When it comes to business, some choices are easier to make than others, but one choice that makes sense is choosing Texas for your business operations. That’s why site location assistance firm, Global Site Location Industries, launched its Choose Texas initiative.
The Choose Texas program helps companies ensure a smooth facility expansion within the State of Texas by connecting growing companies to local economic development corporations with opportunities. Communities part of the program are prepared to offer strategic sites, economic incentives, and competitive assets to businesses looking to relocate.
But why Choose Texas? After all, you have many choices for your business location. Let the member communities of the Choose Texas program tell you why the choice to relocate your business to the great state of Texas may be the easiest—and best—decision you’ll ever make.
DUMAS
Mike Running, executive director of the Dumas Economic Development Corporation, says that companies have relocated to Dumas because of the city’s business diversity. Dumas, whose leading industries are education, healthcare, and social services, is also known for its logistics sector and the largest rail car park in the United States.
According to Running, site selectors considering larger cities in Texas such as San Antonio, Dallas, and Houston, can benefit from relocation to smaller cities like Dumas because Dumas in particular offers unique partnerships to businesses in their targeted industries that simply aren’t possible in other communities.
As for businesses that have recently benefited from Dumas’ pro-business climate, Running says premium pet food manufacturer Life’s Abundance recently moved to Dumas and is almost finished building a 20,000-square-foot warehouse in the city’s business park. According to Running, the city was able to offer Life’s Abundance discounted space, a sales tax rebate, and land. The company is now considering plans to expand in Dumas.
But it isn’t just land and incentives that make doing business in Dumas an attractive offer for businesses, it’s the willingness of organizations like the Dumas Economic Development Corporation to nurture new businesses long after they’ve settled in the community. Says Running, “There is no other state that compares to our pro-business and servants attitude when it comes to business recruitment and retention. We sincerely care for our businesses and are willing to go out of the way to help them succeed.”
BOERNE / KENDALL COUNTY
Home to the world’s largest dairy and a thriving energy and agribusiness sector, not far north of San Antonio sits Boerne / Kendall County, Texas. When you ask Alison Church, COO of the Boerne / Kendall County Economic Development Corporation why businesses should consider relocating to Boerne / Kendall County, she first cites the city’s “unmatched quality of life and proximity to larger markets.” In fact, according to Church, the city benefits from the workforce of larger cities such as San Antonio because employees headed to the county don’t have to deal with the traffic of the larger metropolitan areas.
Church says this has also benefited businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic because many business leaders have learned that it’s no longer necessary to do business in larger cities and can downsize to locations that have a smaller footprint and are less expensive. Workers can work remotely, and businesses can downsize their workforce if need be. In Boerne / Kendall County, the community has a large fiber optic presence, making remote work easier for businesses.
Boerne / Kendall County has a thriving agricultural technology sector, as well as construction and design sectors. O.W. Lee, a high-end patio furniture manufacturer, recently relocated to Boerne / Kendall County from out of state, and according to Church, this opens doors for complementary businesses to move to the area. Says Church, “We can coordinate with [business] owners to find out what other industries or types of businesses they will need to help them be more successful.”
As for why businesses should choose Texas, Church cites the state’s largely rural atmosphere as a benefit, as it enables businesses to expand while having access to an abundance of economic development incentives.
ANDREWS
About 30 miles east of the New Mexico border sits Andrews, Texas. The small city has a population of just over 14,000, but while it may seem small, Andrews’ size works in its favor when it comes to business. Much like its fellow Choose Texas counterparts, Andrews avoids the congestion and higher fees of nearby major metropolitan areas. The city’s highly skilled workforce is also a big draw, says Andrews Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Morse Haynes. “Andrews has a quality workforce, and we provide a great quality of life for a rural community,” says Haynes.
That workforce combined with the city’s oil-adjacent location makes it a hidden gem in East Texas. Seated in the Permian Basin, Andrews is well-equipped to host businesses that serve the oil and gas industry. According to Haynes, the city has recently welcomed two oilfield services companies into their Business Park West location, and they have recently inked a deal with a meat processing facility.
Haynes says land is available at either of the city’s business parks, and relocation assistance is available with job-based incentives. He adds that negotiations are under way for a third business park in Andrews.
“Texas is a business-friendly state with low taxes, communities that are preparing for growth (such as Andrews), and a great place to live and do business,” says Haynes.
TEXAMERICAS CENTER
Located just West of Texarkana, Texas, TexAmericas Center is a Redevelopment Authority that operates as a traditional development and management company but has the capabilities of a municipality. TexAmericas Center offers many benefits including the lowest cost structure for taxes, in the state of Texas. Additionally, their tax savings, real estate prices, utilities, and labor rates are some of the lowest in Texas, says Texamericas Center Customer Engagement Specialist, Ruthie Jackson.
