealthplex.org
Coldwell Banker –The Ron Brown Company www.ronbrown.com
DeTar Healthcare System www.detar.com
Dr. Donald W. Breech MD www.drbreech.com
First Victoria www.firstvictoria.com
Gulf Bend Center www.gulfbend.org
Homewood Residence www.brookdaleliving.com
The Club at Colony Creek www.theclubatcolonycreek.com
Torin Bales Fine Jewelry www.torinbales.com
New Distributing/Fastop www.newdistributing.com
Pat Pachta – State Farm www.patpachta.com
Prokop Custom Homes www.prokopcustomhomes.com
Re/Max Land & Homes www.victoriatxrealestate.com
Shannon Bradley Pools www.shannonbradleypools.com
St. Joseph High School www.stjvictoria.com
Texas Dow Employees Credit Union www.tdecu.org
Texas Vocational Schools www.texasvocationalschools.com
Toyota of Victoria www.toyotaofvictoria.com
Trinity Episcopal School www.tecvictoria.org
Twin Pines North www.twinpinesnorth.com
University of Houston – Victoria www.uhv.edu
Victoria College www.victoriacollege.edu
Victoria Communication Services Companies www.vcscompanies.com
Victoria Convention & Visitors Bureau www.visitvictoriatexas.com
Warm Springs www.warmsprings.org
plastics & manufacturing still thrive
While Caterpillar and Eagle Ford Shale headline the latest local economic news, Victoria’s core plastics and manufacturing companies keep setting an example of how it’s great to operate at the “South Texas Crossroads.” Story by Raven Petty
maNuFaCTuriNg & plaSTiCS
The largest integrated producer of polymers and fibers has a presence in Victoria; invista, inc., focuses on nylon, spandex and polyester applications. invista, inc., a subsidiary of Koch Industries, sponsors a 50-acre wetland which serves as an educational science center for children in upper elementary levels through college, and returns 3.2 million gallons of water per day to the Guadalupe River.
Formosa plastics Corporation has a 1,600-acre petrochemical complex in Point Comfort, Texas. Thirteen production units and a support center enable Formosa to produce plastic resins and petrochemicals. One of the largest employers in the area, Formosa also created the Formosa Tejano Wetlands Project to assist with wildlife preservation.
inteplast g roup’s facility, in nearby Lolita, Texas, employs many people in the area. The facility is located on more than 700 acres and manufactures a variety of plastics. Some include: BOPP; stretch; grocery, merchandise and garbage bags; fluted plastic sheets; foams; and more. Inteplast focuses on innovation and technological practices in order to be the largest plant of its kind.
Another major area employer is d ow Chemical , whose Seadrift Operations manufacturing facility is located on 4,700 acres. The plant focuses on basic and performance plastics and chemicals such as plastics for wire and cable, tubing, automotive parts, and oxide derivatives mainly for health and beauty products.
Berry plastics Corporation, originally Imperial Plastics dating to 1967, manufactures injection-molded plastic packaging, thermoformed products, flexible films and tapes and coatings.
TraNSpOrTaTiON, l aNd & wOrkFOrCE TraiNiNg
Victoria regional airport serves businesses and travelers in the southeast Texas region. The airport provides arrivals and departures seven days a week, and even offers free Wi-Fi in the passenger terminal and free parking. The Sky Restaurant is on site and open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday. Beyond its casual dining, visitors can also take advantage of the full bar, private room or banquet hall.
After successfully developing its 322-acre lone Tree Business Center, largely thanks to the arrival of Caterpillar, the city is now developing infrastructure for a second business park on Lone Tree Road.
Sixteen and a half acres of this new park have been set aside for Victoria College’s new Emerging Technology Center for corporate and industrial training. Construction of this new center will be paid for with a $22 million bond issue approved in 2012 by local voters.
BudgET BliNdS
Since its founding in 1992, Budget Blinds has grown into America’s #1 window coverings franchise. Blinds, shutters, shades, curtains and drapes are all sold under Budget Blinds. www.budgetblinds.com
dr. maC lEE , dENTiST
Dr. Mac Lee takes good care of residents’ dental needs. Dr. Lee has an extensive background in complicated dental procedures and has appeared on The Dr. Oz Show www.drmaclee.com
ThE rEmiNgTON OF ViCTOria
The Remington is Victoria’s newest community of luxury apartments. Opened in the summer of 2012, the complex features one- and twobedroom apartments and superior amenities. www.theremingtonliving.com
CENTury OakS TiTlE , llC
House-hunters are in good hands with Century Oaks Title, LLC. All employees have 20-plus years of title experience to better provide the real estate community with the services it needs. www.centuryoakstitle.com
ruSSEll BuESiNg, FarmErS iNSuraNCE
Russell Buesing, Farmers Insurance agent, provides the community with a range of insurance options including auto, home, life, business and more. www.farmersagent.com/ rbuesing
read more about the economy in v ictoria at livability.com/victoria/ tx/business
c aterpillar hydraulic excavators are ready for delivery outside of the new c aterpillar facility in v ictoria. i n June 2011, the company announced it would increase its current building project to 1.1 million square feet with an additional $70 million investment.
With the number of jobs and spinoffs of industries being created in Victoria through a couple of major developments in the last two years or so, Dale Fowler has every reason to smile these days.
