Barbara Green

Special to the Times Record News

After a difficult 2016, Bowie is going into 2017 with a bit more optimism as the new hospital prepares to open and two major construction projects for business and education get underway.

Bowie Memorial Hospital closed in November 2015, but the impact was felt throughout 2016 as city sales tax plummeted by $1 million, more than 100 hospital jobs were lost and ancillary business was destroyed. Coupled with ongoing job loss in the oil field, it was a tough year.

"If we can get the hospital back up and running and recapture some jobs, that will help. We are already seeing the oil field come up a bit. Hopefully it will start to turn around," said Bowie City Manager Ricky Tow.

Management of the new Central Hospital of Bowie announced in January a tentative opening for March 1, with the hiring of up to 50 employees to open the emergency room, lab and X-ray plus in-patient services.

Bowie is undergoing a $3.7 million utility retrofit for water and electricity utilizing a government program that helps cities update their infrastructure through a low-interest loan. The project replaces all water and electric meters with smart systems, and replaced all street lights. This program will provide a "guaranteed" energy savings of $7.4 million during the 20-year life of the program.

For Mayor Larry Slack, a priority project is planning for a new municipal annex. A citizens committee is gathering public input on two possible location and will report back this spring.

"The council needs to make a decision on these properties. They have owned them four years. They need to decided on which one to use and get the other one sold. It is the fiscally responsible thing to do," Slack said.

The mayor emphasized the city cannot build one right now because revenue will have to get better, but "that is not an excuse not to decide on a future location."

Both city officials reflected on a successful 2016 for the expanded Main Street Bowie grant program. Its first grant of $20,000 was awarded to the Windol Robbins family, which brought back to life a long vacant building as a sandwich and coffee house, The Brick. The 4B board also provided $21,844 to assist with a fire suppression system.

"It shows activity and the viability of downtown. It has been a good pilot program and if revenue is stable, the city should be able to continue budgeting the grant, " Tow said.

"These are all positive developments that will attract people and jobs," Slack said. "For a town our size, we have a lot to offer in the way of services, but you always have to plan both financially and physically."

Bowie's economic development entities have hung out the "Under Construction" signs as well, with two major building projects getting underway as 2017 opens.

Janis Crawley, executive director for the Bowie Economic Development Corporation and 4B Sales Tax Corp., said 2016 was tough in dealing with potential clients who had concerns about no medical care after the hospital closed.

"We had to approach it explaining the proximity to the nearest hospital is close, but it a hard thing to overcome one of the top three things business looks at. That will change when the new one opens," Crawley said.

The BEDC broke ground in late October on the 123-acre Bowie Business Park along U.S. Highway 287 South and Farm-to-Market Road 1125.

Cost of construction will run almost $2.3 million. The park should be ready for occupants in March, weather permitting.

The 4B Sales Tax Corp. also plans to begin construction of the new industrial technology center at North Central Texas College Bowie in early spring.

Crawley said construction will take about two months.The project would build an 8,750-square-foot facility at an estimated cost of about $2.9 million. The ITC will house industrial programs like welding, machining and heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

The BEDC is also working closely with Texas Workforce Commission on several grant programs that can assist with workforce training. Crawley said they are working with Bowie Industries, American Hat, WL Plastics and Brindle Products.