According to Jackson, TexAmericas Center is well equipped to host “both light and heavy manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, food and beverage processing, paper and wood products manufacturing and defense.” TexAmericas Center is especially ideal for defense, as it is seated adjacent to the Red River Army Depot.
Another benefit of rural site selection? According to Jackson, the COVID-19 pandemic plays a big role. “With the global pandemic, rural areas are at a lower risk,” she explains.
Recent additions to TexAmericas Center include Lockheed Martin, Rowe Casa, a local organics company, Project Safe Harbor, a 177,000-square-foot warehouse for a component part manufacturer, and a warehouse expansion for Loc Performance, an existing tenant who in addition to expanding their warehouse added 20 jobs to their previous workforce of 25.
So, what makes choosing Texas such an excellent decision for site selectors? “As the ninth-largest economy among the nations of the world and home to 50 Fortune 500 headquarters, the State of Texas offers companies one of the most favorable business climates in the nation,” says Jackson.
ORANGE COUNTY
Positioned between Houston and New Orleans, Louisiana, Orange County, Texas, offers unprecedented access to major waterways, ports and Interstate 10. The county, which is not far from major oil, gas and manufacturing markets along the Gulf Coast, boasts of thriving retail, construction and hospitality sectors.
Orange County is also home to Lamar State College Orange, which helps create the skilled workforce the region is known for. The county offers workforce development resources to assist businesses and workers by training them on the skills they need to make area businesses a success. Says Orange County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Jessica Hill, “When locating in a smaller community versus a large metropolitan area, not only will the company be lowering operating costs, but they will also be providing quality jobs for the citizens of the community. Orange County citizens place a very high value on jobs, and they realize the importance of bringing good companies with great jobs to the community.”
Recent additions to the business community in Orange County include an incoming H-E-B grocery store, Chick-Fil-A, Starbucks, clothing and retail establishments and even a winery.
According to Hill, these businesses have chosen Texas and more specifically, Orange County, because of the county and state’s absence of both corporate and individual income tax, as well as their “highly-skilled, well-educated workforce, and simplified state regulations.”
Says Hill, “The Texas economy continues to grow and diversify each year, strongly in part to the lack of red tape giving companies an opportunity to strategize for faster growth.”
BOWIE
Just an hour northwest of the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex, Bowie, Texas, is situated halfway between DFW and Wichita Falls, Texas. Despite a rural setting, Bowie offers all of the amenities of larger nearby cities, without the traffic and stress of big city living. In fact, according to Janis Crawley, Executive Director of the Bowie Economic Development Corporation, that reduction of stress makes a big difference when it comes to the workforce, as less-stressed workers means higher productivity. Lower stress, combined with a highly skilled labor force at lower employment wages, makes Bowie the perfect alternative to big city business operations.
Another benefit of small towns like Bowie is their lower overall cost of doing business. According to Crawley, businesses relocating to Bowie benefit from lower front-end costs due to ample land availability, lower wages, lower energy costs and the same infrastructure and incentives as larger cities. “We also offer additional incentives that most larger communities will not consider,” says Crawley.
She says Bowie works well for companies with fewer than 100 employees, and the city’s current projects include a $2.2 million expansion at one of the town’s existing manufacturing companies, a downtown expansion that includes office buildings, retail and restaurant space, and a $600,000 office complex.
“We are looking to attract professionals—from the metroplex and other larger communities—who want to lower their overhead cost and increase their ROI,” Crawley says.
SUNNYVALE
Just 15 minutes east of Downtown Dallas sits Sunnyvale, Texas. This up-and-coming suburban community isn’t just a great place to do business, it’s a great place to live, too, says Burton Barr, Director of Economic Development for the Sunnyvale Economic Development Corporation. The city was acknowledged as one of the “Best Suburbs of 2014” by D Magazine.
As far as doing business in Sunnyvale goes, the city offers a small-town environment with a strong industrial presence, including manufacturing centers, a Baylor Scott & White hospital and medical center, and retail and commercial sites. The city is poised for future growth, with available space along Highway 80, Collins Road, Clay Road and Belt Line Road. The city is also preparing for more growth with the expansions of roadways, waterways and wastewater improvements.
New projects in Sunnyvale include an incoming 643,000-square-foot light industrial / logistics center, as well as incoming restaurants including Chick-Fil-A and Whataburger.
Barr believes the success of Texas in attracting new business is its pro-business attitude. “In addition to local incentives, we have many economic development tools and incentives offered through the Office of the Governor,” says Barr. “Texas also enjoys a diverse workforce and lower cost of living than many other states.”
