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.
The opening lyrics to the
Train Kept a Rollin' by Aerosmith:
"All aboard, all aboard
All aboard, track nineteen for the train
to freedom
Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry"
keeps running through my mind each time I pass by the Levelland Industrial Rail Park site.
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After voting unanimously to commit $1.5 million to build an industrial rail park in Levelland nearly 15 months ago the Levelland Economic Development Corporation's vision has begun to be realized. Utility companies have begun moving the necessary utility infrastructure to allow the rail portion of the project to begin.
While over the last several months the rail project has developed mostly behind the scenes the public can now see evidence of the time and effort put in by engineers, public officials and utility providers. Chi Energy Inc will be relocating flow lines and tank batteries, Xcel and Lamb County Electric will be moving overhead power lines while Atmos and Lubbock Gas Gathering will be moving underground gas lines.
In a coordinated effort resembling a George Balanchine choreographed ballet the utility companies will make way for Railroad Specialties, Inc. out of Littleton Colorado to install over 20,000 track feet of 134# rail and concrete crossties that will create the rail infrastructure of the Levelland Industrial Rail Park.
Dirt work for the site will begin in early November and the entire rail portion is to be completed by end of March 2010. Levelland EDC is working on dates for an official ground breaking for sometime in November.
The Levelland Industrial Rail Park(LIRP) is located just 30 miles west of Lubbock Texas and the Ports-to-Plains trade corridor running from the Mexico/Texas border to Alberta, Canada. LRIP's location creates a logistical dream for companies wanting to utilize rail to leverage benefits from the multimodal transportation corridor.
For more information on the Levelland Industrial Rail park and other rail access points in Levelland check out www.GoLevelland.com/rail
While the cost of building the new Levelland Industrial Rail Park (LIRP) can be easily quantified it is the benefits that take a little more effort. You can, of course, point to the obvious benefits such as increased land value, the increase of tax values and employment growth over time as a measureable benefit but what you miss is the soft benefit that stems from such an aggressive project.
By "soft", I mean the little things like community pride, the perpetuation of positive perception and hope. These are all things that Levelland has experienced since the Levelland Economic Development board voted to invest in rail infrastructure to provide rail access by building the LIRP in 2008.
It's fun being pointed out as a leader in progressive economic development and being used as an example of what can be accomplished with taxing entities work together in a community. And, it's not just people in the region, its folks from Austin and around the state saying positive things about what our community is doing to survive this economic downturn.
This allows our local residents to take pride in Levelland and share with their friends why they love Livin' in Levelland. It is this positive energy that allows Levelland to continue to push forward and make other things happen. It also gives us hope; that by investing today we are protecting our way of life and providing a brighter future for our children.
In addition to local interest, the LIRP is also bringing attention to Levelland on a national level. In a recent feature story titled "Ports-to-Plains Trade Corridor: North America's Energy and Agricultural Heartland" published in Inbound Logistics' August 2009 issue, Levelland Industrial Rail Park was pointed out as an important piece to the Ports-to-Plains corridor. As a community when we look at the cost/benefit analysis of any project we must remind ourselves that sometimes the benefit includes more than just dollars and cents.
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
WASHINGTON:The City of Levelland has received a grant of $3,300,000 from the Economic Development Administration (EDA), U.S. Sen. John Cornyn announced Wednesday. The funds will be used to construct expanded rail service, as well as water, wastewater and road infrastructure at the Levelland Industrial Rail Park, which will benefit current tenants and attract new industries to the Park.
"This is good news for the City of Levelland," Sen. Cornyn said. "This proposal will create new jobs and business opportunities which will strengthen the region's economy. I applaud the local leaders who worked to secure this funding."
The grant was administered by the EDA, a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The agency was established to work with states and localities to generate new jobs, retain existing jobs, and stimulate industrial and commercial growth in economically distressed areas and regions of the United States.
Sen. Cornyn serves on the Finance, Judiciary and Budget Committees. He serves as the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee's Immigration, Refugees and Border Security subcommittee. He served previously as Texas Attorney General, Texas Supreme Court Justice, and Bexar County District Judge.
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.
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.
In a meeting on Monday night, the Levelland City Council voted unanimously to begin the process of creating Levelland's second Tax Increment Financing District or TIF District.
Unlike the first Tax Increment Financing project created to build housing, this TIF will be utilized to build infrastructure needed for the new Levelland Rail Park, an industrial rail park being spearheaded by the Levelland Economic Development Corporation.
The rail park with an estimated cost of $8 million for rail, road, water and sewer improvements is expected to be a business magnet as more and more companies are looking for access to rail shipping to offset higher transportation cost.
The TIF will encompass roughly 320 acres west of the current Levelland Industrial park as well as an area south of Levelland that could be used for the Hockley County Multi-Purpose Event Center. The improvements could begin as early as May of 2009 if the other taxing entities vote to support the district. For more information on Levelland's initial TIF District visit the city's website LevellandTexas.org/tif