City on a mission

San Antonio goes all in on $55 billion economic development plan

The initiative could add as many as 140,000 jobs in the San Antonio area in the next few years.

Photo by SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images

The San Antonio Economic Development Foundation has crafted a $55 billion plan that it envisions will cause the business community to really remember the Alamo City.

The All In SATX plan, unveiled March 31, aims to add 140,000 jobs and generate a $55 billion economic impact in the San Antonio metro area by 2025. Major employers, education and training institutions, small businesses, economic development organizations, and public-sector agencies collaborated on the plan.

“We built a strong team, a compelling strategic plan and targeted approach, bringing together workforce and global development agencies, and a deep commitment to advancing the region in a powerful way,” Craig Boyan, chairman of the foundation and president of San Antonio-based grocery chain H-E-B, says in a news release. “That is the underpinning of [the foundation’s] efforts to accelerate the growth of our region. We have much to work with in this special place.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg are among the elected officials who’ve embraced the plan.

“San Antonio is so many things — the Alamo City, Cyber City, Military City USA, and Culture City. We’re a city on a mission, and that mission is to create economic opportunity for every single San Antonian,” Nirenberg says.

The plan rests on three pillars: jobs, people, and place. Randy Smith of Weston Urban leads the jobs team, Kate Rogers of Alamo Trust leads the people team, and David Robinson Jr. of Weston Urban (and son of San Antonio Spurs legend David Robinson) leads the place team.

To carry out the plan over the next five years, the economic development foundation is raising a total of $38.5 million. Before launching the plan, the foundation already had collected more than $1 million.

Other key supporters of the initiative include the University of Texas at San Antonio, Texas A&M University-San Antonio, the Alamo Colleges District, Port San Antonio, Brooks, Bexar County, Medina County, Boerne, Cibolo, Converse, and New Braunfels.

A Night at the Market

San Antonio's Pearl unwraps holiday lights for night market series

Photo courtesy of Pearl

Pearl side streets are at their coziest when holiday decor is up.

The magic of the night market is returning to San Antonio's Pearl for the 2024 holiday season. A news release promises "festive music, unique local makers, and one-of-a-kind holiday finds" on Wednesday Evenings.

Like an extension of the usual farmers and summer makers markets held on the weekends, these markets will bring local vendors to the streets. Holiday Night Markets are scheduled for November 27 and December 4, 11, and 18 from 5-9 pm.

Although Pearl hasn't provided a list of vendors, we do know they'll be selling seasonal goods. Produce is not on the menu, so shoppers will still need to stop by the farmers market for their veggies.

Pearl Holiday Night Market The Holiday Night Markets are a lot like farmers markets in the same location.Photo courtesy of Pearl

The markets will be surrounded by Pearl's other holiday initiatives, including a holiday tree that lights up November 29, the day after Thanksgiving. In response to a question on Facebook about when carolers would stop by, Pearl could not give a date but confirmed that there would be different entertainment every week.

There will also be an opportunity to donate to several charities via Giving Machines from November 18 to December 8. The five benefactors in 2024 are the San Antonio Food Bank, Wish for Our Heroes, Alamo Head Injury Association, Vibrant Works and Catholic Charities of San Antonio. Donors can choose which they want to receive their gift.

Pearl Giving Machines The Giving Machines are like vending machines that drop gift cards into a collection bin to show contributions.Photo courtesy of Pearl

“We are delighted to welcome The Giving Machines back to Pearl in 2024,” said Pearl CEO Mesha Millsap in a separate press release. “Last year's overwhelming response showcased the incredible generosity of San Antonians during the giving season. We're excited to once again offer our community a chance to come together and make a tangible difference in the lives of our neighbors.”

Let me know if you have any questions. I am sharing a link to a folder of high-res images here to include markets, the tree and the Giving Machines. Our Giving Machines event takes place this morning at 10:30 a.m. and we opened a media pass through 11am for that press conference.

pearl markets holidays