TEXpansion

Businesses and industries are expanding their facilities throughout Texas. Here is a sampling of recently announced expansions, tracked by the Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism Division.

City	Business Name	Type of Business	Type of Project	New Jobs
Windcrest	Rackspace	Provides Web-hosting services to businesses	$22 million Texas Enterprise Fund will help fund expansion to new facility. Salaries at new facility will average $51,000	4,500 within the next five years
El Paso	Alorica	Customer service management company	Planned inbound call center	700-1,500
Amarillo	Blue Cross Blue Shield	Health insurance provider	$16 million, 98,000-square-foot customer service center opened in late 2007	500
McGregor	Convergys	Business relationship management	Site will hire management and customer service positions	500
Waco	Caterpillar Logistics Services Inc.	Provides services to parent company, Caterpillar Inc.	500,000-square-foot parts distribution center should be operational by 2009	140-180
Seguin	Ameritex Pipe and Products	Concrete pipe manufacturing	57,000-square-foot factory will produce small and large diameter pipes	150
Austin	Google Inc.	Search engine	Company will lease 25,000 square feet of downtown building	100+
Robstown	U.S. Army	Warehouse and maintenance facility	$9 million, 90,000-square-foot warehouse will provide controlled humidity storage	75-100
Amarillo	Pacific Cheese Co.	Privately owned cheese company	92,000-square-foot cheese processing plant	70

Sources: The Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism Division; Texas A&M University’s Real Estate Center.

For more information, visit the Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism Division or Texas A&M University’s Real Estate Center.

Texas In Focus: High Plains

A new report by the Comptroller’s office provides a promising outlook for the High Plains region. Texas in Focus: High Plains is the second in a series of Comptroller reports highlighting economic development issues statewide and for individual regions of Texas.

A vast 41-county area, the High Plains region stretches from the Panhandle to the South Plains. Still largely rural in character, the region is growing and changing, with new industries, new challenges and new opportunities. The report examines the forces driving change in the High Plains and the factors affecting the development of its economy.

Tell Us Your Story!

E-mail us at texas.rising@cpa.state.tx.us.

We want to hear about your town’s economic development accomplishments. Whether you’ve landed a new employer or you’ve partnered with a university to train tomorrow’s work force, please tell us the unique solutions you’re using to create success in your community every day.