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City of San Marcos Economic Development Incentives Policy 2~2, Com rn unity Overview The City of San Marcos is a culturally diverse, rapidly growing community that prides itself on its Texas- friendly ambience. A part of the beautiful Central Texas Hill Country, San Marcos serves as the Hays County seat and is located half way between Austin, the State Capitol, and its southern cousin, San Antonio. Hays County is the fastest growing County in Central Texas. and the sixth fastest growing County in the State. A number of factors make San Marcos an appealing place in which to live and work. Quality of Life The spring-fed San Marcos River meanders through the city and is the focus of many of the city's recreation activities including kayaking, snorkeling, and "tubing". Local museums and four historic districts preserve the city's rich history. The Downtown Historic District on the Courthouse Square offers a potpourri of shops referred to as the "Texas Natural" marketplace, as well as a variety of clubs and restaurants. Dance, theater, sports events, art exhibits and concerts are regularly staged throughout the community. Also calling San Marcos home are the internationally recognized Tanger Outlet Center and Prime Outlets San Marcos. Situated adjacent to each other on over 200 acres along Interstate IH-35, these two malls combined house approximately 200 retail outlets and numerous restaurants are located on separate "pad" sites. Together the two outlet malls employ over 2,500 people and attract visitors from every state and numerous foreign countries. In 2003 the malls attracted over 8 million shoppers. A variety of special events draw crowds to San Marcos each year including the Central Texas Golf Fest in April, Cinco de Mayo and Texas Natural Western Swing Festival in May, Texas Water Safari in June, the Republic of Texas Chilympiad Chili Cook-off in September, and the Sights and Sounds of Christmas held on the banks of the San Marcos River in December. Educated Workforce Educational opportunities abound in San Marcos with 24 colleges and universities located within a 50- mile radius, providing an educated workforce with broad-based knowledge and skills. San Marcos is home to Texas State University, San Marcos, formerly known as Southwest Texas State. The university was originally founded in 1903 as a small teacher-preparatory institution and has grown into a major multi-purpose University with a current enrollment of over 26,000. The university has produced a number of highly successful graduates including the late President Lyndon B. Johnson who was a 1930 graduate. The most recent inductees into the Distinguished Alumni Association include Dan Bates, President and CEO of Southwest Research Institute, Tony Dieste, President and Founder of Dieste, Harmel and Partners, a national advertising firm, Gary Woods, President and CEO of Red McCombs Enterprises and President of the Minnesota Vikings, and Colonel James Rogers, an inductee to both the U. S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame and the Infantry OCS Hall of Fame. The San Marcos CISD educates more than 7,000 students on ten campuses, and a number of private schools and academies are located in the area. Also found in Hays County are the Hays, Dripping Springs, and Wimberley Independent School Districts. The Gary Job Corps Center is the largest of the 119 Job Corps centers in the country with an enrollment of up to 1,900 students between the ages of 16 and 24. Located on an 800-acre campus just outside of the City, Gary Job Corps provides instruction in 25 vocational trades. Transportation Availability San Marcos is a forward-thinking community ideally situated to provide for the economical distribution of goods and services. Conveniently located on Interstate 35 (the NAFTA Highway), the central avenue for trade between Canada, the United States, and Mexico, San Marcos is also only minutes away from Interstate 10, the vital transportation link between the east and west coasts. Three motor freight carrier