LEDA went to Austin to tote Lubbock

May 7, 2006

Lubbock Avalanche Journal

One of the week's most amusing stories can be traced to a February board meeting of the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance when directors approved a $10,000 expense for tote bags.

Boy, did that decision set off a fire storm in Austin, which played host last week to the World Congress on Information Technology.

But it wasn't the conference that took center stage - it was the canvas bags that promoted the congress on one side and "Lubbock Economic Development Alliance - Home of Texas Tech University" on the other.

You would have thought Tech head football coach Mike Leach had arrived in town.

How dare they bring those red-and black-bags to the event, an embarrassed Austin city manager lamented to the Austin American-Statesman.

The city tried to deflate Lubbock's effort by ordering 2,000 of its own bags that trumped the Tiny Side of Austin, only to be outdone by the Giant Side of Lubbock.

I refer to the Lubbock Chamber image campaign slogan because it looks as though we've quit apologizing about where we live.

What's Austin's excuse? Talk about an inferiority complex.

Let's remember why LEDA made the trip to Austin. It had nothing to do with tote bags and everything to do with promoting the city as a great place to do business to the more than 2,000 CEO and academic delegates who attended the five-day event.

Thanks to Austin, we couldn't have bought better publicity.

By the way, if you want one of those bags, contact LEDA. I understand they're selling what's left of their own shipment.

• The Lubbock Chamber of Commerce will host Business Expo 2006 at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday.

Chamber officials tell me they're expecting about 6,000 visitors and more than 200 companies.

Years ago, the chamber used to struggle to find exhibitors.

Now the event is almost on automatic pilot.

Expo Chairwoman Lisa Spears said the business-driven day has gotten so big it's outgrown the civic center.

Spears said the chamber briefly flirted with the idea of making use of the civic center's second-floor mezzanine, but shelved the idea given its proximity from the main traffic flow.

Spears said what's really impressive is next year's event is already sold out.

"What we need is a larger facility," she said. Amen, but that's a story for another day.

Spears said this year's show will feature a lot of businesses that have never been at the exhibit.

Spears said the chamber plans to host two auctions - a silent auction that will go on all day - and a live auction to cap the event as part of Business After Hours.

The chamber monthly networking event will take place just after the show closes.