On Thursday the first meeting of the East Texas Healthcare Industry Partnership was held at the Jasper County Courthouse Annex.  This partnership, driven by a group of healthcare leaders who are strategically and collaboratively minded, will be supported by a team of partners from regional education, workforce and economic development organizations. The meeting was co-convened by the Jasper Economic Development Corporation (JEDCO), Lamar State College Port Arthur and supported by the TLL Temple Foundation.

This partnership is being modeled off other, similar healthcare sector partnerships active across the country. (See www.nextgensectorpartnerships.com). They are a place to collectively address issues related to industry stability and growth; a single table at which to work with multiple public programs in education, workforce development and economic development; and an opportunity to help create solutions to shared pressing issues.

Thursday’s meeting was successful in that participants left ready to collaborate on a set of clear priorities and next steps. Opportunities to create stability and vitality for our region’s healthcare industry were defined with specific areas for action. It was the beginning of an ongoing partnership of healthcare leaders in our region, spanning from Beaumont/Port Arthur up to Lufkin and Nacogdoches. Community partners such as workforce development, education, economic development, and others.