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Canyon Rising

Leaders promote city’s economic diversity, scenic locale and incentives

by Michael Castellon

Editor’s Note: The following article appeared in the January/February 2009 issue of Texas Rising.

In Canyon, the spirit of the West is still strong. That spirit is now propelling the local economic climate in a way once unimaginable by some longtime residents of this West Texas town of just more than 12,000 people.

Canyon, the home of West Texas A&M University and Palo Duro State Park, recently became home to administrative offices of agribusiness giant Hi-Pro Feeds, which brought about 20 professional jobs to town.

Behind this town’s economic boom is the Canyon Economic Development Corporation (CEDC).

“Our mission is to promote the economic diversity of Canyon, while promoting quality of life aspects that many businesses seek out,” says Evelyn Ecker, executive director of CEDC.

CEDC’s primary functions include managing incentives for businesses already tempted by Canyon’s scenic, temperate locale. The Hi-Pro Feeds deal included $200,000 to the company over four years, and the CEDC secured the second floor of the downtown square’s historic Anderson Building.

CEDC’s approach is simple, yet effective.

“In our conversations with business leaders, we underscore the value of our community,” Ecker says. “We’re a small town, but we’re very close to Amarillo. We have wonderful opportunities for education, we have a strong tourism industry, and a strong commitment to the quality of life in Canyon.”

Employees who move to Canyon alongside their jobs are playing a major role in strengthening the local economy.

The nine-block area encompassing the historic downtown square has increased by 162 employees in the past two years. Those workers are in town from 8 to 5 each day, which is significant considering that each working person spends about $7,500 a year within a five-mile radius of their job.

Feldman’s Wrong Way Diner, originally located in an area that you had to have taken a wrong turn to find (and subsequently dedicated to anyone who has ever taken a wrong turn in life), was recently funded $100,000 by CEDC to relocate into a larger and more navigable location. The business saw a 56 percent increase in sales.

“The idea is to provide a catalyst to business owners that are going to get them moving in a direction that is not only good for them, but good for the economic viability of the area, and that’s what we attempt to do every day,” Ecker says.