Spotlight On: Josh Schneuker, Executive Director, Seguin Economic Development Corporation
March 2025 — Invest: spoke with Josh Schneuker, executive director of the Seguin Economic Development Corporation, who highlighted the city’s rapid growth, the expected impact from the new Texas State Technical College campus, and how Seguin is balancing growth and the preservation of its small-town charm.
What are your top priorities for Seguin’s business and economic development over the next year?
One of our primary focuses is capitalizing on Seguin’s rapid population growth, which continues to show no signs of slowing down. To support this growth, we’re working to enhance and expand retail offerings in the community. While we’ve seen success in recruiting manufacturers and industrial development projects, our growing population, both new and existing residents, demands diversified retail options. We’re starting to see this come together.
In September, a major retail development broke ground, which will deliver nearly 140,000 square feet of new retail space, featuring national retailers like Academy Sports + Outdoors and Hobby Lobby. Additionally, in August 2024, we announced Chick-fil-A’s first restaurant in Seguin, scheduled to break ground in May. Behind the scenes, we’re working with developers and national retailers to facilitate more retail projects that will meet the needs of our expanding community.
Workforce development is another top priority. A skilled labor force is not only essential for providing opportunities to our residents but also serves as a critical economic development tool. Ensuring a well-trained workforce strengthens Seguin’s ability to retain and attract businesses.
One of the most exciting developments in this space is the new Texas State Technical College (TSTC), announced in December 2024. While construction is still a few years away, this is a huge win for Seguin. Having a technical training provider like TSTC in our community will offer residents valuable educational opportunities while providing local industries with a pipeline of skilled talent, helping drive economic growth for years to come.
What impact do you expect from the plans for Texas State Technical College in terms of economic development, job opportunities, and workforce training?
Seguin is a blue-collar community with a strong manufacturing base, but we’ve lacked a dedicated technical training provider to support our industries. Texas State Technical College will fill that gap, providing critical workforce training that benefits both residents and businesses. This isn’t just about economic growth, it’s about building a sustainable ecosystem where talent development drives long-term success.
With TSTC, we will be able to collaborate with local employers to develop customized training programs that align with industry needs. As technology reshapes manufacturing and other sectors, companies require workers with evolving skill sets. TSTC will ensure that Seguin’s workforce stays ahead of these changes, making our community more competitive for new business recruitment while supporting the expansion of existing employers.
Beyond economic development, this project has the potential to change lives. For individuals looking to break cycles of generational poverty, earning an associate’s degree or industry certification in high-demand, high-wage fields, such as Industrial Maintenance Technology, can be transformative. These careers often lead to nearly six-figure salaries within five years of graduation, offering life-changing opportunities for many in our community. And because these skills are in demand nationwide, TSTC graduates will have job opportunities not just locally, but wherever their careers take them.
What are the key industries driving growth in the region, and which sectors do you see having the most potential for new opportunities and expansion?
Seguin’s economy is anchored by a strong manufacturing base, with several key industry sectors driving growth. Heavy equipment manufacturing plays a major role, led by Caterpillar, one of our largest employers, which produces multiple types of large industrial engines here. Metal manufacturing and metal fabrication is another strong industry sector of our economy, supported by companies like United Alloy, Alamo Group, Seguin Fabricators, Maruichi Stainless Tube, and CMC Steel Texas.
The automotive industry is where we’re seeing the most activity right now, thanks to our strategic location. With Tesla’s gigafactory just 50 minutes north in Austin and Toyota’s manufacturing operations 50 minutes to the southwest in San Antonio, Seguin sits in the perfect position to attract suppliers serving both companies.
Schaeffler Group, one of our largest employers and a key player in automotive component manufacturing, has over 1,600 employees producing powertrain modules for major automakers. In recent years, we’ve successfully recruited other automotive-related manufacturers, such as Teijin Automotive Technologies, which produces truck beds for the Toyota Tundra built in San Antonio. The projects in our pipeline continue to be heavily tied to the automotive sector, ranging from tier-one suppliers to manufacturers of automotive parts and accessories.
This momentum is a direct result of the regional economy and the ripple effects of mega-projects like Tesla and Toyota. Their success creates significant spin-off opportunities for Seguin, reinforcing the importance of regional collaboration in economic development. Moving forward, we’ll continue aggressively recruiting in the automotive sector while celebrating the growth of our neighboring communities, because their success ultimately strengthens Seguin’s economy as well.
How do you balance Seguin’s economic growth and new opportunities with maintaining its small-town community feel?
Balancing Seguin’s economic growth while preserving its small-town charm is a challenge, but it’s achievable, especially in our historic downtown. While new development on the outskirts often follows a more traditional, suburban pattern, downtown remains the heart of our community, where we focus on maintaining its character and historical appeal.
Downtown Seguin has seen significant investment and activity in recent years. A prime example is Burnt Bean Company, one of Texas’ top barbecue restaurants, which has earned national recognition, including Michelin Bib Gourmand Award and multiple James Beard Award nominations. This level of recognition attracts visitors from across the state, drawing them into our historic core. When people travel from Dallas or Houston for lunch at Burnt Bean, they don’t just eat, they explore our historic downtown district, shop at local boutiques, and visit places like Seguin Brewing Company, creating a ripple effect that supports our small businesses and enhances our local economy.
Recognizing the importance of preserving and revitalizing downtown, the City of Seguin took a proactive step in January 2024 by purchasing a historic property on the downtown square. Currently occupied by Wells Fargo, the building will soon be vacated as the bank downsizes and relocates. Rather than risk losing this historic structure to a use that does not add value to our downtown, the city seized the opportunity to guide its transformation through a public-private partnership.
To ensure redevelopment reflects our community’s vision, we engaged a consultant to determine the highest and best use of the property while gathering extensive public input. The response was clear, residents want to maintain downtown’s historic charm and avoid developments that feel out of place. Based on feedback from both our consultant and the community, we identified potential uses for the property, including retail and office spaces, a boutique hotel, and residential options. The property has since been rezoned, and we’re now working closely with two developers on this project.
Our goal with this project is to further investment and revitalization in downtown Seguin, while preserving the character that makes downtown Seguin unique. This project represents our commitment to thoughtful growth that respects our rich history and strengthens our community.
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