Six months after corporate partnership roll-out at state parks agency, nothing to show for it

Strapped for cash and facing the likelihood of further budget cuts, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in July announced that it was looking for corporate partners to help sustain the state’s park system.

Notions such as a Texas parks credit card or company logos printed on trail maps were bandied about as ways the agency could join forces with private companies to raise money. At the time, the agency was optimistic that the effort could raise at least a million dollars.

But six months later, and after contacting about 3,000 companies to pitch the idea, the department has found zero takers, officials told the American-Statesman.

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State procurement rules — under which the agency must operate — are designed for companies that want to sell something to the government, not funnel money in the other direction. Rules designed to ensure open government and a level playing field for companies bidding on state contracts, however, have turned out to be a trap for an agency trying to think outside the box.

More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/six-months-after-corporate-partnership-roll-out-at/nWCSq/ .