The Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (Amarillo EDC) announced details for the organization’s Second Annual State of the Economy event to be held on January 22, 2020 at 7:30 a.m. in the Heritage Room of the Amarillo Civic Center, 401 S Buchanan St. The event will provide a brief update of Amarillo’s economic outlook and feature a keynote speech discussing macroeconomic issues and how they impact our community.

Elizabeth Carter is a millennial and Amarillo native. She attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth and received her bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising and Degree. Following graduation, Carter moved to Dallas. After several years, however, she relocated back to Amarillo. She has remained here ever since.

When a business opens its doors, it creates a ripple effect that spreads throughout the community. The larger the business grows, the greater the impact it will have on the economy as a whole. While tax abatements and incentives are temporary, the ripples they cast travel far into the future.

The economic health of a community's businesses impacts the economic health of everyone in the community. A healthy business creates employment, career opportunities and tax revenue that benefits the community-at-large. When businesses are healthy, a community grows and prospers. When they are not, the entire community's economic health wanes and withers.

Expanding the economic activity within a community is one of the primary goals of every elected body, community Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Corp., and business professional.