Carlton Schwab

What we talked about

Why Texas economic development is local

Carlton Schwab's explanation of Texas economic development starts with the local community. The president and CEO of the Texas Economic Development Council joins Aidan Evans on Making Names to discuss how the field has changed during his career. He recalls a state whose dependence on oil and gas made the need for diversification painfully clear. Local economic development resources gave communities a way to respond. Texas's size and regional differences, he argues, make local knowledge essential: a building that suits a company in Amarillo may have little in common with what another prospect needs in Central Texas.

The work behind the incentives debate

Schwab describes the evolution of local economic development sales-tax programs and the work to clarify what development corporations could do with those resources. He also discusses the continuing effort to preserve local tools. His reason for caring about those tools is straightforward: jobs affect people's lives. But he acknowledges why residents question incentives when they see wealthy companies receiving assistance while their own household costs rise. The conversation gives space to that tension. Economic developers may see a competitive recruitment decision; residents may see money that could address another community need. A business-friendly reputation does not settle the disagreement.

Data centers and the need to earn trust

The debate over data centers makes those competing perspectives especially visible. Schwab describes residents who moved away from urban congestion and now feel they have little say over development near their homes. He argues that developers did not do enough early work to explain their projects or engage the people affected. Tax-base growth and construction activity are part of the case he describes, but those benefits do not automatically answer concerns about the surrounding area. His criticism is about the process as well as the message: assuming that Texans will welcome a project is different from earning their confidence.

What happens when investment creates fewer jobs?

Later in the interview, Schwab asks how economic development should adapt if automation allows large facilities to operate with fewer employees. He presents that as a question the profession needs to study, not a settled forecast. Capital investment can still matter to a community, but the relationship between investment and employment may change. If job creation becomes a smaller part of a project, economic developers will need to explain what value they bring and how residents benefit. Schwab raises the possibility of a stronger focus on community development as part of that response.

The people who keep him interested

Alongside the policy discussion, Schwab talks about the energy he gets from TEDC members and the communities they serve. Knowing places such as Belton, Waco and Tyler makes their successes personal to him. He also reflects on the leaders who helped shape Texas's economic history. That interest carries into his view of the profession's future: its tools and projects may change, but the work still needs to produce benefits people can recognize in their own lives.