TABC to Host Roundtable with Waco, DFW-Area Industry and Elected Leaders
Local members of the alcoholic beverage industry and the Texas Legislature will join leaders from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission at a series of roundtable discussions April 3 in Waco and April 5 in Grand Prairie.
The April 3 roundtable begins at 1:30 p.m. at Baylor University's Baylor Club, located in McLane Stadium on the university's Waco campus, 1001 S. Martin Luther King Blvd. Two roundtables are scheduled for April 5 at the Grand Prairie Police Station, 1525 Arkansas Lane, with Tarrant County industry members and lawmakers meeting at 9 a.m. and Dallas County attendees meeting at 1:30 p.m. The meetings give attendees a chance to weigh in on TABC's mission, policies, and performance. The Texas alcoholic beverage industry has continued to see strong growth over the last decade, with more than 52,000 licensed businesses contributing more than $40 billion annually to the Texas economy and an expected $2 billion in tax revenue to the state treasury in fiscal years 2018-2019.
As the state's sole alcohol regulator, TABC is charged with helping eligible persons to obtain the necessary licenses or permits to do business while ensuring industry members remain in compliance with the laws put in place by the Texas Legislature.
"As the alcoholic beverage industry grows, it's up to TABC to grow with it," said A. Bentley Nettles, TABC Executive Director. "We're asking our partners in the industry to let us know how we can improve our job performance moving forward. Additionally, we're asking them to identify things that we're doing right so we can ensure those best practices are emulated across the state. This is an outstanding opportunity for TABC to take its message directly to the businesses we help regulate."
The agency has also invited local members of the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate to the roundtables to share their views on the agency, Nettles said.
"With the Sunset Advisory Commission beginning its year-long review of TABC, we want to keep the lines of communication open between our elected leaders and the agency," Nettles said. "These roundtable discussions serve as a forum for agency leaders, industry members, and lawmakers to express their ideas about the path forward for TABC during this important time."
Contact: Chris Porter TABC Public Information Officer (512) 206-3462