No matter what the economy does, business always smells sweet in Tyler. That’s because the city is the unofficial rose capital of the nation. It has been estimated that approximately 20 percent of commercial rose bushes produced in the United States are grown in Tyler and Smith County, with more than half of all rose bushes being packaged and shipped from the area.

There are at least 10 wholesale nurseries and rose growers located in Tyler that ship roses throughout the country. Approximately 16 million rose bushes are processed in Tyler each year, producing annual estimated revenue of more than $50 million.

The rose is such an integral part of Tyler’s commerce that it is incorporated into the city’s official logo (a blue capital T with a single red rose in the middle), along with the slogan, “A Natural Beauty.” Since 1933, the city has held the annual Texas Rose Festival.

An Institute Dedicated to Clean Air

In order to smell the roses, the air needs to be clean and fresh. Finding out how to accomplish that is the goal of the Texas Allergy, Indoor Environment and Energy Institute (TxAIRE), which began in 2007 with a $3.75-million grant from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund.

Researchers at TxAIRE are looking to develop improvements in filtration devices and sensors used in heating and air-conditioning systems. It is the first collaborative research institute of this kind in the U.S., and officials say it will have a positive economic impact on Tyler.

“We think the TxAIRE project will put Tyler on the map nationally and internationally as the center for indoor air quality research and product development,” said Tom Mullins, president of the Tyler Economic Development Council. “We expect it to have a positive long-term impact on the local and regional economy.”

Health Services

While the rose industry might be Tyler’s most noticeable economic output, the largest business sector is in the category of education and health services, which accounts for nearly one-fourth of the city’s workforce. As of 2008, East Texas Medical Center and Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics were the top two employers in Tyler, with a combined workforce of more than 7,000.

Other Businesses

Brookshire Grocery Company has both its headquarters and main distribution center in Tyler. The supermarket chain, which has stores in four states, employs more than 2,000 people locally.

Tyler’s economy is expected to get a boost with the construction of a $29 million Armed Forces Reserve Center. The center will provide modern facilities and resources for the training of reserve forces.

Several major highways pass through Tyler, including Interstate 20, which continues east all the way to South Carolina. American Airlines and Continental (through Colgan Air) have a limited number of flights into the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport. But numerous flight options are available in Dallas, approximately 100 miles to the west.