CEED Head

History

The concept for the Center for Energy and Economic Diversification (CEED) was developed in late 1983 in a seminar conducted at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Believing that all components of The University of Texas System should be involved in economic development activities uniquely tailored to the region served by each campus, UT System officials fostered discussions with campus and community leaders.

The UT System Board of Regents approved the concept for the Center at its December 1985 meeting on the UT Permian Basin campus. This paved the way for The University and community leaders to take the idea public.

Realizing that the Center needed to support the major economic enterprise of the region, campus officials began discussions with the major and independent oil companies represented in the Permian Basin. It soon became clear that support from these businesses would be tied to a building to be located midway between Midland and Odessa. Thus a fund drive began in 1986 that by 1988 had netted over $4,000,000 in cash and pledges from private sources from throughout the Permian Basin and from the Permanent University Fund of The University of Texas System. Additionally, a generous gift of land was provided for the placement of the building. Construction was completed in August 1990, and the Board of Regents accepted the facility at its 1990 meeting which was held at CEED.

Activities housed within CEED actually began in 1986 on campus with the establishment of UT Permian Basin's Small Business Development Center (SBDC). This program was targeted specifically at supporting and developing small businesses. Then in 1988, UT Permian Basin was awarded an Economic Development Administration University Center (EDA UC) grant to fund development efforts with public entities of West Texas. The most recent program to be established at the CEED was the Petroleum Industry Alliance (PIA) that began its activities in 1992.

The last unfinished office space at CEED was completed during the fiscal year 1993-1994 to provide permanent space for the PIA and the SBDC programs. This added over 2,000 square feet of office space to the facility.

In 1994, the CEED programs were selected for review by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). A self-study report was completed and a site visit was accomplished. In conducting this review, THECB engaged the services of experts from outside the state and from knowledgeable clients. In its report, THECB recommended to the Legislative Budget Board that funding for the CEED programs be continued.

Following is an excerpt from that report:

"The Center has a positive influence on the economic development of the Permian Basin. The Small Business Development Center and the Economic Development Administration University Center fulfill critical roles in the region, although they are not doing research in the traditional sense.

The Petroleum Industry Alliance is playing an important role in linking petroleum companies and in providing technology transfer assistance. It may, in the future, be able to expand its research contribution.

In an area that has a great need for economic assistance, this Center has a significant potential to be a catalyst for a number of helpful efforts."