Businesses often find it's cheaper, easier, and friendlier to relocate to smaller cities.

The day after Braden Black finished high school in Amarillo, Texas, he packed a suitcase, hopped in his car, and left, not sure if he'd never come back. He went to Dayton, Ohio, where, in 2001, he started his own business, a staffing construction company called Skilled Corp. At the time, the economy was booming and skilled labor was in demand, but companies had trouble filling positions. Black saw an opportunity to connect workers with the businesses that needed them.

Organizations ban together to launch website to support local businesses

The Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (Amarillo EDC) in partnership with the Northwest Texas Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the WT Enterprise Center, and Workforce Solutions Panhandle, launched a website of business and employee resources specific to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in an effort to help citizens stay informed and make appropriate business decisions.

Amarillo EDC urges citizens to shop local, follow guidelines set by local officials, and continue to take precautions

The Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (Amarillo EDC) is dedicated to supporting, strengthening and diversifying our local economy. 

Following January's State of the Economy event, the Amarillo EDC is providing its full 2020 Economic Outlook Report. As the event was designed to be informative for the community, business owners, and students. The following materials were made to be a resource to help community members make informed decisions moving into this year. 

The Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (Amarillo EDC) announced details for the organization’s Second Annual State of the Economy event to be held on January 22, 2020 at 7:30 a.m. in the Heritage Room of the Amarillo Civic Center, 401 S Buchanan St. The event will provide a brief update of Amarillo’s economic outlook and feature a keynote speech discussing macroeconomic issues and how they impact our community.

The Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (Amarillo EDC) today announced the launch of a job and internship board on TakeRootInAmarillo.com, the new community website that gives businesses, job seekers, students, and individuals looking to learn more about city life a special look into the rich cultural, economic, and social benefits of living and working in the city of Amarillo. As an employment resource, the website now has a live job board section, where employers can post local job opportunities that offer a salary of over $45,000 a year. In addition to jobs, internship positions for students and community members will be posted by local companies.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.