Today I attended a press conference held at the Texas Tech University Frazier Pavilion held to announce the award of a $360,000 Workforce Training Grant.
Texas Workforce Commissioner Representing the Public Andres Alcantar of Austin and State Senator Robert Duncan recognized project partners and presented a Texas Workforce Commission training grant check for $360,000 to Workforce Solutions South Plains in support of the South Plains Recruitment and Reemployment Initiative, a project designed by the region's economic and workforce development leaders and area employers to recruit workers outside of Texas into the area in an effort to fill the hundreds of available job openings.
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The City of Levelland has applied for federal grant dollars through the Economic Development Administration for Levelland Economic Development's new Industrial Rail Park. With support from Senator John Cornyn, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, and Representative Randy Neaugebauer the City of Levelland has a very good opportunity for federal funding.
Considered "Shovel Ready" the Levelland Industrial Rail Park fits the outlined requirements for the $787 billion federal stimulus package. The Levelland EDC has been working on this project for more than 6 months and have designs ready to go as soon as additional funding is secured.
Commitments from the Levelland EDC for $1.5 million, the City of Levelland and Hockley County for $250,000 a piece and a new TIF district that is being created for the project will help round out the financial support for the rail park.
The $11.9 million dollar investment will lead to $75 million in private capital investment and create close to 500 jobs in the community just 30 minutes west of Lubbock Texas. The rail park will connect manufactures to global markets via the Permian Basin Railways and BNSF.
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
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Levelland Economic Devleopment Corporation is expected to close on a deal with Eco Blue, a cotton fiber insulation manufacturer that will create more than 40 jobs in the community located just west of Lubbock, Texas.
Officials with Eco Blue have accepted the incentive package offered by the Levelland EDC. Eco Blue could begin manufacturing cotton fiber insulation by the second quater of 2009. The company previously produced the cotton insulation in Post, Texas but decided to relocate to Levelland to take advantage of land, infrastructure and workforce assets.
Under the agreement Eco Blue will purchase an existing 40,000 sq. ft facility located on Industrial drive in Levelland. The Levelland EDC offered Eco Blue a corporate incentive equal to $5000 per job and applied it toward the over all purchase price of the building. Eco Blue will pay the Levelland EDC $550,000 for the building and the LEDC will carry the note on the building for a 10 year period at a reduced interest rate. "This is a win/win for Levelland and Eco Blue," said Elgin Conner the LEDC chairman. "It allows Eco Blue to begin operating immediately while putting the building back on the tax roles for the community of Levelland and Hockley County."
The Levelland EDC has sites available in the new Levelland Industrial Rail Park that offers full city utilities, rail access and employees can be easily drawn from the Lubbock South Plains Workforce Development Area, with a pool of over 200,000 employees in the surrounding area.
SOUTH PLAINS - Levelland Hockley County Ethanol, LLC (LHCE) received the Employer Award of Excellence for the WorkForce Solutions South Plains (WFS) area at the Texas Workforce Commission's (TWC) 12th Annual Texas Workforce Conference held December 3 through 5 in San Antonio. The award honors employers that are actively involved with their local workforce board and have made a positive impact on employers, workers and the community.
"Strategic partnerships between regional employers and local workforce development boards have created the foundation for the state's resilient economy," said Andres Alcantar, Texas Workforce Commissioner representing the Public. "I commend Levelland Hockley County Ethanol and WorkForce Solutions South Plains for their contributions to their region and the state of Texas."
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Featured are (L-R) Texas Workforce Commissioner Representing the Public Andres Alcantar, WorkForce Solutions CEO Martin Aguirre, WFS Board Vice Chair Adrienne Cozart,
City of Levelland City Manager Rick Osburn and
Texas Workforce Commissioner Representing Labor Ronald Congleton