The Metropolitan State of Texas: Securing the State's Prosperity and Competitiveness

EVENT: PUBLIC,   RESEARCH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | HOUSING | TRANSPORTATION
Mar 24, 2021
12:00pm - 1:30pm

The Metropolitan State of Texas: Securing the State's Prosperity and Competitiveness

The LBJ Urban Lab at The University of Texas at Austin, the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University and the George W. Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative convened the state's top urban policy researchers for a summit addressing the most important issues in Texas cities: economic development, land use, housing, infrastructure and transportation.

Metropolitan regions are home to 9 in 10 Texans, and they are the state's economic engines. They need a slate of policies that improves the quality of life for all their residents—and at the same time drives their competitiveness.

The state's low-tax, low-regulation environment may be good for business, but Texas is under-investing in places and people in the state's metropolitan areas, which is unsustainable as the state continues to grow rapidly. Texas's economic future depends on addressing the challenges facing its metro areas.

The LBJ Urban Lab at The University of Texas at Austin, the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University and the George W. Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative convened the state's top urban policy researchers for a summit addressing the most important issues in Texas cities: economic development, land use, housing, infrastructure and transportation.


Session 1: Why a Texas Metro Blueprint?

Henry Cisneros, Co-Chief Investment Officer and Co-Founder, American Triple I Partners

Margaret Spellings, President and CEO, Texas 2036

Bill Fulton, Director, Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Rice University (moderator)


Session 2: Closing the Urban Digital Divide

Amanda Edwards, President and CEO, The Community Based Solutions Firm

Kirk Watson, Founding Dean, Hobby School of Public Affairs, University of Houston

Cullum Clark, Director, Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative (moderator)


Session 3: Building a More Affordable Texas

Dr. Myriam Igoufe, Vice President of Development and Research, Housing Solutions for North Texas

Jack Matthews, President, Matthews Southwest Leilah Powell, Executive Director, LISC San Antonio

Kyle Shelton, Deputy Director, Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Rice University (moderator)


Session 4: Advancing Economic Prosperity

Laura Huffman, President and CEO, Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce

Dee Margo, Former Mayor, City of El Paso

Miguel Solis, Executive Director, Coalition for a New Dallas

Steven Pedigo, LBJ Urban Lab Director and Professor of Practice, LBJ School of Public Affairs (moderator)

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