Three major goals from its recently-completed strategic plan will be the focus of the Wood County Economic Development Commission.

Chairman Tim Keenan outlined the goals at the monthly board meeting last week at Lake Fork.

The three include a strategy to develop the workforce and jobs, with a component for affordable housing as a key factor for the workforce.

Development of the Wood County airport into a training center and industrial park is the second goal. Enhancing the efforts of the Flint and Steel Coalition and Wood County Walls to develop a center of excellence in art in partnership with the University of Texas at Tyler and other partner institutions is the third.

Keenan said these are big goals and will not happen right away, but a lot of progress has already been made in the past month.

He cited Quitman as a pilot project for jobs and housing, dubbed a community development initiative, in concert with the city.

One reason for choosing Quitman as a starting place is the future need for workforce and housing for the memory care center that is being developed adjacent to the UT Health hospital.

The airport development, which will receive a major boost when the planned runway extension to 5,000 feet is completed, expected within the year, is to include a land use plan for development of what Keenan termed a modern industrial park to include warehouse, offices, manufacturing, restaurants and entertainment.

The training aspect is planned to address all aspects of aviation from maintenance to pilots.

Curriculum would be developed with Jarvis Christian University in Hawkins.

Todd Witt spoke on the progress with UT Tyler on the art center. A memorandum of understanding is in the works.

The project ties art, education and tourism, he said.

It opens the door to engage the university’s art students for hands-on learning with a visitor center and museum, and cross-marketing with Tyler for a street art corridor.

The board heard updates on the efforts to streamline EDC/county websites. The EDC operates two websites, one geared toward visitors and the other toward business. The county also has a website, as does the airport.