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.
This morning in Levelland, two very cool things happened in Levelland's Industrial Park.
Eco Blue Inc. produced their first bale of fire retardant cotton/denim insulation from their manufacturing plant and Independent Electric broke ground on a new building and warehouse.
Both projects have been in the work for some time, but his morning a corner was turned. With board members of the Levelland Economic Development Corporation, Judy Roundtree and Wanda Lawless, present the Eco Blue owners displayed their first bale of product. 
The bale, which is headed to Tennessee for a 1000 sq. ft. home, was produced from denim from South Carolina. Eco Blue will continue to fine tune their process and begin full production in October.
While just across the street employees with Robert Mcham, a local dirt contractor began work on a pad site for Independent Electric's new building and warehouse. Independent Electric (IE), a locally owned electrical contractor,
purchased the site from the Levelland Development Foundation back in 2008 with the intention of relocating their business to the Levelland Industrial Park. IE have been awarded several local contracts including the newest shopping center next to the Wal-Mart Supercenter and both the new Levelland Junior High and the Levelland Academic Beginning Center (ABC).
Congratulations to both these companies for their new endeavors. The Levelland Economic Development Corporation wishes you all the best. Thanks for your investment in Levelland and its future.
One year and 9 days after the Levelland Economic Development Corporation voted unanimously to commit $1.5 million to create the Levelland Industrial Rail Park (LIRP) the project was put out for bid. Appearing in Sunday's paper on August 9, 2009 the rail portion of the LIRP project has seen over 20 sets of plans picked up in three days.
"We were hoping there would be some interest in what we are doing and, apparently, because we have the funding in place contractors are very anxious to bid on our Rail Park," said Levelland EDC's board chairman Elgin Conner. "With all the interest, we expect the pricing to be very competitive which is great for Levelland."
Bid opening is set for September 1, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. in the Levelland City Council Chambers with a pre-bid meeting scheduled for August 19, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at Levelland City Hall located at 1709 Ave. H. Bid packets can be obtained by contacting Parkhill, Smith & Cooper at 806.473.2200 and visiting with project engineers John Hamilton or Richard Multer.
While, there have been a number of challenges to getting this project to this point, the project is moving forward and dirt should be moving sometime in October. The utility phase of the project will go out for bid sometime soon.
The park opens up 200+ acres of industrial land that will be fully served by rail and city utilities. Permian Basin Railways will connect the Levelland Industrial Rail Park with the BNSF mainline in Lubbock, TX 30 miles to the east of the park. For more information on available lots and rail access contact Dave Quinn, Executive Director of Levelland Economic Development Corporation at 806.894.0113 or visit www.GoLevelland.com/rail
Levelland EDC officials met at noon on Monday with Eco Blue to iron out details of a deal that will bring the cotton insulation manufacturer to Levelland, a rural community just 30 miles west of Lubbock, Texas.
After months of negotiations, a deal was finally reached that will put a 40,000 sq. ft. industrial building back into use in the Levelland Industrial Park.
Eco Blue director and plant manager David Davis says, "We want to be here and we are ready to get started." Davis along with his partner Rex Neitsch will begin moving in equipment this week and expect to be up and running within a couple of weeks.
The company signed a 10 year lease purchase agreement that will put the cotton insulation manufacturer into operation in the former knitting mill building. Eco Blue will be required to hire 20 full time employees within 24 months and make additional capital investments. In return the EDC agrees to provide $350,000 corporate incentive for operating capital, 1/2 at time of equipment delivery and 1/2 when the first pound of cotton insulation is produced and ready for shipping.
The company will use raw cotton grown locally for a feedstock to produce a finished loose-fill insulation that is safe for the environment, contains no harmful chemicals or irritants, and will be shipped nationwide. They will also produce a line of products for the bedding industry and a line of natural cotton batt insulation.
Watch for more to come as the company begins its operation in the Levelland Industrial Park.
In a unanimous vote at Monday night's city council meeting the Levelland City Council voted to create the Levelland TIF#2. This second Tax Increment Financing Zone will help fund the new Levelland Industrial Rail Park being spearheaded by the Levelland Economic Development Corporation.
Participating in the second TIF District for Levelland is the City of Levelland, Hockley County and the High Plains Underground Conservation District. All three of the taxing entities chose to support the Levelland Industrial Rail Park by electing to forgo the incremental growth in tax value created by new growth in the park in order to pay for the infrastructure needed to create new industrial growth.
The TIF#2 came about after the success of TIF#1 which was created to spur new housing development in Levelland. With over 19 houses being built in since the creation of TIF#1 the City of Levelland made the decision to spur industrial growth by partnering with the Levelland EDC to create the Levelland Industrial Rail Park, a 280 acre rail served industrial park with full city utilities.
The image below shows both TIF #1 and TIF #2.
The following story submitted by the Levelland & Hockley County News Press 806.894.3121
Hockley County Commissioners approved a resolution of support for the proposed Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone proposed for the future Levelland Industrial Rail Park.
Levelland City Manager Rick Osburn met with the commissioners to thank them for their endorsement of the TIF zone and to ask them to put their support into a resolution, which they approved unanimously. He told commissioners that the South Plains College Board of Regents will consider the TIF proposal at their April meeting and that the college's involvement will be essential to make the whole program work.
"Basically, there is no risk with the taxing entities benefiting from personal property and inventory taxes if Project Gorilla goes forward," Osburn said. "Not doing it is the biggest loss." This TIF is to encourage industrial development.
The city and the Levelland Economic Development Corporation have been working on a project which will require the construction of a 550,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility, which would add about $28 million in new real property value and $60 million in personal property consisting of manufacturing equipment and inventory.
By law, new taxes generated by real property development go into the TIF program to pay for the infrastructure while new taxes from new personal property would go directly to the taxing entities.
Osburn agreed that the Levelland TIF Zone #1 the city and county participate in has done exactly what it was supposed to do: stimulate housing construction. The goal was seven new houses; it has already resulted in 19 new houses being permitted. Osburn also asked that commissioners appoint a representative to serve on the new TIF board. Commissioner J.L. "Whitey" Barnett agreed to serve in that capacity.
Commissioners also authorized the filing of paperwork for the upcoming multi-purpose event center bond election, approved refunds of overpayments of property taxes, denied the resale of property in Sundown, approved a resolution which will allow the county to be reimbursed for expenses associated with the multi-purpose event center if the bond issue passes, and okayed an interlocal agreement between the city and the count in regard to a Justice Assistance Grant Program application and possible grant.
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.
Continuing a tradition that stretches back several Legislative Sessions, the Texas Renewable Energies Industry Association (TREIA) has declared March 2-5 as Texas Energy Independence Week, this year playing off Texas Independence Day of March 2.
TREIA will host a number of events at the state capital to promote renewable energies and energy independence. This year's events include Education Exhibits, Legislative Reception for TREIA members, Texas Renewable Energy Projects Showcase, a noon TREIA Policy Luncheon, and an afternoon Texas Economic Development Briefing.
Dave Quinn, Executive Director of the Levelland Economic Development Corporation has been invited to speak during the Texas Economic Development Briefing at the Texas State Capital on Thursday afternoon. The briefing will be held in Capitol Auditorium (E1.004) from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Dave will be speaking on the Levelland/Hockley County Ethanol plant project, the new Levelland Industrial Rail Park project, and Levelland's focus to build synergy in the biomass energy sector.
Check out this SlideShare Presentation on LinkedIn : Treia Presentaton 2009 http://tinyurl.com/adgbnp
If you would like to download a copy simply send a direct message to Levelland EDC on Twitter.com/LevellandEDC
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.
The
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.