A new editorial section, Business to Business, spotlights two local professionals at the top of their industries in conversation, giving readers insight into leadership, strategy and vision from the people shaping our local business community. In this edition, Arlene Medrano, Executive Director of the Downtown Management District, and Sam Longoria, Chief Lending Officer at CoastLife Credit Union, sit down to discuss lending, local investment and the partnerships shaping Corpus Christi’s economic future.
ARLENE TO SAM
On lending realities, financial stability and supporting local business growth.
From your perspective, what are local business owners most concerned about right now when it comes to lending or financial stability?
Local business owners are focused on certainty and cash flow more than anything else right now. With interest rates higher than what many were used to just a few years ago, owners are being far more intentional about how debt fits into their overall financial picture. They want to know not just can they borrow, but should they, and how that decision affects their ability to operate comfortably month to month.
Another big concern is labor and operating costs. Wages, insurance, utilities and vendor pricing have all moved up, which tightens their margins. Business owners are asking questions about structuring loans to preserve liquidity without putting pressure on working capital. In a market like the Coastal Bend, where industries such as construction, healthcare, logistics and energy play a major role, owners should think carefully about timing and economic cycles.
I feel business owners aren’t looking for the biggest loan possible; they’re looking for the right solution that supports stability and long-term growth.
How has the role of a credit union evolved in supporting small and mid-sized businesses?
Credit unions have evolved from being seen primarily as consumer lenders to becoming full financial partners for small and mid-sized businesses. Today, our role goes far beyond providing capital. We help business owners think through cash flow, risk, expansion plans and even succession strategies.
What makes credit unions different, especially locally, is that decisions are made here, by people who understand the Corpus Christi market. We know the local economy, the industries driving growth and the challenges unique to this region. That allows us to structure financing that actually fits how businesses operate, rather than forcing them into a one-size-fits-all model.
In my opinion, we’ve also become more consultative. Many business owners want guidance, not just a transaction. As credit unions, we’re uniquely positioned to provide that because our focus is on long-term relationships.
How do you balance risk management with the desire to invest in local growth?
Balancing risk and growth is really about understanding the story behind the numbers. Accurate financials are important, but so is context: how a business operates, the experience of the owner and how they’ve navigated challenges in the past. In a community like ours, relationships matter, and that insight helps us make smarter credit decisions.
Risk management doesn’t mean avoiding risk; it means structuring it responsibly by understanding the risk and educating the business owner about it. That might involve adjusting terms, layering collateral or building in flexibility so a business can weather market changes. Our goal is to protect both the credit union and the member while still supporting meaningful local investment.
At the end of the day, when local businesses succeed, the community succeeds. As a credit union, our responsibility is to lend thoughtfully, supporting growth that is sustainable, intentional and rooted right here in the Coastal Bend.
SAM TO ARLENE
On downtown investment, public-private partnerships and building a livable urban core.
What does an effective partnership among the city, private property owners and the downtown district look like, and where do those partnerships still break down?
We all have a shared vision of having the most vibrant downtown on the Gulf Coast. The creation of the Downtown Management District (DMD) was led by private property owners and required the City of Corpus Christi’s cooperation and support. Separately, the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #3 is another economic development tool that brought together private property owners, the City of Corpus Christi, Nueces County and Del Mar College. All parties want to experience vibrancy and economic growth. The ecosystem relies on public infrastructure, regulatory support and business incentives to support private sector investment. The DMD acts as the low-barrier connector for advocacy, support and execution.
What are the biggest barriers preventing downtown from attracting and retaining small businesses, and how is the DMD actively reducing those barriers?
For decades, Downtown Corpus Christi struggled with underinvestment and low activity, which created blight and stagnation. As such, many properties require significant improvements, which can be cost-prohibitive for small businesses. There is also a perception of a lack of parking; however, study after study show that downtown has significant parking assets that are underutilized. It’s not a parking availability issue; it’s a perception issue and an aversion to walking a few extra feet to one’s destination.
Over 80 projects have been supported through the Downtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #3. This economic development tool uses property revenues from downtown properties to reinvest back into the zone, to fund public improvements and spur economic development. It’s not just property revenues either, it’s a multiplier effect on job creation, local spending and tourism.
The DMD manages TIRZ incentives that support property owners and businesses with facade improvements, multi-family residential, office-to-residential conversion, safety improvements and targeted vacant property improvements.
According to a 2022 International Downtown Association study, Downtown Corpus Christi stands out as a regional success story. Comprising less than 1% of the city’s land area at just 1.2 square miles, downtown is home to nearly 11% of all jobs in the city (13,705).
How are you balancing downtown as a destination for visitors with downtown as a place people want to live and work?
Downtown Corpus Christi is a vibrant destination and a desirable place to live and work. While events like First Friday ArtWalk, Mural Fest and the Downtown Holiday Series, among many other partner events, have successfully attracted primarily locals, they also serve a larger purpose: creating a sense of place and community that encourages people to invest in living and working downtown. The DMD continues to support mixed-use projects that combine residential and retail uses. We are always working to enhance walkability, safety and public art—elements of life that matter for neighborhood living and for providing a favorable tourism experience.
