In This Issue
Small Cities, Big Business
TEXpansion: Caterpillar inches toward Seguin
Tyler partnership seeks cleaner air
Oil town diversifies economy, adds jobs
Partnering for Impact: Funding options for cash-strapped local governments
Texas economy surpasses nation’s
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TEXpansion
Businesses and industries are expanding their operations and building new facilities throughout Texas. Here is a sampling of recently announced expansions, tracked by the Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism Division.
| City | Business Name | Type of Business | Type of Project | New Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seguin | Caterpillar Inc. | Manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines | Company will move one of its primary global assembly, test and paint facilities to Texas. The state will invest $10 million through the Texas Enterprise Fund as an incentive. The move will generate $169.7 million in capital investment. | More than 1,400 |
| Gregory | Tianjin Pipe Group Corp. | China-based company producing seamless steel pipe |
Planned mini-mill will make products from scrap steel melted in an electric arc furnace. The Gregory facility will produce seamless casing pipe used in oil and gas wells. | 300 initially, as many as 600 within three years |
| Boerne | Albany Composites | Designs, develops and manufactures advanced composite structures and textile preforms | Boerne City Council approves plan to abate taxes from Albany Composites worth about $1 million. The firm will undertake a $42 million expansion. | 337 |
| Cibolo | Kalmar RT Center LLC | Defense contractor | New manufacturing facility will fulfill a new five-year Department of Defense contract to supply its Rough Terrain Container Handler. Kalmar expects to build 10 machines per month under the contract. | 200 |
| Waco | L-3 Communications | Aircraft company | The company has broken ground on a new $10 million, 87,000-square-foot hangar at Texas State Technical College airport. The jobs will pay an average wage of $24 an hour. | 100 |
| Kilgore | Baker Petrolite | Oil and gas chemical blending and storage company | Construction on planned $20 million expansion is expected to begin in January. | 20 to 25 |
Sources: Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism Division; Texas A&M University’s Real Estate Center.
For more information, visit the Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism Division or Texas A&M University’s Real Estate Center.
Texas Works: Training and Education
for All Texans
A new report by the Comptroller’s office, Texas Works, examines the changing Texas job market and the growing shortage of workers who have the technical skills required for many of the fastest-growing job sectors. The report recommends establishing a fund to help with startup costs for new technical training programs and eliminating obstacles that discourage students from pursuing career-technical education.
Texas Works highlights other statistics and findings, including:
- the number of jobs requiring technical training, certifications or associate degrees is outpacing the number of people available to fill them, despite the fact that many pay above-average salaries.
- multiple paths to high school graduation and postsecondary training and education will help reduce the skilled worker gap and could help reduce dropout rates.
- Texas population projections point to a less-prepared work force if the state continues on its current path.
Texas Works is available on the Comptroller’s Web site at www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/workforce. To request a printed copy, please call the Comptroller’s Research and Analysis Division at (800) 531-5441, ext. 5-0332.
Tell Us Your Story!
E-mail us at texas.rising@cpa.state.tx.us.
We want to hear about your town’s economic development accomplishments. Whether you’ve landed a new employer or partnered with a university to train tomorrow’s work force, please tell us the unique solutions you’re using to create success in your community every day.