Multinational wind company
Alstom Power Inc.
announced yesterday at an
American Wind Energy Association conference in Dallas that they will begin their activities in the American market at
Amarillo's CenterPort Business Park just over two hours north of
Levelland Texas and the
Levelland Industrial Rail Park.
A ground breaking is planned for Alstom 11 a.m. Thursday to celebrate at the plant site at the CenterPort near Loop 335 and Northeast 24th Avenue, on Amarillo's eastern edge.
The construction, equipping and staffing of the 115,000-square-foot wind-component manufacturing plant represents "a significant investment." The plant is expected to employ 275 full-time workers.
In March, the city of Amarillo awarded Alstom a $12.5 million economic development incentive package, which included an existing building at CenterPort and a job-creation grant to support the building's expansion, and the company likely will spend an additional $12 million to $20 million equipping the plant.
The plant will assemble nacelles, which contain the generator, gearbox and control systems that make up a wind turbine. The site is a $5 million speculative shell structure the city built as an incentive to attract industry to CenterPort, part of the package presented to Alstom, which enabled the company to move forward more quickly.
Alstom has procurement people who have been meeting with companies in the region that they might buy goods and services from. This announcement represents a huge opportunity for Levelland's local businesses and the Levelland Industrial Rail Park (LIRP) in the heart of the High Ground of Texas.
The High Ground of Texas Education Foundation, in partnership with area Economic Development
organizations, is hosting the REDI© 2009-2010 Program.
Developed in 1990 and offered numerous times since, this twenty-five hour comprehensive program is designed to give volunteers, board members, city staff, chambers, practitioners, elected officials and other interested individuals, a basic, nuts-and-bolts understanding of the economic development process.
We work particularly hard to help people understand the questions of "what do we do next" and we are dedicated to giving the information at a "how to do it" level. A training manual, collateral materials, and case studies are used in the instructional formats.
A very successful Session I was held in November 2009 in Odessa. Session II will be held in Levelland on March 4th, Session III will be held in Amarillo on May 12th, and the final Session will be held on Midland in August 2010.
"We would like to express our appreciation to our Session I presenters which included Gary Vest (Odessa), Sheryl Hardy (Perryton), Ken Becker (Sweetwater), Edwin Knight (Slaton), Chris Alexander (Friona), and David Rushing (Shamrock). We thank the Northwest Texas Small Business Development Center for sponsoring the Luncheon and we appreciate Xcel Energy for serving as a major sponsor for the REDI 2009-2010 Course." said Lorie Vincent, Executive Director, High Ground of Texas
"This week we welcome Hunter Hilburn (EDsuite), Mitzu Yamazaki (TIP Strategies, Inc.) and David Quinn (Levelland Economic Development Corporation) as our special guest presenters for the REDI Session II course whose topics will focus on aggressive marketing strategies." explained Mrs. Vincent.
If you know of someone who would benefit from attending, please share this information with them. The course is open to all interested parties. You can register for sessions individually or receive a discount for registering for all four sessions together.
The Registration Deadline for the next session, to be held in Levelland on March 4th, is Monday, March 1, 2010. Please register at https://www.regonline.com/REDICourse.
The High Ground of Texas is excited about presenting the REDI© 2009-2010 program and we hope that you will have someone from your area interested in attending one or all of the dynamic REDI© sessions.
For questions, please contact the High Ground office at 806.366.7510 or higround@xit.net.
Levelland would like to congratulate
Amarillo on their announcement of landing
Alstom, a wind turbine manufacturer. Amarillo is offering financial support to the company for development of the wind component manufacturing facility in the
CenterPort Business Park. The new project will create attractive green manufacturing jobs in Amarillo and will help meet growing demand for clean, renewable wind energy in Texas and across North America.
This development is just the beginning of what will be a cluster of wind energy manufacturing development created by the development of wind farms throughout not only the High Ground of Texas but throughout North America.
Our location in the heart of the High Ground of Texas and its recent $8.6 million investment in rail transportation infrastructure make Levelland an ideal site for future wind energy manufacturing. We can leverage development taking place across the region to position the Levelland Industrial Rail Park as a major player as this alternative energy industry matures.
Congratulations once again to our neighbors to the north. Keep up the good work.
Texas Music star
Mark Mckinney's "Are We Doing This" seems an appropriate song for the Levelland Industrial Rail Park. This weekend crews from
Railroad Specialties Inc. began work on the much anticipated rail served industrial park located just 30 miles west of Lubbock Texas and the
BNSF interchange point which opens opportunities for Levelland based businesses to ship and receive freight from anywhere in the world.
With over 21,000 feet of rail being installed on the 300 acre site, the LIRP will offer rail service to companies looking to gain access to the booming renewable wind industry taking place throughout the High Ground of Texas. Located in the heart of the South Plains, Levelland is positioning itself as a logical hub for other fields of business as well, including agriculture, manufacturing and petroleum industries.
For more information on putting your business in the Levelland Industrial Rail Park and accessing global markets visit www.GoLevelland.com/rail today.
Today I have lost a dear friend and ally, David Evans.
David was the Economic Developer in Plainview and served with me on the High Ground of Texas board of directors. Over the last several years David had become more than a colleague, he was a dear friend.
We traveled many of the same roads in search of opportunities for our communities, yet there was never a feeling of combativeness between us. We often shared our approaches with one another, while more often than not; I was the one doing the listening and David the teaching.