Fowler, president of the Victoria Economic Development Corp., says he is witnessing an economic bustle unlike anything he has seen in his 12 years in the position. The strong signs are due primarily to the recent expansion of Caterpillar’s Victoria facility and the development of Eagle Ford Shale in south Texas. Both have spurred new jobs, additional support industries, and the potential for a residential and commercial boom.
“This probably trumps anything in the past decade,” Fowler says of the impact from Caterpillar and EFS. “It’s a good time to be doing economic development in Texas and certainly in Victoria.”
Caterpillar, the world’s leading manufacturer of construction, mining and industrial equipment and engines, opened its 1.1 million-square-foot hydraulic excavator facility in Victoria in the summer of 2012. It is expected to more than triple the current capacity of hydraulic excavators produced by the company in the United States.
The $200 million facility has already led to approximately 350 new jobs in Victoria, with at least another 400 expected by 2015.
Though Victoria is a little south of the EFS play, the city has still benefited from its economic impact. EFS, a booming resource for natural gas with depths between 4,000 and 14,000 feet, has brought hundreds of jobs and billions of dollars to the south Texas economy.
“We’re probably the largest of the seven cities along the Eagle Ford,” Fowler says, “so we have quite a few service companies locating here and a lot of the labor force staying here.”
The growth has also led to recent additions of three new hotels in Victoria. Hotel Western opened in June 2012, and a Homewood Suites by Hilton and a Hilton Garden Inn are to follow in 2013. An official with Homewood says the bulk of the hotel’s business should come from corporate and business travelers.
“We’ve sat down with companies to build relationships,” says Noel Salinas, CEO of Castle Hospitality, a McAllen company that oversees Homewood Suites. “We want to be their corporate hotel.”
The new Homewood Suites will include a 1,300-square-foot meeting room.
“There’s a lot of demand for hotel rooms and meeting space and not enough supply,” he says. “We expect that we’ll be very busy.”
Now that Caterpillar and EFS have boosted employment and construction in Victoria, Fowler says even more payoff is potentially on the horizon.
“We hope that in the near future there will be some commercial and residential developers looking at this area,” he says.
by
John
McBryde
by staff photographers Jeff Adkins and Brian McCord
As its name implies, the new Emerging Technology Center at Victoria College is focused on the future.
Construction is under way on the 80,000-square-foot facility on 16.5 acres at Victoria’s new industrial park near Lone Tree Business Park, with completion scheduled for the spring of 2015. And though the building is necessary to accommodate a current growing enrollment and lack of space on campus, it is also designed to meet the needs of any additional industries that might locate in Victoria in coming years.
“With this new facility, we’re not only going to continue with what we already do, but we’re going to be able to develop some new workforce training programs,” says Jennifer yancey, vice president of college advancement and external affairs for Victoria College. “We’ll be able to address the workforce needs of current and future businesses in the area.”
From 2009 to 2011, enrollment at the college increased by 12 percent for students taking credit courses and by 42 percent for continuing education. yancey points out that Victoria College is already involved in working with Caterpillar to train more than 350 of its employees, using a warehouse that was remodeled to meet short-term training demands.
The Emerging Technology Center will include a 56,000-square-foot conference center and 24,000-square-foot, high-bay training area. The conference center will include a large meeting space, classrooms, computer labs, conference rooms and a catering kitchen. Inside the training center will be classrooms and six bays, with space for six additional bays in the future.
by John McBryde
polymer and fiber producer invista has a manufacturing plant in victoria. the facility continues to expand, adding new employees and broadening the scope of its operations.
see more photos that showcase victoria’s unique offerings at livability.com/victoria/tx/photos-video.
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1 Blanton Bu I lders
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chamber establishes more information committees
Committees will come to order, thanks to volunteer employees at businesses that are members of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce. The chamber established five new information committees in 2012 to help keep the rest of the membership up to date about what is happening in the community.
“The committees are Transportation, Legislation, Small Business Services, Retail Development and Newcomers,” says Randy Vivian, president/CEO of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce. “The purpose is for volunteers on those committees to keep the rest of our 900 members better informed with pertinent news that is important to businesses and everything else in the community. The Chamber is making a big push with these committees in 2013.”
For example, Vivian says the Transportation Committee will update Chamber members about construction projects throughout the region.
“These days, there is a lot of construction occurring in Victoria, including a highway loop being built around the city,” he says. “The Transportation Committee will keep members updated via emails and texts on project deadlines, road closures, when certain construction is starting and ending, and construction costs. Members will receive frequent updates from those who have volunteered for this particular committee.”
Vivian adds that the other committees will be just as busy. For instance, the Newcomers Committee will identify and welcome people who have just moved to Victoria.
“We have more than 100 volunteers on the five new committees, with meetings occurring on a monthly basis,” Vivian says. “The members are
from all walks of life. They are from small and large businesses, education, medicine, manufacturing – all sectors of our economy.”
In other news, the Chamber has spent several months refurbishing its website (www.victoriachamber.org), and the site has re-launched for 2013.
“It has a fresh look and is very information driven,” Vivian says. “We needed an update for a long time, and it’s now a website that our members can be proud of. It’s a strong resource for the community to find information about Victoria businesses as well as other aspects of life in Victoria.”
by Kevin Litwin
