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Special Holiday Edition 2016

BlueRibbonNews.com

A FLOURISHING FUTURE

•••  Economic Development Insight  •••

The Rockwall Economic Development 
Corporation was created 20 years ago with 
the strategic mission of broadening and 
diversifying the Rockwall tax base and 
creating jobs within the City of Rockwall. 
Since its creation, REDC has fueled the 
Rockwall economy by creating thousands 
of jobs and adding hundreds of millions 
of dollars to the tax base.  

“Rockwall’s vibrant and robust economy 
will flourish into the future,” said REDC 
president and CEO, Sheri Franza. “REDC’s 
commitment to actively recruit corporate 
headquarters and industry to Rockwall from 
around the globe in order to create wealth 
and jobs in our community will continue. The 
benefit of our efforts lessens the tax burden 
for our residents, builds a strong business 
climate, and creates an even greater quality 
of life for everyone to enjoy.”

While REDC has certainly experienced 
success in the past, the work of building a 

city and maintaining a unique culture is an 
ongoing and dynamic process. It takes a lot 
of work and commitment from our leaders 
to have a vision of where we want to be, 
establish a plan on how we are going to get 
there, and maintain our identity and quality 
of life along the way.

Rockwall’s history of past commercial and 
residential development provides a strong 
foundation for building what is yet to come 
in the future.  The reputation of ‘Life is 
just better in Rockwall’ will continue to 
encourage more residential and commercial 
growth. In the past 10 years, Rockwall has 
seen a 116% increase in commercial growth, 
a 63% increase in residential growth and an 
87% increase in sales tax revenue. If that 
was the past, what is the future? 

The City of Rockwall plans to maintain 
a diverse tax ratio of 67% residential and 
33% commercial. Increased residential 
development will drive the demand for more 

restaurants, retail 
and entertainment. The 
market demands of the 
millennial generation 
will greatly influence 
the type of ‘experience’ 
that will be created in 
dining, shopping and 
entertainment options 
in Rockwall.  
    
Small business will make up most of 
the service sector of the job market, and 
industry will experience significant growth 
in manufacturing with the re-shoring of jobs 
in the United States and the advancement 
of robotics and engineered technology. The 
future of the Rockwall economy is built on 
a solid foundation. Strategic and planned 
development will provide greater quality 
of place and life, and create a wider variety 
of options of where to go and what to 
do in Rockwall.  

“We all have a choice of where we work, raise 
our families, educate our children and live and 
enjoy life,” said Franza. “The vision of our 
leaders and their courage and commitment 
to make sound economic decisions for our 
community is the reason the City of Rockwall 
remains the future choice for many.”  

Submitted guest column by REDC.

An anniversary luncheon at Culpepper Steakhouse on Nov. 15 

celebrated 20 years of the REDC bringing quality commercial and 

residential development to the community. 

Photo by Richard Redig. 

GOOD BUSINESS

 

Dinner for Two $49

Ring in 2017 with

     Online at DodiesAtTheHarbor.com

     or call 972-771-0004

Reservations 

Required

New Year’s Eve 

4-Course Menu

Congratulations to the second, 

third and fourth grade Leopards 

who topped off a winning season 

with a championship victory at 

the J.E.R. Chilton YMCA. They 

are led by volunteer coach Amy 

Clayton. The Green Spikers 

(fifth, sixth, and seventh grade 

age bracket) are also season 

champs, under the direction of 

volunteer coach Michael Burden. 

Spring volleyball registration 

will begin in January at 

the Rockwall YMCA. 

Photos by Blue Ribbon News. 

V   lleyball                     

Vict   ries

Leopards

Green Spikers

Green Spikers