Congratulations to the People of Mount Pleasant! MPEDC staff & board members attended the Pilgrim’s Community Center groundbreaking at Oaklawn Park yesterday. The center will cost $2.8 million and is on target to open in late 2023! Special thanks to the City & Pilgrim’s for demonstrating what a public-private partnership looks like!
Background:
At the July 6th City Council meeting, MPEDC received the final approvals needed to award a $25,000 Workforce Development Grant it co-developed with NTCC for its CDL training academy.
In late 2020, Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC) launched its Professional Driving Academy, an educational training program intended to funnel students towards CDL licensing.In 2021, NTCC reached an important milestone and became a certified testing/driving site for CDL licensing. Students in the region can now drive to Mount Pleasant to take their driving tests on a physical course.
The Mount Pleasant Industrial Development Corporation (also IDC or MPEDC) staff and board have created and approved a workforce development grant. The grant will be specific to the Professional Driving Academy and will be geared towards training community members for the logistics industry.
MPIDC believes the grant will benefit both constituents and regional industry in addition to promoting NTCC as a quality institution. The grant will be made to NTCC and available to the community in the form of scholarships and financial assistance. The grant will only be available to constituents of Mount Pleasant and Titus County. MPIDC has a rich history of partnering with NTCC to meet industry needs. With all of Mount Pleasant’s local industry logistic activity and a national distribution center in a neighboring county, MPIDC believes this workforce development grant is a pragmatic, relatively simple, and next logical step towards increasing the skill set of our existing workforce for both current and future industry. The grant also supports one of NTCC’s newest and industry-relevant programs.
The Mount Pleasant City Council appointed a new member, Mike Price, to the Mount Pleasant Economic Development Corporation Board during the December 7, 2021, City Council meeting. Members of the Board are appointed by the City Council and serve a term of two years. Council may, at their pleasure, reappoint Board Members for successive terms.
Mike Price is a former Titus County Commissioner and retired business owner, LMP Concrete. We anticipate that his community engagement and business expertise will be a great asset to our decision-making process. We are pleased to have Mr. Price as a part of our Board.
WASHINGTON, DC (December 15, 2021) – Nathan Tafoya, CEcD, EDP, Executive Director, Mount Pleasant Economic Development Corporation, successfully achieved the Entrepreneurship Development Professional (EDP) credential from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). To achieve this rigorous designation, candidates must have had two years of full-time experience in economic development, have completed the necessary education requirements, and have passed the certification examination.
Tafoya was among the first cohort to complete the exam and do so in an entirely virtual environment. By achieving this credential, Tafoya demonstrated to their peers and community leaders that they have the skills and expertise to engage, elevate, and advance their community through entrepreneurship-led economic development.
“We know that entrepreneurs and small businesses are facing new obstacles and strongly believe that through earning the EDP credential, economic developers and those who support entrepreneurs and small businesses will be able to offer their communities the necessary skills and strategies for the future,” said 2021 IEDC Board Chair and Invest Buffalo President & CEO Tom Kucharski, CEcD. “These individuals are the future of their communities, and I’m certain this credential has prepared them for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.”
“These professionals are extremely well-equipped to advance their communities thanks to IEDC’s new EDP credential. Their hard work and dedication demonstrated by their completion of the program set the stage for future success in the post-pandemic economy and beyond,” added IEDC President and CEO Jeff Finkle.
“Entrepreneurship and economic development are inextricably linked,” said Penny Lewandowski, Principal at Changes At the Edges and proponent of the EDP credential. “This program has equipped these individuals with new ways to think about economic development – especially how a grow-from-within strategy can lead to thriving and sustainable economies.”
Millions of jobs and small businesses have been affected by COVID-19 and the subsequent economic crisis, and professionals like these will be crucial to addressing this struggle. The EDP credential and new EDP courses would not be possible without support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the Economic Development Administration, and partnership with the University of Missouri-Kansas City SourceLink.
