Key Initiatives

• Affordable Housing

  The essentials for human life are food, clothing and shelter. That last of those is of particular interest to Gov. Perry who has long encouraged state agencies and their private sector partners to collaborate on sensible solutions to the challenge of substandard housing conditions in Texas. Since 2001, under Governor Perry’s leadership, the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) has financed the construction or rehabilitation of more than 100,000 multi-family housing units, offered help to more than 28,000 citizens seeking housing assistance and helped 13,000 families achieve the American dream of owning a home through safe, low-interest conventional mortgages.

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• An Educated and Skilled Workforce (Texas Workforce Investment Council)

  Gov. Perry recognizes need for state agencies to work together to promote the skilled and educated workforce that is vital for the state’s continuing economic prosperity.  The Texas Workforce Investment Council facilitates joint planning, leads strategy development and evaluates the Texas workforce development system, which is comprised of eight state agencies that administer more than twenty workforce programs. The ultimate goal is to wield state resources to spur economic development by preparing the skilled workers that employers need to be competitive in a global economy jobs.
  

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• Emerging Technology Fund

  Proposed by Gov. Perry in 2005 and launched on September 1st of that same year, the $275 million Emerging Technology Fund (ETF) gives Texas an unparalleled advantage by expediting the development and commercialization of new technologies and recruiting the best research talent in the world.

  The program established partnerships between state government, institutions of higher education and private industry to focus greater attention on the research, development, and commercialization of emerging technology in early stage companies.

  To date, the Fund has spurred a surge of technology commercialization including the recruitment of world-class researchers to Texas universities, the launch of several technology companies, and, in one case, a 46% return on the state’s investment when one of those companies was purchased by a competitor.
  

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• Governor’s Commission for Women

  The Governor’s Commission for Women partners with economic development organizations to help strengthen women’s position in the workforce. In an effort to provide assistance to a growing segment of our population, the Governor’s Commission for Women joined with AARP and their newly developed program called WorkSearch, which offers job and career information and services to Texans who want to stay in or re-enter the workforce. 

  To support survivors of domestic violence, the Governor’s Commission for Women teaches victims and their families workforce skills that help meet the needs of Texas employers, by offering workforce programs and services, training and resume-building and interviewing workshops. 

  Together with Count Me In and the Make Mine a Million $ Business initiative, the commission also supports entrepreneurs in their goal of reaching a million dollars in revenue.
  

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• Rural Community Development

  Governor Rick Perry, a native of Paint Creek, Texas, recognizes the importance of rural life in the Lone Star State. On June 17, 2001, during his first legislative session as governor, he signed into law a bill creating the Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA), which ensures a continuing focus on rural issues, monitors governmental actions affecting rural Texas, coordinates rural programs, researches problems and recommends solutions.

  In 2007, Governor Perry continued to lead and refine the state’s approach to assisting Texas’ rural communities when he reauthorized ORCA for an additional six years. Governor Perry appoints all members of ORCA’s Board except the Commissioner of Agriculture, who holds a seat in his official capacity.
  

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• Texas Enterprise Fund

  The Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) provides the state’s leaders with a “deal closing fund” that has the flexibility and financial resources to help strengthen the state’s economy.  The fund can be used for a variety of economic development projects including infrastructure and community development, job training programs and business incentives. Before funds can be awarded, the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker must unanimously agree to support the use of the TEF for each specific project.

  The TEF is used primarily to attract new business to the state or assist with the substantial expansion of an existing business as part of competitive recruitment. State leadership will also be able to use Enterprise funds to leverage other resources for an economic development project.

  To be eligible for TEF support, a project must demonstrate a significant return on the state’s investment and strong local support.  The review process will consider a variety of factors, including job creation and wages, capital investment, financial strength of the applicant, applicant’s business history, analysis of the relevant business sector, and public and private sector financial support.
  

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