Endless potential
The opportunities for success at Brooks continue to grow every day. The mission of Brooks and its leaders is to bring economic prosperity to the South Side, and that dream is being realized with each passing day. From young learners to established business owners, there’s a lot to look forward to.
Brooks: A vision as big as Texas
By Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, President and CEO of San Antonio Economic Development Foundation
Brooks bounces back
When I think about the evolution of our city’s fast-growing South Side, I think of Brooks. Established as an Air Force Base in 1917, multiple generations of San Antonians have been positively impacted and employed thanks to Brooks Air Force Base. The former base birthed military medical innovations that led to the development of modern technologies like MRI and LASIK eye surgery. Brooks Air Force Base closed in 2011 due to federal base realignment and closure after 94 years of service. The closure could have set our South Side community back, but Brooks used it as an opportunity for redevelopment. Brooks has reimagined itself as an economic generator and welcoming community for all San Antonians to enjoy.
South Side roots
I was born and raised just south of San Antonio in Elmendorf, Texas and attended grade school right across the highway from Brooks at Holy Name Catholic School. As a South Side native, it’s exciting and inspiring to see the area transform and grow, due in large part to Brooks’ vision. Today, Brooks is now home to more than 3,200 people living and working in the area, 40 businesses, four apartment complexes, a hospital, a full-service hotel and spa, the University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine, Pre-K-12 charter schools, event venues, retail and dining options, and The Greenline linear park.
It’s a transformational time for San Antonio, particularly for our city’s South Side. Growth at Brooks means economic opportunity for a historically underserved area of our city. With multiple transportation options and an easy commute from downtown, there is no excuse for not visiting Brooks — just ask the more than 40,000 people who visited the campus for the annual Barbacoa and Big Red Festival in 2019.
Success at Brooks means success for all
My primary goal as leader of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation is to bring great companies and jobs to our community and to help our local companies grow. We are working to make San Antonio the city of choice for people to live and work. Brooks is a tremendous asset for attracting new business and creating opportunities for our residents to build careers.
Some of my favorite sites on Brooks are the projects that we’ve shared. Nissei Plastics, a Japanese manufacturer located at Brooks, was a project three years in the making when we celebrated their grand opening in 2018. In 2019, Cuisine Solutions and OKIN BPS added to the growing base of international businesses at Brooks. Cuisine Solutions is currently building the world’s largest sous vide manufacturing facility in San Antonio at Brooks and European business processing services company OKIN BPS began operations in mid-2019 at its North American headquarters.
Brooks’ vision is as big as Texas, and it has enabled South San Antonio to go global. I know we’ll continue to see big projects, exciting innovation, and community growth in and around the Brooks campus. My hope for the future is that Brooks can grow to welcome and serve more San Antonians.
The growth and prosperity that has come to Brooks and the surrounding region in the past few years isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
The future is always top of mind at Brooks. While Brooks works tirelessly to improve the quality of life on the South Side with prosperous jobs, beautiful green spaces, and living options, the South Side’s educators are preparing its students for the bright futures ahead of them.
