Amarillo: Faces, Places & Open Spaces

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