Community development studies have shown that communities with the greatest potential for economic growth and progress are those that are attractive, have a good educational system, offer above average transportation facilities and have knowledgeable leaders working with long-range programs.

With these factors in mind, Entergy's Team City programs seeks to help Texas communities in its service area organize, plan and prepare for economic development at the local level.

This program can help communities identify strengths, mobilize leadership, set goals and implement sound growth strategies. In an organized and structured process, teams of local leaders assess development potential, identify areas of challenge and exploitable assets, establish a community "vision", set strategies to achieve goals selected by the community itself, and design action plans to accomplish their objectives. Entergy's development specialists and other experts will provide in-depth training.

Communities which successfully complete the step-by-step process will be officially designated a Team City in a civic ceremony. There is no cost to participate, except the time and effort it takes to build a winning development team. Participating communities are eligible for additional support from Entergy in implementing their development plans.

Industrial Development

Entergy economic development professionals are continually conducting training programs on the local level for volunteers interested in promoting the community's economic development. Training sessions are designed to provide basic information needed by volunteers to understand the economic development process and how their volunteer work can fit into the overall efforts of the community. Scholarships for advanced training programs are available to volunteers and local economic development professionals.

Technical and Business Research Assistance

Entergy maintains a research center devoted to the needs of economic and community development professionals and communities alike. A full-time researcher can provide Texas marketing materials, data on the demographics of Texas communities, professional journals and periodicals, and industry studies, as well as tailored business research for prospective businesses and Entergy-served communities.