Five and a half years ago I began my career as and economic developer in Levelland Texas. The first project I was able to work on was the Levelland/Hockley County Ethanol plant. Although at that time it was just a dream. The Farmer's Co-op Elevator had just completed a feasibility study on the possibility of producing Ethanol in Hockley County and the results were promising albeit a challenging proposition.
There were a lot of naysayers who pointed out every challenge we would face and said it couldn't be done. Each time we were able to overcome a challenge a new one would appear. For two years we worked to eliminate the barriers that stood in the way and at each turn someone made sure to point out how we were wasting our time and would never get it open.
Then in October 2006 we broke ground on the $64 million dollar plant 6 miles east of Levelland. It was a great day filled with excitement and accomplishment. Still there were naysayers telling us that it would never be successful. Well here we are Three years later and the plant continues to produce Ethanol.
Today the Levelland/Hockley County Ethanol Plant is hosting a Bar-b-que lunch at the plant and I have been honored with an invite. I can't wait to break bread with those that helped make this dream become a reality. During the process of getting the plant to this point my good friend Nick Williams often quoted James Arthur Baldwin, "Those who say it can't be done are usually interrupted by others doing it." He was right.
If something is worth doing you can bet there is going to be someone telling you how it can't be done. Thank goodness in Levelland we like a good challenge and don't mind doing what "they" say can't be done.
While the Ethanol plant is still in the start up phase as a business and each day challenging for sure, they continue to work to make it successful. If you are wondering, "What does this mean to our local economy?" Let me tell you.
As a company they have paid taxes in excess of $500,000 to the local taxing entities and have employed an average of 40 people for a two year period with an annual payroll over $1,200,000. Click on the link to see a one page report generated by the Texas Comptroller's Office titled "Estimated Economic Impact of the Ethanol Production on the City of Levelland, Hockley County and the Nine-County Region" .
Maybe now people will stop wondering when it is going to fail and start asking how they can help make it succeed. Congratulations to the Levelland/Hockley County Ethanol plant for making it this far. I'll see you at lunch.
Let me know how you feel about the ethanol plant and/or the future of agriculture in Levelland by leaving a comment to this post. I would love to hear your what you have to say.
As many of you know, the City launched a new Recycling Program May 4th. The City had a new building built at the Levelland/Hockley County Transfer Station (902 A&M Lane) and purchased a recycling baler to bale the recycled materials; half of the expenses are being paid for through a grant that the City was awarded. 
In the first month of operations, the Levelland Recycling Center has captured over two tons of recycled material and 
four bales have been made with the baler. Each bale weighs between 800-1000 lbs.
We anticipate that as word of mouth continues and awareness is created these numbers will continue to increase. Many people have asked exactly what does the Levelland Recycling Center accept and how do we prepare the items?
- Newspaper, Glossy Paper, & Office Paper each have separate containers at the Recycling Center. Paper can be shredded but it is optional as long as it does not contain sensitive information.
- Magazines should be stacked on a pallet at the Recycling Center.
- Aluminum cans may be crushed but it is not required.
- Cardboard should be flattened and placed on a pallet at the Recycling Center.
- Automobile batteries should be placed on a pallet at the Recycling Center.
- Plastic Bottles and Jugs are sorted into three categories.
1. Clear Plastic Bottles (soft drink bottles, water bottles, etc)
2. Colored Plastic Bottles (detergent bottles, etc)
3. Milk Jugs
If you haven't already, I encourage you to participate in the Levelland Recycling Program and help Levelland Go Green! Also, the Recycling Webpage should be up on our new website this week which will include a slideshow of the Levelland Recycling Center along with information about the program.
Please feel free to pass this on to anyone that might be interested in participating in the Levelland Recycling Program.
Erik Rejino
Special Projects Administrator
City of Levelland
P.O. Box 1010
Levelland, TX 79336
806-894-0113
Fax: 806-894-0119
Email: erejino@levellandtexas.org
City of Levelland on Twitter: http://twitter.com/levellandtx
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 Development Board will meet Friday at noon to discuss yet another project slated for the New Industrial Rail Park being put together by the Levelland Economic Development Corporation.
This latest project, a biomass energy project, is just one of many that have approached Levelland since the Levelland EDC made the decision to create a rail served industrial park that can capitalize on the upgraded freight rail from Lubbock to Levelland. Permian Basin Railways upgraded the freight railroad to serve the new Levelland/Hockley County Ethanol Plant in 2006 opening up rail shipping to the plant.
Since the upgrade in freight rail the Levelland EDC has been inundated with prospects needing access to newly improved freight rail infrastructure. Pierce Adams, a sales rep with the Permian Basin Railways told the board, "If you guys build it and they will come." His prognostication has been right on track.
Couple freight rail access with Levelland EDC's ability to provide corporate incentives to deserving companies and you have the makings of an economic boom for the West Texas town just 30 miles west of Lubbock, Texas. Recent examples of Levelland's success in corporate incentives are Allied Oilfield Machine and Pump, Stephenson Industries, Tex-Rail Commodities, and EcoBlue Inc. Each company has received an incentive package in some form from the Levelland EDC.
For more information on submitting applications for corporate incentives to the Levelland EDC visit GoLevelland.com or click Levelland Corporate Incentive.
Renewable Energies are all a buzz in today's world and Levelland's very own Ethanol Plant continues to attract National Attention. The Levelland/Hockley County Ethanol plant located just east of Levelland Texas on State Highway 114 will be featured on a syndicated television show called Our Planet that airs on MSNBC and Fox Business Channel for utilizing a 100% of locally grown grain sorghum or milo to produce its ethanol.
Work on the renewable energies plant began in October 2006 and began producing ethanol in February of 2008.
The Levelland Economic Development Corporation gave a corporate incentive to the plant in the form of 223 acres of land valued at roughly $225,000 in return for 30 jobs and $60 million in capital expenditures. The plant also received a grant award from the Texas Department of Agriculture's Texas Capital Fund to install water lines to carry City of Levelland's filtered gray water to the plant for production.
Lubbock's News Channel 11 recently posted an article on its website telling of the national television shows intention of producing a segment on the Levelland Ethanol Plant. You can read thier story here...
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."
Read more...
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
The Levelland Economic Devleopment Corporation recently proposed 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.
If Eco Blue accepts the incentive package offered by the Levelland EDC they could begin manufacturing cotton fiber insulation by early next year. 
The company previously produced the cotton insulation in Post, Texas but decided to relocate to Levelland to take advantage of land, infrasucture and workforce assets.
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.