By Brandon Dietert
2017 Chair of the Board
Spring in New Braunfels
March is a busy time for our families and businesses in New Braunfels as we prepare for the change in seasons. For families it means spring sports, Spring Break, yard work and other outside activities. For our business community it means that the spring tourism season is upon us and the summer season is right around the corner.
These two seasons are very important to New Braunfels for many reasons. Tourism employs a very large segment of our community and also provides for many of our youth to have a great opportunity at working summer jobs. It also is an economic driver for our community that most cities our size in Texas are very envious of having, since it adds tax revenue to their local general revenue fund. Through the sales tax generated and the hotel/motel tax collected, New Braunfels can keep property taxes competitive and support many cultural and historical organizations that help make New Braunfels the city we want to live in.
Just remember that spring is also a great time to get outside and enjoy the local area attractions before both the weather and the local traffic gets hotter. It is the perfect time to enjoy the many outside music venues New Braunfels and the surrounding area have to offer. It is also a perfect time to venture out to our local attractions to enjoy some of the great opportunities for fun we have in New Braunfels. It is very easy to fill an entire weekend with activities that you and your family don’t always get to participate in. Go visit one of the many museums in our area and learn a little bit more about the unique history New Braunfels and the Texas Hill Country around us has.
Another great spring event in New Braunfels is the Annual Texas Legislative Conference that the Chamber of Commerce has hosted in New Braunfels for the past 51 years!! This great gathering of both business and political leaders has annually brought many of our federal and state elected officials to New Braunfels to discuss issues that are affecting the State of Texas and nation currently. The event this year will be March 23rd and 24th.
This year’s conference has assembled some great panels on Veterans Care for Texas, Corporate Welfare or Good Jobs, Local Control or Control the Locals and a Media Panel on the Trump Administration and Texas. During the event we will also honor Pike Powers with the annual Texan of the Year Award. Powers has been a supporter and promoter of the Texas economy (and New Braunfels) for decades.
So, as you plan your next weekend or day trip remember all the LOCAL options for you and your family…because shopping local is not only great when you are looking for that next pair of jeans but also a great option when looking for a fun activity!!