Economic development means many things to many people, and is not necessarily equivalent to growth. “Growth,” usually a negative term, generally refers to unplanned, short-term solutions that may be imposed on a community by outside forces. On the other hand, “economic development” is more often defined as the deliberate, planned, long-range solutions to past, present, and potential economic realities, done on local terms at a rate at which the City is comfortable. This section describes several opportunities that Smithville can consider, including the following (and several others):
• Working with Bastrop County to institute facilities for higher education,
• Working with the Independent School District to strengthen vocational education and workforce training,
• Exploring the potential for an industrial park,
• Establishing an incentive policy for business recruitment and expansion, and
• Increasing tourism through partnerships with the Hyatt and marketing river access.