Foster Edwards in 2015 after announcing his retirement from the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce. His new job at the San Patricio Economic Development Corp. takes him across the Harbor Bridge, seen just over Edwards’ shoulder. Photo by Carrie Robertson Meyer/Third Coast Photo
Foster Edwards has taken on a new job, only about a month after retiring as president of the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce. At a recent Port of Corpus Christi meeting, Edwards was introduced as the new executive director of the San Patricio County Economic Development Corp.
At 68, Edwards seems determined to keep on trucking. He warned Corpus Christi Business News last September that he wouldn’t be out of the limelight for long.
“I’m confident I’ll do something next,” he said at the time. “I can’t picture myself retired. I want to do something where I can make a difference and have some fun.”
Fun this time around means tackling the economic havoc wreaked by plunging oil prices and countered by increased development of large industrial plants in the area — a bad news-good news scenario.
The San Patricio Economic Development Corp. works to bring business to the entire Coastal Bend region. One big boon to business here comes from the growth potential of processing and shipping Liquified Natural Gas. Also, the Port of Corpus Christi, which is in both Nueces and San Patricio counties, stands to grow in importance to the area with the lifting of the ban on exporting crude oil overseas. The very first foreign export of crude from the United States left the port in December, just two weeks after the ban was lifted.
Once on the job, Edwards immediately began meeting key players. He scheduled visits to all nine city councils in the county and is speaking at a variety of different events.
