June 2002
Fellow Texans:I am pleased to share with you the Texas Regional Outlook for the Coastal Bend Region. This report presents my latest economic forecast for the state as a whole and the outlook for this unique 19-county region surrounding the Corpus Christi and Victoria metropolitan areas.
This report is one in a series of regional outlooks that I have asked my staff economists to prepare for all 13 regions of Texas. In addition to these reports, I will be traveling throughout the state to listen to what you and other fellow Texans have to say about the challenges facing your region and to get ideas on what the state can do to bring more jobs and economic growth to your area.
After these open forums, I plan to take your ideas and consult with the finest minds I can find—a blue-ribbon panel of experts who will work with me to produce a list of recommendations that I can present to the 78th Texas Legislature. With your help, we can identify opportunities for growth in your region and recommend changes to remove any obstacles that may stand in the way of building local economies and to provide for sound economic policies in the years to come.
For information regarding our regional meetings, please call Ann Quirk at 1-800-531-5441, extension 6-4159, or visit my Web site at www.window.state.tx.us/ecodata/regional/forums/. If you are unable to attend one of our meetings, you may still submit your comments and suggestions by email to regional.forums@cpa.state.tx.us, or write to:
Strategic Research Division
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Post Office Box 13528
Austin, Texas 78711-3528
I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks for all that you do for Texas.
Sincerely,
Carole Keeton Rylander
Texas Comptroller
