Yarbrough: economic growth will follow sustainability

“Gifted geographically”

Marci Gilbert, Mar 29, 11.

“If we are successful long-term on the sustainability of our city government, cleaning this city up, and streamlining all that maze of codes and zoning; economic development is going to follow. There ain’t no question about it,” said former Galveston County Judge Jim Yarbrough, who is now the city’s economic development officer according to a story in Guidry News.

Yarbrough said the city is gifted geographically.

“The tourists want to come here, and the port (with the improved) Panama Canal is going to do well if we just don’t get in the way,” he said. “We’ve got to guide it, we’ve got to directed it, we’ve got to channel it, but because of our geography if you do those three things you set as a priority, I promise you economic development will come.”

However, he said the city council and the upper management of Galveston are currently overwhelmed.

“I see you struggle here every other Thursday from nine o’clock in the morning until y’all run the white flag up sometime late in the evening,” Yarbrough said. “You know, we’re focusing on small stuff. My daddy always taught me, ‘You focus on small things, you will accomplish small things.’ Folks, we’ve got to raise the bar.”

Jeff Sjostrom, president of the Galveston Economic Development Partnership, said he was encouraged by Yarbrough’s contribution to the program.

“It’s incredible,” Sjostrom said. “This is the first constructive conversation that we’ve had since September 13, 2008.”

Source: Guidry News