David's willingness to share his experience with his less seasoned colleagues around the region and his desire to leave this world better than he found it made him the embodiment of the very sprit upon which the High Ground of Texas was founded twenty years ago.
So in return for David's support for our region the High Ground of Texas has established the "David Evans Spirit of Giving Scholarship Fund". He often talked to Lorie Vincent, Executive Director of the High Ground of Texas, about what he could do to ensure the growth of rural Texas and foster economic development support for those with limited resources.
"It was his desire to be a part of a legacy that would continue to support his dream for "making a difference". Donations to his scholarship fund will be used to provide assistance for economic development practitioners to obtain economic development education, then taking that knowledge back to where it would be put to good use," says Lorie.
The HGEF will work closely with David's family to insure that his wishes are carried out. If you would like, you can make a gift to the "David Evans Spirit of Giving Scholarship Fund" by going to the following link https://www.epartnersingiving.com/educationfund
or you can send a donation to:
David Evans Spirit of Giving Scholarship Fund
c/o The High Ground Education Foundation
P.O. Box 716
Stratford, TX 79084
Please note on the online form that the gift is for David Evans or write it on your check. Gifts acknowledgements will be immediately sent to the family of David Evans.
"David thank you for blessing me with your friendship and love, farewell my friend."
Dave Quinn, Levelland
The Levelland EDC has partnered with the High Ground of Texas Education Foundation and 
the Northwest Texas Small Business Development Center to host a workshop on Social Media. Social Media Smarts: Starting the Conversation about Social Web, Tools and Strategies. The workshop will be held at South Plains College in the Student Services Building room 101 on Friday July 31, 2009. To register for the event go to www.GoLevelland.com/sms.
The workshop will help demystify social media and help business owners, chamber executives, economic development directors, non-profit directors, public school administrators and other marketing professionals master practical, real-world, applications and teach them to connect and maintain ongoing connections with customers and supporters.
The workshop will be lead by Matt Gierhart, founder of The New Celebrity, LLC. Matt is a native of Levelland who now resides in London. He is home for the summer working with several public schools and non-profits to build their online presence and raise awareness through digital media. The cost of the workshop is $79 for Levelland Chamber of Commerce and High Ground of Texas members and $99 for all other attendees. Check it out at www.GoLevelland.com/sms
This year's Renewable Energy Technology Conference and Exposition was an intimate show that allowed Levelland and other members of the High Ground of Texas delegation to visit with key players in the renewable energy sector.
For three days members of the High Ground of Texas pitched the opportunities in West Texas to entrepreneurs and other prospects including representatives from around the globe with representatives from Japan, Denmark and Italy coming by the booth.
Also while at the show Levelland Economic Development Corporation's Executive Director, Dave Quinn, had an opportunity to share information about the High Ground of Texas and Levelland during a live web cast hosted by Matthew Lesko. Watch the interview below.
Free Webcam Chat at Ustream
Begining on Tuesday afternoon, Dave Quinn, Executive Director of the Levelland Economic Development Corporation will be joining 16 other High Ground members at this years Renewable Energy Technology conference & Exposition (RETECH) in Las Vegas, NV.
RETECH is the largest all-renewable energy industry gathering in 2009 in the United States. Exhibitors at RETCH are the leaders in the industry:forward-thinking, focused organizations with a global view.
The show offers unparalleled opportunities to engage with other leaders in the renewable energy industry, exposure to markets in wind,solar, hydro, ocean, geothermal, biomass, waste energy, biodiesel, bio-based products, hydrogen and other renewable, green and sustainable technologies, and maximize the exposure of opportunities that exist in Levelland and in the High Ground of Texas.
Levelland will be showcasing the new Industrial Rail Park and industrial sites located around the Levelland/Hockley County Ethanol Plant rail loop both of which can accomdate the loading and unloading of unit car trains.
Levelland is betting that thier access to rail will prove to be a lucrative econnomic development tool as the renewable energy sector expands in the United States.
Dave Quinn, Executive Director of the Levelland EDC will be traveling with the High Ground of Texas to the 2009 World Ag Expo in Tulare, CA on February 10, 2009.
Joining the 100 member contingent from the High Ground, a west Texas economic development marketing organization will be Texas Ag Commissioner Todd Staples.
Commissioner Staples will be joining other National, State and International dignitaries in the opening Ceremonies and will participate in show activities promoting economic opportunities in Texas. Read the full story in the news room at www.GoLevelland.com
In the spirit of "Partners in Progress" both the City of Levelland and Hockley County voted on Monday to invest in rail infrastructure that will help Levelland and Hockley County become a hub of rail shipping in West Texas. Both the City Council and Commissioner's Court agreed to invest $250,000 towards the new $8,000,000 Levelland Industrial Rail Park project spearheaded by the Levelland Economic Development Corporation.
The rail infrastructure gives Levelland manufactures access to the BNSF main line opening up markets around the globe. Levelland EDC will have more than 200 acres to offer prospective companies needing rail shipping for their business.
Inquiries for the available sites have skyrocketed since the rail infrastructure project was announced late last year. The Levelland EDC plans to use the rail served industrial sites as corporate incentives for companies expanding or relocating to Texas.
This recent public investment is another example of Levelland's history of being progressive on propose. For more information on the new Levelland Rail Park and how your company can benefit from shipping by rail visit www.golevelland.com and click rail park. Click news to read more about this story.