Bastrop to test strategy with role

Bastrop to test ‘economic gardening’ strategy with new role

BASTROP — Bastrop recently hired its first business and community development manager, a newly created role focused on internal growth. 

The city and Bastrop Economic Development Corporation brought on Dr. Jill Strube to fill the position aimed at strengthening local businesses. Officials said Strube will build a local “economic gardening” strategy designed to help existing businesses bloom rather than recruiting outside industry.

“This is new to Bastrop,” Strube said. “A lot of what the EDC has been doing is more business recruitment, but one of the reasons they were interested in bringing me on board was the work I had done with the quality-of-life side of economic development.”

Strube brings more than 17 years of experience in grant and economic development, most recently serving as economic development director in Smithville. She said her work will center on workforce development, entrepreneurial support and expanding community resources, noting that businesses often choose locations based on livability as much as economic factors. 

“Businesses are looking to come stay in communities that they like to be in,” she said.

Among early initiatives is a program to guide new and expanding businesses through permitting, inspections and planning. A broader education program for small and startup businesses is expected to launch later this year.

“We just want to make sure that we're giving people the chance to really get at that dream and make that dream a reality,” Strube said.

Supporting small businesses is critical to maintaining economic stability, according to Strube, as larger industries take root in the region. 

She added addressing workforce needs and affordable housing will be key challenges moving forward. 

“I’m trying to help stabilize the community so that where there are pockets of neighborhoods that are struggling, we can get them resources they need to thrive,” Strube said. “We want to continue to stabilize the community so that there’s not a lot of displacement with all the growth.”