Amarillo: Faces, Places & Open Spaces
A full-color, photography book showcasing Amarillo, Texas, paired with the histories of companies, institutions, and organizations that have made the city great.
A full-color, photography book showcasing Amarillo, Texas, paired with the histories of companies, institutions, and organizations that have made the city great.
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AMARILLO<br />
ECONOMIC<br />
DEVELOPMENT<br />
CORPORATION<br />
Since 1989 the <strong>Amarillo</strong> Economic<br />
Development Corporation (EDC) has been<br />
“building a stronger, more diversified economy<br />
for <strong>Amarillo</strong>.” Utilizing a dedicated<br />
half-cent 4A sales tax approved by <strong>Amarillo</strong><br />
voters, the <strong>Amarillo</strong> EDC implements programs<br />
to assist new and local primary businesses,<br />
or businesses with goods and services<br />
that are exchanged outside the region. Since<br />
its inception, the <strong>Amarillo</strong> EDC has worked<br />
toward the goal of attracting businesses<br />
that offer highly-skilled positions at high<br />
wages. It has also<br />
worked to expand and<br />
retain existing businesses<br />
in <strong>Amarillo</strong> and<br />
the surrounding region<br />
and to create a business<br />
environment conducive<br />
for entrepreneurialism.<br />
The impact and success<br />
of the <strong>Amarillo</strong><br />
EDC is measurable<br />
because the <strong>Amarillo</strong><br />
community continues<br />
to improve in economic-strength rankings. The<br />
success of the <strong>Amarillo</strong> EDC is also measured<br />
by the prominent presence of new business in<br />
the <strong>Amarillo</strong> area over the last twenty years.<br />
New industries attracted by the <strong>Amarillo</strong> EDC,<br />
bringing increased economic stability and<br />
added employment to the region, are Bell<br />
Helicopter Textron, Alstom Power, and Arden<br />
Company. Others are Hilmar Cheese Company,<br />
Sitel, and Rocla Concrete Tie Company.<br />
Some of the businesses the <strong>Amarillo</strong><br />
EDC has helped expand and remain in the<br />
region are AirUps, Golden Spread Electric<br />
Cooperative, Western National Life, Cooper<br />
Crouse-Hinds, Multiple Systems, Sage Oil<br />
Vac, Inc., Tyson Fresh Meats, and Plains<br />
Dairy. The <strong>Amarillo</strong> EDC has worked with<br />
educational institutions such as <strong>Amarillo</strong><br />
College, Texas Tech University, Texas Tech<br />
University Health Sciences Center, and West<br />
Texas A&M University to expand their<br />
workforce programs. Expanded educational<br />
programs targeted toward current industries<br />
and technologies will provide potential<br />
employers with a highly-trained workforce<br />
making <strong>Amarillo</strong> a more attractive place to<br />
locate businesses.<br />
The <strong>Amarillo</strong> EDC partners with community<br />
organizations to enhance the effectiveness<br />
of their efforts. Its collaborative partners<br />
include the City of <strong>Amarillo</strong>, <strong>Amarillo</strong> Chamber<br />
of Commerce, <strong>Amarillo</strong> Independent School<br />
District, West Texas A&M University, and<br />
<strong>Amarillo</strong> College. It also has relationships<br />
with the office of the governor of Texas,<br />
Department of Economic Development and<br />
Tourism, the High Ground of Texas, Team<br />
Texas, and Ports-to-Plains Trade Corridor.<br />
Another partnership is the funding of the<br />
<strong>Amarillo</strong> EnterPrize Challenge administered<br />
by West Texas A&M University Enterprise<br />
Network. The annual $500,000 grant enables<br />
several start-up companies and established<br />
businesses to grow their businesses, sell more<br />
goods and services outside the region, bringing<br />
new revenue to the <strong>Amarillo</strong> economy.<br />
In the future, the <strong>Amarillo</strong> EDC will<br />
continue to focus on attraction, retention, and<br />
expansion strategies to help improve the<br />
<strong>Amarillo</strong> economy, the standard of living for all<br />
residents, and the climate for further growth.<br />
AMARILLO - <strong>Faces</strong>, <strong>Places</strong> & <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Spaces</strong><br />
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