Community partners with industry for growth
By CHRIS BARBEE

El Campo, strategically located at the crossroads of U.S. 59 and State 71, is an ideal location for business and industrial ventures. The area has plenty of good-quality groundwater, fertile soil, a stable workforce and quality public and pri- private schools.

Residents seeking a higher education or job training can attend Wharton County Junior College, or classes offered by the University of Houston-Victoria.

Continuing education classes are also offered in El Campo.

El Campo residents understand the importance of maintaining and growing the local job market and tax base. On Jan. 18, 1992 voters approved raising the local sales tax from 1.0 to 1.5 percent, with .25 percent funding the City Development Corporation, and another .25 percent earmarked at the time to support El Campo Memorial Hospital, which is now supported by a hospital district.

CDC, directed by a five member board of directors appointed by El Campo City Council, is the lead economic development organization for the city, and is responsible for industrial recruitment, retention and expansion, entrepreneurial development and assistance in locating financing for new and expanding companies.

The CDC, established under Section 4(a) of the Development Act of 1979, offers incentives through job creation grants, Enterprise Zones, Foreign Trade Zones, job training assistance, the Texas Capital Fund, Texas Enterprise Fund, Texas Emerging Technology Fund, Texas Skills Development Fund and low-cost land.

The Meisel Industrial Complex on Divide Street and two buildings that are currently leased to Cardell Cabinetry are owned by the CDC.

Some of the projects that the City Development Corporation has been involved with recently are the provision of a water line for the Wal-Mart Supercenter, a water line and sewer line for the El Campo Bowling Center, the attraction of Engineered Particle Systems and the Texas BioDiesel Corporation, facilitating the location of Sutherlands in the vacated Wal- Mart building, expansion of the Silver Streak Bass Company and obtaining a $240,000 loan program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The CDC this year will assist Farmers Co-op of El Campo and its partner, GeoGreen Fuels, with Coastal Fuels of El Campo, a new 5-milliongallon per year biodiesel facility to be located near the co-op's cotton gin at Hillje.

CDC directors look at each application and determine how best to assist. "Each situation is truly looked upon separately," said Gwen Willis, CDC board chairwoman. "The main reason we give incentives is that, while it's important for us to grow the industries we have here, it's also important to bring new industry in."

Incentive packages help attract new industry.

"It's our job to give benefits to someone who has a viable business plan," she said. "The whole purpose of the CDC is to offer these packages, and we have guidelines and past experiences to aid and to entice businesses to our community," she said.

"It's just like when you are thinking of moving and the people in a town are nice, and you think, 'This is where I want to live.' Showing a business it's wanted is a big deal."

Contact the CDC at (979) 578-0066 or visit www.elcampoeco.org.