Fifty years ago this month, a group of business executives led by General Robert McDermott, then CEO of USAA and Chair of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, created what was then the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation to position San Antonio competitively for growth. The idea was straightforward: recruit new businesses bringing jobs that create real paths to economic mobility. That mission still guides us today, and this anniversary is our chance to recommit. 

Milestones that changed our trajectory 

San Antonio’s economy has been shaped by a series of moments that built on one another. In the early 1990s, Southwestern Bell moved its headquarters here from St. Louis, later becoming SBC and then AT&T. That decision put San Antonio on the map for corporate leadership and accelerated our growth. 

Another pivotal moment came in 1992, when San Antonio hosted the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement. NAFTA took effect in 1994 and opened the door for cross-border supply chains that continue to power the local and Texas economies. It positioned our region as a true North American hub serving U.S., Mexican, and Canadian markets. 

In the early 2000s, Toyota selected San Antonio to build full-size trucks. The plant created a modern industrial platform that continues to expand. Today, Toyota and its on-site suppliers employ more than 9,000 workers on the South Side. Last year, Toyota announced a major expansion that will add more than 400 jobs. These are quality careers that strengthen our manufacturing ecosystem and provide economic mobility for families. 

Turning defense changes into opportunity 

The military has always been a foundational part of our economy. The Base Realignment and Closure actions, including the closures at Kelly and Brooks, and the 2005 consolidation of missions into what is now Joint Base San Antonio, brought major changes.  In true San Antonio fashion, we turned that challenge into opportunity by redeveloping the former bases as mixed-use hubs. We reimagined what the bases could be, and the result has been billions in construction, billions more in economic impact, and two national case studies in successful base redevelopments that support thousands of families. 

At Port San Antonio, the former Kelly AFB has become a center for tech, aerospace, and cybersecurity. Recent estimates place its statewide economic impact near $20 billion per year, driven by aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), logistics, defense innovation, and advanced manufacturing. 

On the Southeast Side, Brooks transformed a former Air Force installation into a 1,300-acre mixed-use community. Since 2004, the campus has generated over $1.3 billion in development where people work, live, learn, and play. More than 3,000 people work on the former base, which has translated into meaningful gains for the surrounding area, with median household incomes rising significantly over the last decade. 

In partnership with the City, the County, Port San Antonio, and Brooks, we have recruited global firms that chose these former bases for expansions and relocations, bringing quality jobs to the South Side. That is what inclusive growth looks like. 

The next five years will shape the next 50 

As we celebrate 50 years, we are preparing the next five-year regional economic strategy that will carry us through 2030. It will build on what our partnership has achieved since 2021: nearly 20,000 new jobs and more than $7.5 billion in capital investment. None of this happens without our investors who understand the value of sustained economic development. The plan will keep us focused on what matters most to residents and employers. We will align closely with industry, education, and public-sector partners. We will maintain a talent-first approach that meets industry demand. We will continue strengthening the places that make our region competitive and connected. 

The next chapter 

Toyota’s advanced manufacturing investments and supplier ecosystem, the growth of Port San Antonio and Brooks, our role in North American trade, and now the voter-approved investments downtown and on the East Side all point to the same conclusion. San Antonio knows how to partner and deliver. The next strategy will keep that momentum going. It will ensure employers have what they need to grow here, help residents skill up into higher-wage careers, and make sure our centers of activity are places where people want to be. 

Fifty years on, the founding idea still holds true. When we compete as one region, we create more opportunity for everyone. The momentum we have built as OneSATX will carry us into 2030 and help us write our next chapter.

Gift Kerr Forward: Supporting the Flood Recovery

More than four months after the devastating July Fourth floods, the Hill Country community is still recovering. This holiday season, there are many meaningful ways to show your love for Kerrville and the surrounding areas and support that recovery. Holiday markets, special events, and seasonal activities are underway, and local shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues are ready to welcome you. 

Even if you can’t be there in person, you can still Gift Kerr Forward to bring hope to the local businesses and nonprofits by shopping and giving online from wherever you may be. 

• San Antonio lands Texas’ first-ever summit dedicated to business of space: San Antonio will host the first Texas Space Summit in September 2026, a three-day commercial space industry conference expected to draw 2,000 attendees. 
• Amazon Prime Air Drone delivery launches in San Antonio: Amazon has launched its Prime Air drone delivery service in San Antonio, operating from an East Side facility to serve customers within an 8-mile radius, making the city one of a few U.S. metros with active drone delivery.
• Spurs get the W: Bexar County voters approve downtown San Antonio basketball arena: Bexar County voters approved hotel and rental-car tax increases to fund up to $311 million for a $1.3 billion downtown Spurs arena, securing public financing for the downtown sports and entertainment district.
• San Antonio-manufactured Toyota Tundra hybrid has best October sales yet: Toyota North America posted its best October ever, driven by record sales of San Antonio–built Tundra and Sequoia hybrids, as overall division sales jumped nearly 12% with 18 models setting new highs.
• Texas voters unlock $850M for TSTC with Prop 1 passage: Texas voters approved Proposition 1, unlocking $850 million to accelerate a new Texas State Technical College campus in Seguin and create funds to expand workforce training across TSTC’s 11 campuses.
• San Antonio needs more residency slots to combat doctor shortage and ‘brain drain’: Methodist Healthcare, San Antonio’s largest hospital system, is expanding its graduate medical education program—now with 38 residents—to become one of South Texas’s largest physician training providers within a decade amid a looming national doctor shortage.
• UT San Antonio eyes housing, retail, more academic space for downtown campus: UT San Antonio plans to more than double downtown enrollment to 10,000 students by 2028 through major construction, expanded programs, and partnerships to create a vibrant urban campus.
• 'Live' cyberattack designed to boost hiring odds for Ready to Work trainees: A live cyberattack simulation at UTSA showcased the city’s $200 million Ready to Work program and its partnership with UTSA, the economic development office, and greater:SATX to build a skilled cybersecurity workforce critical to San Antonio’s tech-driven economy.

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