San Antonio area wins state award for success with Rackspace project at former Windsor Park Mall
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San Antonio (September 30, 2008) - The San Antonio area took the top award in the annual economic development competition by the Texas Economic Development Council, for its success in making it possible for major technology employer Rackspace, Inc., to stay in the area and expand in the former Windsor Park Mall shopping center.
The Rackspace project earned the area the top prize among the state's largest cities in TEDC's annual Community Economic Development Awards contest. Prizes were awarded to five different population categories. Contestants were judged in terms of innovativeness, transferability, community commitment and leverage, measured objectives (such as jobs created and retained, investment in the community and additions to the tax base), and secondary benefits. San Antonio and other award recipients were honored at the TEDC's annual conference today in Austin. "San Antonio's entry stood out as unique in a competition that was very strong in all of the population categories," said TEDC President and CEO Carlton Schwab.
When Rackspace, a global web hosting company founded in San Antonio in 1998, needed to expand, and in 2007 was looking nationwide for a place to consolidate its operations, including its headquarters, data center and IT operations, rather than continue to grow in multiple locations. Economic development professionals from the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, Bexar County, the City of San Antonio, the City of Windcrest and its Windcrest Economic Development Corp., CPS Energy, and the San Antonio Water System, and the State of Texas joined forces to make it possible for Rackspace to stay in the area with thorough research, innovative incentives and creative real estate transactions.
Keeping Rackspace in the metropolitan area not only retained a growing information technology employer, but also brought new life to the Windcrest area of northeastern Bexar County, which was suffering economically since the demise of the 1.2 million-square-foot mall located on a 68-acre tract. In addition to spending more than $100 million to convert the site, Rackspace could increase its local employment from about 1,400 to as much as 6,000 over the next five years, with a payroll of about $300 million.
"We are thrilled that this team effort has received recognition from the state, because Rackspace will continue to have an increasing economic impact on the San Antonio area for many years," said Mario Hernandez, president of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation.
Ray Watson, executive director of the Windcrest Economic Development Corp., said, "The unified effort from all of the parties involved from throughout the metropolitan area and from Austin is what really made the Rackspace deal work. This is a win for Windcrest, San Antonio, Bexar County, the state of Texas, and Rackspace."
About the City of Windcrest
The City of Windcrest is a suburban community, originally incorporated in 1959, it was once a rural community but has since been surrounded by the continued growth of San Antonio and communities to the north.
Approximately 5,100 residents live within Windcrest city limits. Residents enjoy a unique small town community atmosphere with quiet streets, city parks, and exceptional city services.
Windcrest offers quiet, small town living but with the conveniences of a major city nearby. The City of Windcrest is a suburban community, originally incorporated in 1959, it was once a rural community but has since been surrounded by the continued growth of San Antonio and communities to the north.
Approximately 5,100 residents live within Windcrest city limits. Residents enjoy a unique small town community atmosphere with quiet streets, city parks, and exceptional city services.
About the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation
The San Antonio Economic Development Foundation is a private, not-for-profit organization responsible for attracting new business and industry to San Antonio. The organization has been responsible for the recruitment of more than 300 companies that collectively employ more than 70,000 San Antonians.
If you would like the complete story, please click here to sign up for your free subscription.
The Rackspace project earned the area the top prize among the state's largest cities in TEDC's annual Community Economic Development Awards contest. Prizes were awarded to five different population categories. Contestants were judged in terms of innovativeness, transferability, community commitment and leverage, measured objectives (such as jobs created and retained, investment in the community and additions to the tax base), and secondary benefits. San Antonio and other award recipients were honored at the TEDC's annual conference today in Austin. "San Antonio's entry stood out as unique in a competition that was very strong in all of the population categories," said TEDC President and CEO Carlton Schwab.
When Rackspace, a global web hosting company founded in San Antonio in 1998, needed to expand, and in 2007 was looking nationwide for a place to consolidate its operations, including its headquarters, data center and IT operations, rather than continue to grow in multiple locations. Economic development professionals from the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation, Bexar County, the City of San Antonio, the City of Windcrest and its Windcrest Economic Development Corp., CPS Energy, and the San Antonio Water System, and the State of Texas joined forces to make it possible for Rackspace to stay in the area with thorough research, innovative incentives and creative real estate transactions.
Keeping Rackspace in the metropolitan area not only retained a growing information technology employer, but also brought new life to the Windcrest area of northeastern Bexar County, which was suffering economically since the demise of the 1.2 million-square-foot mall located on a 68-acre tract. In addition to spending more than $100 million to convert the site, Rackspace could increase its local employment from about 1,400 to as much as 6,000 over the next five years, with a payroll of about $300 million.
"We are thrilled that this team effort has received recognition from the state, because Rackspace will continue to have an increasing economic impact on the San Antonio area for many years," said Mario Hernandez, president of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation.
Ray Watson, executive director of the Windcrest Economic Development Corp., said, "The unified effort from all of the parties involved from throughout the metropolitan area and from Austin is what really made the Rackspace deal work. This is a win for Windcrest, San Antonio, Bexar County, the state of Texas, and Rackspace."
About the City of Windcrest
The City of Windcrest is a suburban community, originally incorporated in 1959, it was once a rural community but has since been surrounded by the continued growth of San Antonio and communities to the north.
Approximately 5,100 residents live within Windcrest city limits. Residents enjoy a unique small town community atmosphere with quiet streets, city parks, and exceptional city services.
Windcrest offers quiet, small town living but with the conveniences of a major city nearby. The City of Windcrest is a suburban community, originally incorporated in 1959, it was once a rural community but has since been surrounded by the continued growth of San Antonio and communities to the north.
Approximately 5,100 residents live within Windcrest city limits. Residents enjoy a unique small town community atmosphere with quiet streets, city parks, and exceptional city services.
About the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation
The San Antonio Economic Development Foundation is a private, not-for-profit organization responsible for attracting new business and industry to San Antonio. The organization has been responsible for the recruitment of more than 300 companies that collectively employ more than 70,000 San Antonians.
If you would like the complete story, please click here to sign up for your free subscription.
