Lisa Denton and the Kilgore EDC Team Win 2024 GIS WebTech Award for Leadership in Technology for Economic Development

The Kilgore EDC team has done an extraordinary job leveraging a disparate set of online data tools into a coherent package and thereby transformed its marketing to site selectors and target industries. By combining sophisticated data visualization with comprehensive property listing features, and by promoting Kilgore through social media, videos, and television ads, the organization has successfully positioned itself as a formidable competitor alongside major metro areas.

A few examples of how the Kilgore team integrated data from multiple sources into sophisticated marketing tools:

• Developing and executing an innovative Virtual Building Program allowing potential investors to envision potential developments in a realistic and interactive manner. The VBP includes 3D virtual buildings, videos, and cutting-edge virtual tours – especially helpful for remote investors.
• Integrating visually striking heat maps of workforce data into RFI responses, showcasing advantages in labor availability, labor cost, commute patterns, and workforce distribution.
• Adding essential infrastructure information to property listings, including natural gas, water, wastewater, and broadband as well as tailored demographic insights.

This initiative greatly improved KEDC’s effectiveness in attracting and engaging potential investors. Already a leader in Texas economic development, Kilgore EDC continues to innovate for the benefit of their community.

Lisa Denton, James Wright and Katherine Kirkpatrick all contributed heavily to this work, and GIS WebTech is honored to name Kilgore EDC as one of three winners of the 2024 GIS WebTech Award!