Approval ushers in 150 new jobs to the area economy

Today the Amarillo City Council approved a Location Incentive Agreement presented by the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (Amarillo EDC) to support the attraction of SSI Foods, LLC to the Amarillo. This ratification comes after approval by the Amarillo EDC Board of Directors on September 23, 2019. This final step in the approval process allows the Amarillo EDC to provide a 17.10-acre parcel in the CenterPort Business Park for the construction of the 75,000 sq. ft facility which will employ up to 150 full-time employees.

Amarillo EDC has pledged up to $69M toward completion of the project

On June 15th, Texas Governor Greg Abbott authorized a budget approved by the Texas Legislature that will allocate $17.35 million in operational funding for the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine (TTUSVM) in Amarillo, a move that will strengthen the school’s existing educational investment in the High Plains while providing additional incentives for students and animal health professionals who live and work in the community.

Scott Bentley, the Amarillo market President and current Board of Directors members of First United Bank, is the newest member of the Amarillo EDC's Board of Directors. Scott is very active in the community having served on numerous civic boards including Golden Spread Council of Boy Scouts, Amarillo/Canyon United Way, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Community Advisory Board, and the Amarillo Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone.

Following a successful State of the Economy event, the Amarillo EDC is happy to provide the event materials to the public. As the event was designed with the intention to educate and provide critical information for business owners, consumers and students to make informed materials, the Amarillo EDC is pleased to make these valuable materials available to the greater community. 

During the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation’s latest episode of Build Your Talent Toolbox, Sam Silverstein, national keynote speaker, helped employers see the value in building a culture to retain the right employees. Sam teamed up with Cal Zant, President of Betenbough Homes, a local employer in Amarillo, Lubbock, and Midland.  After they shared their experience and expertise on work culture, Sabrina Meck Perez, AEDC Director of Workforce Attraction & Retention, sat down with both Sam and Cal to share their thoughts with you on the importance of being purposeful with work culture.

Event aims to shed light on national and local trends shaping the area’s economy

The Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (Amarillo EDC) announced today their plans to host the organization’s inaugural State of the Economy event to be held on January 31, 2019, at 7:30 a.m. at the Embassy Suites Hotel. The event will provide a brief update on Amarillo’s economy while national economic leaders will discuss how macroeconomic issues affect the growth of the community. 

As we visit with many businesses, it becomes clear that a prominent challenge facing employers is the opportunity to engage with local students in a way that offers the greatest impression with minimal amount of sacrifice in work productivity. This is why the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) highlighted Junior Achievement of the High Plains in our first “Build Your Talent Toolbox” event. Junior Achievement (JA) helps employers bridge this gap and provides staff an opportunity to interact with local students.

Amarillo City Council Approves Incentives for Local Business Expansion

The Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) Board of Directors announced today their support in the expansion of Amarillo-area business Asset Protection Unit.  Over the next five years, the project will create more than 125 jobs in the Amarillo area, adding $5M in additional payroll.  

Asset Protection Unit, LLC, a leading provider of data mining and overpayment recovery for insurance and related industries, will create more than 125 jobs in the Amarillo area over the next five years. The positions will support the business unit's ability to support new insurance carriers.  

"We are thrilled to support growing businesses in the Amarillo-area," stated AEDC Board Chairwoman Laura Street. "As a Board, we enjoy investing in the growth of area companies that have and will continue to give back to the community. These projects highlight the on-going growth in Amarillo and the AEDC's focus on expansion and retention."  

Interim President and CEO Doug Nelson stated, "Anytime the organization can invest in successful local businesses that are growing, we consider that a win." 

The AEDC's support of the two expansions is the first step toward final approval of financial incentives for the two projects. The Amarillo City Council will consider the two projects at an upcoming Council meeting on December 4, 2018. Incentives may only be awarded upon final approval by City Council.  

The Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (Amarillo EDC) is the primary economic development engine of the Amarillo community, responsible for industry growth and job creation through business attraction and retention initiatives.  The mission of the Amarillo EDC is to attract businesses to Amarillo which offer highly skilled, highly-paid positions; to expand and retain existing local businesses in Amarillo, and to foster a business environment conducive to entrepreneurship.

You’re only as strong as your team. And a company is only as strong as its workforce. We know businesses, cities, educators, non-profits and everyone in between is constantly looking for the right talent who will stick around and be assets for their organization. But it is tough! With low unemployment, labor participation and new generations entering the workforce, the challenges of recruiting, retaining and engaging employees can be daunting and harmful to a business.