SULPHUR SPRINGS
Located between the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area and Texarkana, Texas, Sulphur Springs is providing what they call “the best of both worlds” – close enough for the fun of city life, but in a peaceful rural setting.
With six build-to-suit business parks (some within city limits), the Sulphur Springs Economic Development Corporation recently completed several roads and updated the infrastructure in two of those parks.
The city is also invested in its workforce, with job training through the Higher Education Center, which can offer immediate training for employees and continuous programs for staff.
Sulphur Springs is already home to businesses such as Diversified Food Systems, Plant Process, Ocean Spray, Saputo and BEF Foods. Raven Industries recently began construction on an expansion to their existing facility.
FLOYDADA
The “pumpkin capital of Texas,” as it is sometimes referred to, Floydada is a heavily agricultural community located in West Texas. This rural community is home to ample cropland, farming pumpkins, grain sorghum, wheat and cotton.
The town has a population of just 3,038 but offers a strong workforce development program through the Floydada Professional Development Center and the Floydada Economic Development Corporation. Other education incentives include financial assistance for programs such as the Skills Development Fund and the Self-Sufficiency Fund, provided by the Texas Workforce Commission.
Floydada is currently planning a business park that will host both retail and office space.
NORTHLAKE
Located in Denton County, Texas, not far from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Northlake is seated along Highway 35W, which runs from Laredo, Texas, to Minnesota and offers easy access throughout the DFW metropolitan area.
Former ranchland, Northlake has experienced tremendous growth since the city was established in 1960. The city’s Pathway to 2040 plans for more growth, including more agricultural development in keeping with the city’s agricultural roots. There are hopes to attract businesses that serve agricultural communities such as tractor repair and commercial green housing operations.
According to the Pathway to 2040 plan, the city would also like an esteemed university to establish an agricultural program within the fringes of the city, such as along FM 156.
LEANDER
Not far from the Austin, Texas, metropolitan area, Leander sits in the state’s Hill Country area, known for its rolling hills and beautiful scenery. With more than 63,000 residents, Leander is the 37th fastest growing city in the United States.
This affordable small city provides award-winning land planning initiatives and is poised for more future growth. Leander is home to businesses such as H-E-B Grocery Co., Leander Independent School District, Casa Costa Bake Shop and HL Chapman Pipeline Construction, Inc. The city’s proximity to Austin also poises them nearby to corporations such as Apple, Dell, IBM and Samsung Semiconductor.
The city also benefits from many nearby colleges and universities, including the University of Texas at Austin and Austin Community College.
GRAPELAND
Halfway between Houston and the Dallas / Fort Worth metro area sits Grapeland, Texas. The small, rural community offers many benefits to incoming businesses that Mayor Balis Dailey says simply can’t be found in larger cities. According to Dailey, just a few of the benefits of doing business in Grapeland include a welcoming community, many logistics options, low risk of adverse risk, and a high-quality labor force.
Grapeland also offers ample space for growth and many shovel-ready sites. The town has access to trucking, air, rail, U.S. highways and Gulf shipping ports.
Grapeland is already home to several major manufacturers, including Nucor-Vulcraft, a steel products manufacturer that makes products Dailey says can be used for construction of facilities for incoming businesses. Furthermore, the company’s trucking operations allow for other businesses to partner with them on backhauling, reducing transportation costs.
Why should businesses avoid selecting sites in larger cities? It’s all about the overcrowding that already exists—and will continue to get worse as growth continues, Dailey says.
“Unfortunately, these locations have expanded to the point of severe infrastructure limitations and extremely high cost for land and development cost. While these problems are now major, they will become worse in the future. This impacts the bottom line,” Dailey says.
“To change the negative impacts of locating in the metro areas, companies should begin to see rural development as the future site locations for industry. The future of a company’s long-range growth will be enhanced by considering the rural areas such as East Texas, specifically Grapeland, Texas.”
WHY CHOOSE TEXAS?
You’re choosing a state with lower taxes, a highly skilled workforce, lower land and utility costs and dedicated economic development organizations that can help you achieve your business goals.
When it comes to making site location decisions for your growing company, the Choose Texas site location team is ready to take your business to the next level.
Partnering with Choose Texas provides you free site location services and a team of area experts ready to maximize Texas’s growth climate for your business. The Choose Texas team has 25 years of partnerships across the state, so if you know what your business needs, the professionals with Choose Texas know where and how to find it.
Get in contact with Choose Texas Project Director, Brooke Edwards, to discuss an upcoming project or specific site needs for a new facility by calling 469-778-2606 or emailing brooke@choose-texas.com.
You can also visit www.Choose-Texas.com for more information.