The EDP credential is the second certification offered by IEDC, the first being the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) certification. The CecD credential is a comprehensive designation, testing applicants in general proficiency regarding economic development. IEDC has certified over 1,100 CEcD practitioners.
“Entrepreneur-focused economic development is one of the most powerful ways to spur economic growth. We are thrilled to support this important initiative, and cannot wait to see how these newly-credentialed professionals use their skills to advance their communities,” said Philip Gaskin, Vice President of Entrepreneurship at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.
“I’m proud to represent my community & the state with this certification! I appreciate the International Economic Development Council & I’m proud to hold both of the certifications they offer. The entrepreneurial ecosystem is about to get interesting in Mount Pleasant, Texas,” said Mr. Tafoya.
About the International Economic Development Council
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is the world’s largest membership organization for economic development professionals. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life in their communities by creating, retaining, and expanding jobs that facilitate growth and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, our members represent the entire range of economic development. Learn more at iedconline.org.
For more information contact:
Nathan Tafoya, CEcD, EDP
MPEDC Executive Director
903.717.7241
The City of Mount Pleasant is hosting Boots & Bells: An Olde West Christmas from November 5 through December 23, 2021.
Now in its second year, Boots & Bells will feature more than 1 million Christmas lights adorning the Titus County Courthouse Square, Caldwell Park and City buildings and businesses along the horse-drawn carriage ride route. Along with a free concert series every Saturday, a Christmas parade (put on by the Rotary Club of Mount Pleasant), and a “Walk Through Bethlehem” immersive experience, Mount Pleasant will be a joyous place to visit this holiday season.
October 15, 2021
TEDC Announces Board Chair, New Board Members and Election of Board Treasurer
The Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) at its Board Meeting on October 15, 2021, recognized Wesley Burnett as the 2022 Chair of the Board of Directors. Wesley will serve as board chair effective October 15, 2021, through October 21, 2022. He has been a member of the TEDC’s Executive Committee since 2018.
The TEDC’s Nominating Committee put forth the eight individuals for election to the TEDC’s board of directors. The TEDC’s board officially elected these new board members for terms beginning October 15, 2021: Jodi Carr, City of Ingleside, Kasey Coker, High Ground of Texas; Jason Ford, Frisco Economic Development Corporation; Raudel Garza, Harlingen Economic Development Corporation; Adam Gawarecki, San Patricio County Economic Development Corporation; Travis Haggard, Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce; Stewart McGregor, City of Grand Prairie and Nathan Tafoya, Mount Pleasant Economic Development Corporation.
Adrian Cannady, President, Temple Economic Development Corporation, was elected as Board Treasurer and is now in the rotation to be a future board chair of the Texas Economic Development Council.
The following board members were re-elected for another two-year term beginning October 15, 2021: Amy Madison, Pflugerville Community Development Corporation; Craig Rhodes, Greater Houston Partnership; Joshua Schneuker, Seguin Economic Development Corporation and Audrey Schroyer, Gainesville Economic Development Corporation.
The following board members whose terms expired October 15, 2021, were recognized for their board leadership: Ken Becker, Sweetwater Economic Development; Chad Burke, Economic Alliance Houston Port Region; Kim Buttram, City of Mesquite; Kristina Collins, Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce; Jason Greiner, Wylie Economic Development Corporation, John Hubbard, University of North Texas and Carolyn Rowley, Lubbock Economic Development Alliance.
About the TEDC:
The Texas Economic Development Council is governed by a 24-member board and an 8-member Executive Committee.
The TEDC provides information, education and legislative services to its members to foster the expansion of existing businesses, the location of new firms and the development of strategies that promote a positive business climate in Texas. With 850 members, the TEDC is the largest state economic development association in the nation.
For more information contact:
Mr. Carlton Schwab
President/CEO
Texas Economic Development Council
(512) 480-8432
Address- Office Location
302 North Jefferson Avenue, Suite 101 • Mount Pleasant, Texas 75455
Phone
Office: 903.572.6602 • Fax: 903.572.0631
© 2025 Mount Pleasant Economic Development Corporation. All rights reserved.
