Wayne Mansfield, President & CEO, Longview Economic Development Corporation

In an interview with Invest:, Wayne Mansfield, president and CEO of the Longview Economic Development Corporation, discussed the city’s expanding industrial base, workforce partnerships, infrastructure investments, and efforts to attract emerging sectors. “When I travel to cities such as Chicago, Washington, D.C., Munich, Prague, Milan, or Vienna, I see busy, active downtown areas filled with younger people, restaurants, and shops. That is the type of environment we are working to create in Longview,” Mansfield said.

What have been the Longview Economic Development Corporation’s most significant milestones over the past year?

Nearly three years ago, we developed and adopted a new strategic plan that changed the direction of our target industry sectors. It also added other priorities that we have pursued, including expanding our land portfolio and supporting quality-of-life improvements.

One of our most significant milestones was the announcement of a project representing more than $220 million in capital investment. That project, which was announced last October, is expected to employ up to 150 people. We are excited about the impact it will have on the community.

We also acquired 1,200 acres of land for new industrial and manufacturing development. Expanding our inventory of available land was one of the primary objectives established in our strategic plan.

In addition, we continue to partner with the city of Longview on quality-of-life initiatives. Those efforts have included funding for the public transit system, park improvements, and pickleball courts, which have become increasingly popular.

We have reached many of the milestones established in both our strategic plan and our annual plan of work. Our fiscal year begins in October, and with two months remaining in the current fiscal year, we expect to announce three or four additional projects.

How is technology changing Longview’s manufacturing sector and its employment opportunities?

Manufacturing continues to evolve, and technology is having a significant impact on the sector. People often assume that greater use of technology and automation will result in fewer employment opportunities, but that has not been our experience. In many cases, the reverse has been true. Automation is creating additional job opportunities and changing the types of skills employers need.

One example is the Gap and Old Navy e-commerce center that we helped locate in Longview about four years ago. It is one of the most automated facilities I have ever seen, yet it employs more than 1,400 people. Given the level of automation within the facility, someone might assume it would require fewer employees, but it still supports a substantial workforce.

We are also seeing several existing industries expand within the community, and we have assisted those expansions in several ways. Workforce training continues to evolve alongside those investments.

Our objective is to remain proactive rather than reactive or retroactive. We want to stay at the forefront of changes in technology and industry so that Longview is prepared when new opportunities emerge.

Which industries offer the greatest opportunities for Longview over the next decade?

Aerospace and aviation are among our highest priorities. Longview has the longest runway in the state of Texas, measuring more than 10,000 feet. American Airlines also operates two or three daily flights from Longview to Dallas, where passengers can connect to other destinations.

LeTourneau University is another important component of our aviation sector. It is a small, polytechnic Christian university, but it is a major contributor to the training of pilots and workers in aviation-related occupations. Its training center is located at the airport, allowing the university to train pilots as well as mechanics who work on aircraft engines.

Gregg County owns both the airport and surrounding property that is available for development. That creates an opportunity to recruit a maintenance, repair, and overhaul operation. We continue to promote the site and communicate that the opportunity is available.

We also see strong potential in data centers and semiconductors. Gov. Greg Abbott has stated that he wants Texas to become the semiconductor and data center capital of the United States. Preparing for those industries was one of the reasons we purchased the 1,200-acre site.

We are currently obtaining cost estimates to provide that property with the necessary water, sanitary sewer, electricity, natural gas, fiber optics, and other infrastructure. Some of that infrastructure is already in place.

Major metropolitan areas such as Dallas and Austin are becoming increasingly built out. Their labor, transportation, utility, and development costs are also higher. That creates a strong case for companies to consider secondary markets such as Longview when determining where to locate a facility.

How are partnerships with educational institutions strengthening Longview’s workforce pipeline?

We provided a $400,000 grant to LeTourneau University that it used to establish a certified robotics training center. The center serves the university’s students, but it is also available to companies that use those types of robots. LeTourneau rents the space and trains employees from those businesses.

That initiative reflects how automation and workforce needs are evolving. It also demonstrates how Longview is positioning itself ahead of those changes.

We have also discussed creating a similar center of excellence focused on semiconductors and microchips. As we pursue those industries, having specialized training available within the community will be important.

Our workforce partnerships extend beyond LeTourneau. We work with career education departments in local high schools, Kilgore College, and Texas State Technical College.

We also have an individual on our team whose sole responsibility is workforce development. He builds relationships and connects industry with the appropriate training centers and educational institutions. For a smaller rural community, we have developed a robust workforce development network.

How do quality-of-life investments support Longview’s economic development strategy?

Quality of life is extremely important because chief executives and company leaders want to know that their employees will have recreational, cultural, and transportation options outside the workplace.

One project we are particularly proud of is a 10-mile hiking and biking trail system throughout Longview. We issued debt on behalf of the city to support the development of that system.

People use the trails for exercise and recreation, but many residents also use them to travel to work. The system passes several major residential areas and connects with significant employment centers, including one of our hospitals and several manufacturing areas. It is a project that both the city and the economic development corporation are proud of.

We have also contributed funding for public safety improvements, including traffic signalization and road projects that benefit our industrial parks. We support park development and other recreational amenities as well.

Longview has a fine arts museum that hosts world-renowned exhibits, along with several other museums. The community also offers festivals throughout the fall and spring.

We host free concerts on Friday evenings featuring local musicians. Residents can bring a chair, purchase food or beverages from local vendors, and enjoy live music.

The Great Texas Balloon Race is another major event. The most recent race included more than 100 balloonists competing from different locations.

These amenities give residents opportunities beyond employment. We are also seeing increased interest in retail development, which further strengthens the community and creates additional options for residents.

What gives you the greatest confidence in Longview’s future?

One of the reasons we reestablished our target sectors and placed a greater emphasis on technology was to recruit younger workers.

For many years, Longview presented itself primarily as a retirement community. That is an important part of the community, but we also want to attract younger people and families because they contribute to its long-term future.

We are creating the amenities and employment opportunities needed to gradually reduce the average age of the city. Many families in Longview have children who leave to attend a university and then move to Dallas, Austin, or Houston. We’re creating opportunities for them to come back home.

We are excited about incorporating new technology, staying at the forefront of emerging industries, and positioning Longview to be among the first communities considered when new opportunities arise.

When I travel to cities such as Chicago, Washington, D.C., Munich, Prague, Milan, or Vienna, I see busy, active downtown areas filled with younger people, restaurants, and shops. That is the type of environment we are working to create in Longview.