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Overview

Aerospace

Aerospace Sector Boosts Economy
As far back as World War II and before, the area in and around McGregor has been home to airplanes, airports and flight-testing ventures of all kinds.
L-3 Communications Integrated Systems won a bid to build cargo planes for the U.S. Army and Air Force. Adjacent to Waco Clear Skies Ahead for Aerospace Industry
Aerospace Industry Taking Off in Waco.

Agriculture

With fertile soil, annual rainfall that averages 32 inches and a 253-day growing season, the region has a strong agricul Heart of Texas Fertile Ground for Ag Business
Agriculture continues to provide a solid base for the regional economy.

Business Almanac

Fish Bite in Local Waters
Fishermen are not disappointed when they are looking for that special fishing hole in the Heart of Texas.
Freestone County Has Home of Distinction
A pre-Civil War home built by W.L. Moody for his bride, Elizabeth Bradley, still stands in Freestone County.
They Got Bonnie and Clyde
Stephen F. Austin and the Texas Rangers have a common bond.
The Write Stuff
Here is some Page One news from Baylor University.
Limestone Attraction Schooled in History
Attention, class. An old building in Limestone County showcases the history of public schools in the area.
Hewitt Receives Best Place Accolades
The city of Hewitt has made national news.
Scottish Rite Museum Salutes Freemasonary
The Texas Scottish Rite Library and Museum in Waco opened in 1969 as a salute to the Scottish Rite Masons of Texas.
Motorcycle Track Offers Room to Vroom
Freestone County Raceway in Wortham was constructed in 2000 by motorcycle racer Tony Miller so that riders and families would have a centrally located track to hold races.
Willie Nelson Lived Here
The Hill County Cell Block Museum served as the county jail until 1983.
Clifton Celebrates Norwegian Heritage
It’s not close to Oslo, but Clifton is known as the Norwegian Capital of Texas.
Hill College Boasts Texas History Museum
The Texas Heritage Museum, on the campus of Hill College, is home to a 3,000-volume library on Lone Star State history.
Doris “Dorie” Miller Pearl Harbor Hero Was from Waco
A Waco native was at the epicenter of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Marlin’s Mineral Water
Hot mineral water was found in Marlin in 1892 – by accident.
museum Pre-Historic Creatures Uncovered in Waco
Huge Columbian mammoths once roamed the area now known as Waco, with the large elephants weighing as much as 20,000 pounds.
Long-Novel Writer Hails from Waco
Waco native Madison Cooper wrote what was the longest novel by a U.S. author when it was published in 1952.
flag President Bush Calls the Heart of Texas ‘Home’
When President Bush is not in the Nation’s Capital, there is a chance he is in Crawford.
Festivals Abound in the Heart of Texas
If you can’t find an annual festival to enjoy in the Heart of Texas region, you aren’t looking hard enough.
island The Brazos Beckons Boaters
The falls of the Brazos River and areas upstream and downstream form a particularly scenic stretch of Falls County.

Business Climate

Diverse Economy Fuels Growth Throughout Region
If it’s catching on in the rest of the country, chances are it’s already up and running in the Heart of Texas.
The Waco Convention Center includes twin 15,000-square-foot ballrooms. Center Experiences Unconventional Growth
The Waco Convention Center is receiving a $17.5 million over­haul that will take the facility to the next level.
The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce building anchors a downtown revival. Chamber Drives $1B Development Initiative for Downtown Waco
The Chamber of Commerce's LEED-Certified, Headquarters is the anchor for new commercial, retail, residential development.
Regional Efforts Keep Heart of Texas Pumping
Local governments and officials charged with attracting new investment and promoting business expansion in the Heart of Texas are big believers in a regional approach.
Council of Governments Promotes Regional Economic Development
With a temperate climate and a central Texas location within easy reach of major metropolitan areas, the Heart of Texas is a vibrant region that increasing numbers of businesses call home.
Heart of Texas Offers 10 Good Reasons to Come, Stay
Heart of Texas Offers 10 Good Reasons to Come, Stay.
Downtown Waco’s skyline is changing as revitalization projects multiply. Public, Private Dollars Revive Waco’s Central Core
An influx of upscale eateries, merchants and apartments is more evidence of downtown Waco’s renaissance, which is being spurred by both public and private capital.
Retail centers such as Central Texas MarketPlace in Waco have experienced marked growth over the last several years. Heart of Texas Retailers Get Wind In Their Sales
Retailing in the Heart of Texas is booming, from specialty shops to big-box discount stores.
HOTCOG helped in convincing the federal government to spare the Waco Veterans Affairs Medical Center so it can continue Governments Work Together to Improve Region
In the Heart of Texas region, cities and counties are teaming up in the name of progress.

Energy

Power Plant Energizes Local Economy
The $1 billion price tag is enough to make the Sandy Creek Power Generation Facility get noticed, but supporters say that job creation and ongoing tax revenue are what make the project really stand out.
Technology Turns Waste into Fuel
From eco-friendly buildings and businesses to recycling programs that find a new use for just about everything, the Heart of Texas is going green in a big way.
Demand for wind turbines has grown, and 200 to 400 a year will be made in McLennan County. Towers of Power
Wind energy updraft brings business to McGregor.
Innovation Fuels New Energy Source at Mars
Mars plant harvests landfill methane to cut energy costs.
Energy is omnipresent in the Heart of Texas. From coal to oil to natural gas, the energy industry powers the local econo The Heart of Texas is All Pumped Up Over the Future of Energy Development
Oil and natural gas are a mainstay, new projects are in the works and across the Heart of Texas, the future is bright for the energy industry.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing Thrives Here
The Heart of Texas is a magnet for new and nontraditional companies these days, but its longtime manufacturing base continues to grow and thrive as well.
The Dr Pepper Museum and Free Enterprise Institute houses exhibits that recount the 123-year history of the soft drink. Dr Pepper, Big Red Both Got Their Start in Waco
No one really knows how Dr Pepper got its name, but there’s no doubt about its birthplace.
William F. Mims, CEO of American Mast Climbers, employs about 35 in his Hill County manufacturing facility that produces Diverse Manufacturing Sector Picks Up Steam
Companies find Heart of Texas is ideal locale

Transportation

Distribution Center Prompts Transportation Enhancements
As manufacturers and retailers grow their distribution presence throughout the Heart of Texas region, local officials are looking at new and innovative ways to move something else: personnel.
Program Gives Lift to Commuting
Residents of remote areas in Falls and McLennan counties can now take public transportation to jobs in Waco, a new initiative that has the backing of local businesses.
Tractor Supply has doubled the size of its Heart of Texas distribution operations. Distribution Has a Strong Beat in Heart of Texas
They don’t call it “The Heart of Texas” for nothing.
Easy access to Interstates 35 and 45 makes it convenient for manufacturers to export goods to most of the country. Convenient Transportation Options Fuel Development in Heart of Texas
Convenient transportation options fuel economic development throughout the region.

Welcome Section

Heart of Texas Offers 10 Good Reasons to Come, Stay
The Heart of Texas is along the I-35 and I-45 corridors, equidistant between Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth. Extensive air and railway transportation infrastructure also is found throughout the region.
regional development Pumping the Heart of Texas
Heart of Texas Council of Governments Promotes Development

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