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SWOTAnalysis <br />Aͻ{‘hͼanalysisevaluatesaĭƚƒƒǒƓźƷǤ͸ƭstrengths,weaknesses,opportunities,and <br />threats.PerformingaSWOTAnalysisisasimplebutexcellenttooltohelpfocusaneconomic <br />developmentstrategyanddevelopanactionplan. <br />TheinformationpresentedinReport1,EconomicAssessment,providesananalysisofthe <br />trendsimpactingtheCityofLaPorte.ThisSWOTAnalysistakestheinvestigationonestep <br />further.Italsoconsidershowcloselythosetrendsalignwithinputreceivedthroughthe <br />communitysurveyandinterviewsconductedforLatƚƩƷĻ͸ƭStrategicPlan.Contrasting <br />quantitativeandqualitativeinformationrevealswhereLatƚƩƷĻ͸ƭtruestrengthsand <br />weaknessesexist. <br />StrengthsarethoseuniqueattributesofLaPortethatshouldbemarketedandbuiltupon. <br />Thecityhasaremarkablenumberofassetsforacommunityofitssize.Itsbayfrontlocation, <br />SylvanBeach,andhistoricMainStreetDistricttopthelist.Alsoincludedisthestrong <br />industrialbasethatgeneratessubstantialtaxrevenueandhelpsLaPorteendureeconomic <br />downturns.AlowcostoflivingandcloseproximitytoGreaterIƚǒƭƷƚƓ͸ƭworldclass <br />educational,business,andculturalamenitiesareadditionalstrengths. <br />WeaknessesarecharacteristicsthatcurrentlyhinderLatƚƩƷĻ͸ƭeconomicdevelopment. <br />ToponthelististheĭźƷǤ͸ƭphysicalappearance,whichstemsfromaheavyindustrial <br />presence.Localresidentsaredispleasedwiththeavailabilityofretailwithinthecitylimits, <br />andLaPorteratesthelowestofitsneighborsinpercapitasalestaxgeneration.Whilethe <br />bayfrontandMainStreetareassets,theircurrentdisconnectfromaplanningperspectiveis <br />aweakness.Ashortsupplyofundevelopedlandcouldlimitfuturegrowth,whetheritcomes <br />fromnewindustry,retail,orresidentialconstruction. <br />OpportunitiesandthreatsarefactorsthataffectLatƚƩƷĻ͸ƭeconomicdevelopment <br />potential.Thehighconcentrationofoilandgascompaniesinthecityisastrength,butalso <br />posesathreatshouldtheindustrysufferadownturn.Increasingtrucktrafficfromindustry <br />andportactivitythreatensLatƚƩƷĻ͸ƭqualityoflife.LatƚƩƷĻ͸ƭgreatestopportunitiesrevolve <br />aroundimprovingqualityoflife.RevitalizingdowntownandSylvanBeach,connectingMain <br />Streettothebayfront,beautifyingtheĭźƷǤ͸ƭphysicalappearance,andcontinuedinvestment <br />inparksandtrailsarealltremendousopportunitiesthatwillpleaseresidentsandencourage <br />thegrowthofamorediversemixofbusinesses. <br />ThefollowingpagesprovideanillustrationofLatƚƩƷĻ͸ƭSWOTanalysisandadescriptionof <br />eachtopic.Themarketingandeconomicdevelopmentrecommendationsthatwillbe <br />1 <br />| <br />City of La Porte, Texas – SWOT and Target Audience Analysis February 2009 <br /> <br />