In a year defined by the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic impact it brought, there is no doubt this year has been one of unexpected change and challenges. Thankfully, for the Greater San Marcos Partnership (GSMP), our mission still remained the same: focusing on improving the quality of life for the residents of Hays and Caldwell counties by facilitating the creation of new and good paying jobs.
Even with the circumstances that 2020 presented, I am delighted to report that Fiscal Year 2020 (defined as Oct. 1, 2019 to Sept. 30, 2020) brought a record-breaking amount of economic development interest to our region, the Texas Innovation Corridor.
During that fiscal year, GSMP responded to potential relocation and expansion projects worth $6.6 billion in potential capital investment — more than double any prior year in the history of the organization. This potential capital investment, meaning the speculated value of facilities, equipment, supplies, infrastructure and funds that a company would invest in the region, represents the strongest economic pipeline and business interest our region has ever seen.
