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  1. #1
    The D.R.A. Drachen's Avatar
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    Brief synopsis: The Chinese federal government wanted San Antonio to be the center of U.S.-Chinese commerce starting with the apparel industry. They are going to be testing us with a $20 M investment in a center (likely a spruced up warehouse) that will be a B2B apparel showroom (i.e. not for consumers, but retail buyers would come here instead of flying to China to inspect and make purchases). If this works out they would continue to expand their presence here into other industries to make San Antonio a major hub for their North American operations. The first portion of this would only have about 20-30 employees. They like SA being the (or near) the geographic center of north america, more than adequate rail/highway ties and some other things.


    My take, I think this is great. I don't have a problem with foreign investment and this continues a recent (relative) boom in San Antonio's economy. Oh, the best part of this whole thing, they are requesting $0.00 in incentives!

    What do y'all think? (other than the predictable "oh, I guess we should line up for our indoctrination courses")

  2. #2
    Mr. John Wayne CosmicCowboy's Avatar
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    I'm surprised they chose San Antonio. Dallas already has the established "market" center and has better airline connectivity. Maybe because San Antonio is more Mexico friendly?

  3. #3
    The D.R.A. Drachen's Avatar
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    I'm surprised they chose San Antonio. Dallas already has the established "market" center and has better airline connectivity. Maybe because San Antonio is more Mexico friendly?
    That seemed to be one of the reasons, that we have "great relations with Mexico." It's in the article, I just didn't post it because it's mysa. Pretty cool though. Also, who knows? We all know that we have sent several delegations to China for various conferences, etc. Maybe Dallas didn't.

  4. #4
    Mr. John Wayne CosmicCowboy's Avatar
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    I could see them doing something in the Alamodome area to keep it close to the Riverwalk for the buyers...damn...now if only they would pass casino gambling and turn the Fox Tech campus into a casino zone with a riverwalk extension...

  5. #5
    The D.R.A. Drachen's Avatar
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    I could see them doing something in the Alamodome area to keep it close to the Riverwalk for the buyers...damn...now if only they would pass casino gambling and turn the Fox Tech campus into a casino zone with a riverwalk extension...
    LOL, this would seem to be a necessary step of achieving the city's stated goal of becoming the #2 convention destination in the nation.


    ... Anyway, you think that this is a pretty good thing?

  6. #6
    I am that guy RandomGuy's Avatar
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    Heh, the original article that I read in the SA paper had the Chinese promoting "sweaters" and sales of "sweaters" in the Texas area. The city government listened patiently, and were about to say something about the Central Texas climate to the Chinese developers, but took a tour of a facility, a "sweater research facility" in China that the Chinese were excited about and realized that the translation was flawed and "sweaters" should have been "clothes".

  7. #7
    The D.R.A. Drachen's Avatar
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    Heh, the original article that I read in the SA paper had the Chinese promoting "sweaters" and sales of "sweaters" in the Texas area. The city government listened patiently, and were about to say something about the Central Texas climate to the Chinese developers, but took a tour of a facility, a "sweater research facility" in China that the Chinese were excited about and realized that the translation was flawed and "sweaters" should have been "clothes".

    LOL, this almost became a real non-starter.

    Though, I am not sure what difference it would have made, the article made it sound like this would be a hub for the nation. They need sweaters in other places.

  8. #8
    I am that guy RandomGuy's Avatar
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    Wolff, the county commissioner who the county's economic development department reports to, was informed at that time that the Chinese federal government wanted San Antonio to be the center of U.S.-Chinese commerce starting with the apparel industry.

    Wolff said he was given four reasons why San Antonio was selected:

    San Antonio is in the geographic center of the North American market, including Mexico.

    San Antonio has sufficient highways and rail service.

    San Antonio has one of the best economies in North America.

    The North American Free Trade Agreement was initialed here in 1992.

    Wolff said Chinese industry leaders are impressed with San Antonio's advanced relationship with Mexico's industries and government.
    Interesting. I would start buying land in the Austin/SA corridor. Another 20 years and it will be "Austinonio", two giant amoebas growing toward each other along I-35. Like Austin needs more congestion on that highway, erk.

  9. #9
    The D.R.A. Drachen's Avatar
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    Interesting. I would start buying land in the Austin/SA corridor. Another 20 years and it will be "Austinonio", two giant amoebas growing toward each other along I-35. Like Austin needs more congestion on that highway, erk.
    I like the sound of San Austintonio better. But they're the capital so you are probably right that they get first billing.

  10. #10
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    Interesting. I would start buying land in the Austin/SA corridor. Another 20 years and it will be "Austinonio", two giant amoebas growing toward each other along I-35. Like Austin needs more congestion on that highway, erk.
    Then again, if Austin and SA merged, it would make SA suck a little less.

