Just call Waco the “second-chance” city.

That’s according to Business Week magazine, which listed Waco and two other Texas metropolitan areas among the 20 “Best Places to Start Over.”

The article was published in the June 10 edition.

Weighing in at number 14, Waco joined Amarillo and Beaumont/Port Arthur on the list.

The magazine noted Waco’s unemployment rate lower than the state and nation as a whole and average home price of $67,093 as reasons for its placement on the list. It also reported that 19 percent of the companies in Central Texas are planning to hire more help in the next fiscal quarter.

Group visits Branson

A group of Waco business leaders has just returned from Branson, Mo., where it visited a $450 million public/private development called Brazos Landing on White River.

The group was trolling for ideas on how best to develop Waco’s Lake Brazos, and participants were impressed by what they saw, said Waco chamber President Jim Vaughan, who led the trip.

Brazos Landing has two retail anchors, Belk and Bass Pro Shop, along with 25 or so smaller shops. It also has boats that offer dinner cruises, two hotels, condominiums, a convention center and a plaza that cascades down to the river.

“It is surely something we could do in Waco,” Vaughan said, adding that Waco already is ahead in the game because it has a convention center and convention hotel on Lake Brazos.

Vaughan said Waco wouldn’t want to necessarily copy everything Branson or any other city does, but added it always helps to capture the perspective other communities have on riverfront development.

“We’ve also visited Oklahoma City, Chattanooga and Fort Worth,” Vaughan said. “But this is the first time we visited a community to focus on a single project.”

Local Sonics shine

Sonic Drive-In locations in McGregor and on Hewitt Drive know their stuff.

The crews that work at those locations have the hang of preparing and delivering food and drinks, getting orders right and working the drive-up intercom system used to take orders.

The proof is in their rankings: They are two of 300 remaining drive-ins striving to become one of 12 finalists competing Sept. 20-21 in Las Vegas — at the Dr Pepper Sonic Games National Finals.

Sonic has 3,500 drive-ins coast to coast, and 2,600 agreed to participate in the nine-month competition.

“Dr Pepper Sonic Games is a unique and fun experience that encourages employees to deliver outstanding customer service. It also provides opportunities to learn about goal setting, responsibility and teamwork,” said Nelson Taylor, vice president of operations services for Sonic.

NFL star to visit

Word is that All-Pro running back LaDainian Tomlinson, of Waco, will be a special guest at an investor luncheon the Cen-Tex African American Chamber of Commerce is hosting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday.

The event will be held in the city of Waco Multipurpose Building on Elm Street.

Those with questions or wanting to buy the $30 tickets may call 235-3204.

The chamber especially wants investors, developers and entrepreneurs to attend this luncheon, titled “A Time For Change.” It is devoted to the development potential of East Waco.

mcopeland@wacotrib.com

757-5736