Jeff Sjostrom, President, Galveston Economic Development Partnership and Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas accept $10,000 contribution from Michael A.  Nixon, Galveston Partner, Pirates Galveston for the newly operational Geographic Information System.

Pirates’ Galveston, a division of the Blackard Group Inc., presented a $10,000 check to the Galveston Economic Development Partnership’s Jeff Sjostrom Friday April 29, 2005 for the newly operational Geographic Information System.  This contribution is the first installment of a $20,000 commitment from Pirates Galveston to facilitate the initial purchase and installation of the highly anticipated system. “Pirates Galveston has taken a leadership position in providing a significant contribution for the GEDP to implement a new GIS system for Galveston Island.  This tool is critical to the long-term., sustainable growth of our Island, and Pirates Galveston has acknowledged the importance of this tool through their generous sponsorship of the GEDP GIS system,” stated Jeff Sjostrom, President of the GEDP.

Pirates Galveston applauded the effort of the GEDP to bring GIS to the island and the impact this system will have on the planned development of the West End.  “Possibly the most important component of a GIS is the accumulation and communication of data,” maintains Michael Nixon of Pirates Galveston.  “GIS provides accurate real-time data; and comprehensive information leads to an improved decision making process.”