  11. #11
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    Seems to be great way to encourage US wholesalers to buy more imports, while undercutting US apparel mfrs. Go For It!

  12. #12
    Veteran Wild Cobra's Avatar
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    I'm surprised they chose San Antonio. Dallas already has the established "market" center and has better airline connectivity. Maybe because San Antonio is more Mexico friendly?
    I don't know about you, but I hate the Dallas airport.

  13. #13
    Mr. John Wayne CosmicCowboy's Avatar
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    LOL, this would seem to be a necessary step of achieving the city's stated goal of becoming the #2 convention destination in the nation.


    ... Anyway, you think that this is a pretty good thing?
    I think it's a really good thing...It might only have a few employees but it will attract thousands of upper scale buyers/tourists to SA along with the related economic spinoff.

  14. #14
    Believe. BlairForceDejuan's Avatar
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    Brief synopsis: The Chinese federal government wanted San Antonio to be the center of U.S.-Chinese commerce starting with the apparel industry. They are going to be testing us with a $20 M investment in a center (likely a spruced up warehouse) that will be a B2B apparel showroom (i.e. not for consumers, but retail buyers would come here instead of flying to China to inspect and make purchases). If this works out they would continue to expand their presence here into other industries to make San Antonio a major hub for their North American operations. The first portion of this would only have about 20-30 employees. They like SA being the (or near) the geographic center of north america, more than adequate rail/highway ties and some other things.


    My take, I think this is great. I don't have a problem with foreign investment and this continues a recent (relative) boom in San Antonio's economy. Oh, the best part of this whole thing, they are requesting $0.00 in incentives!

    What do y'all think? (other than the predictable "oh, I guess we should line up for our indoctrination courses")
    *cough* military bases *cough*

  15. #15
    W4A1 143 43CK? Nbadan's Avatar
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    All these new businesses better not raise my damn electric bill....that's the real reason all these business, tech heavy and job-lite come to SA....we have the electric capacity..

  16. #16
    The D.R.A. Drachen's Avatar
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    All these new businesses better not raise my damn electric bill....that's the real reason all these business, tech heavy and job-lite come to SA....we have the electric capacity..
    Yes, apparel. That bleeding edge tech which consumes electric capacity like pacman consumes pellets.

  17. #17
    W4A1 143 43CK? Nbadan's Avatar
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    Yes, apparel. That bleeding edge tech which consumes electric capacity like pacman consumes pellets.
    you think they are gonna let that clothes sit in the TX heat?

    ....huh, smart guy?



  18. #18
    The D.R.A. Drachen's Avatar
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    you think they are gonna let that clothes sit in the TX heat?

    ....huh, smart guy?


    Oh, are they bringing over their weather modificator? That way they can keep the apparel cooler by changing the environment? I heard it uses 1.21 Jiggawatts per 6 hours.

  19. #19
    W4A1 143 43CK? Nbadan's Avatar
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    o? Flux capacitor!?!



    What do you think? there are gonna dig a hole to China?

  20. #20
    The D.R.A. Drachen's Avatar
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    I literally tried to dig a hole to once. It was at that park on Randolph. I was going to throw some ice in and kill Satan.









    ahhhh, yesterday was fun.

  21. #21
    W4A1 143 43CK? Nbadan's Avatar
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    the geographic center of north america
    That would be Lebanon Kansas!



    Nelson Wolffe is behind this....I just know it!

  22. #22
    The D.R.A. Drachen's Avatar
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    That would be Lebanon Kansas!



    Nelson Wolffe is behind this....I just know it!
    He is behind it, but I said the Geographic center of North America of which the US is only a part you ing elitist!!

  23. #23
    W4A1 143 43CK? Nbadan's Avatar
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    signed a memorandum of understanding with Bexar County, Wolff

    I knew it!

    You think poor Mexicans and Central Americans buy Chinese clothes?

  24. #24
    The D.R.A. Drachen's Avatar
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    I knew it!

    You think poor Mexicans and Central Americans buy Chinese clothes?
    poor americans do. They are freakin cheap!

  25. #25
    Steele Curtain cherylsteele's Avatar
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    That would be Lebanon Kansas!



    Nelson Wolffe is behind this....I just know it!
    Per Wikipedia:
    The United States Geographical Survey states that the geographic center of North America is "6 miles west of Balta, Pierce County, North Dakota" at approximately 48°10′N 100°10′W / 48.167°N 100.167°W / 48.167; -100.167, approximately 15 miles (25 km) from Rugby, North Dakota. The USGS further states that “No marked or monumented point has been established by any government agency as the geographic center of either the 50 States, the conterminous United States, or the North American continent.” Nonetheless, there is a 15-foot (4.5 m) field stone obelisk in Rugby claiming to mark the center.

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