Paying it Forward: Greatest Force for Change #133
A family member with a good paying job is the greatest force for change in outcome for a child's lifetime success, but only 1.2 billion good jobs in the world. Prepare your children for success!
Jack Browne, Wichita Falls Times Record News edition, Sunday September 28, 2025
A Wichita Falls business leader predicted how the city’s economy would fare in the future.
“A good paying job, held by a family member, is the greatest force for change in the outcome of a child’s lifetime success,” shared Ron Kitchens, president and CEO of the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce, September 23 during his Midwestern State University Lifelong Learning Center fall lecture session.
The world has 8 billion people with 5 billion 16-to-65-year olds comprising the workforce, said Kitchens, who is resigning to take another job in Missouri. Statistics from Gallup polls about happiness and success in children and their futures show 3 billion of the world’s population want good jobs for their children.
He surprised most noting there are only 1.2 billion “good jobs” on the planet.
His focus on Wichita Falls shared the progress made by his Chamber of Commerce team in attracting new businesses, as well as significant investments by existing organizations that increase the overall number of good jobs locally.
Over $1.7 billion has been invested in the prior 30 months with about $520 million under construction on a broad range of projects. The chamber web site includes the slides Ron shared during his hour-plus session with over 60 attendees.
Furthermore, last week the Wichita Falls Economic Development Corporation approved the sale of 225 acres in the Business Park for a $10-15 billion data center project with Texas Data Center Campus LLC. The mayor and council will have final approval at their October 7th meeting.
Contractually, the owners must break ground within 18 months.
Kitchens said that one of the big four -- Amazon, Google, Oracle or Microsoft -- is expected to be the tenant.
Of note, today the city’s local tax base is about $7.5 billion.
Tax rolls will reflect this significant data center investment in about four years. While a few thousand construction workers will prepare, then build out the site, the 300 members of the permanent workforce will receive average salaries above $100,000.
Kitchens broke the total $1.7 billion of new investment down to two new high schools, two supermarkets, seven manufacturing facilities, three apartments, four distribution centers, 12 restaurants, four new car dealerships and five hotels. Most attendees didn’t realize how much new construction was underway nor the range of industries represented.
As total property values increase the tax rolls, today’s property holders can expect ongoing reductions in tax rates for city and county government and area school districts. It’s gruly a good time to be in Wichita Falls.
Kitchens also shared accolades received by Wichita Falls. Just a few include: Number two best place to raise a family in Texas, number two best place for home buyers in the US and number two city with the lowest cost of living in America.
More information is on the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce website at https://www.wichitafallschamber.com/relocate-1 with the Greatest Force for Change digital version presentation available for download.
“Life isn’t supposed to be easy,” my son Andrew says as he instills the desire for a better life for his daughter.
I have faith that my seven grandchildren will have future impact as well in their communities.
Are you instilling the drive for success and passion for impact in your family?
Jack Browne is a community activist and former technology engineer, sales and marketing executive at Motorola and other top tech companies.