News

Palestine Distillery Would Create Jobs & Attract Tourists

Friday, October 23, 2020

The TahWahKaro Distilling Company has been operating in Grapevine, Texas. Now, they want to make Palestine their home. The company plans to relocate to the former Coors plant on Church Street. First, they need the city to approve alcohol sales at the site. Voters will decide on this important issue in November. Why the TahWahKaro Distilling Company is Good for Palestine Bringing a known distillery to Palestine is good for business. The distillery will create jobs in the city - both on the production and service side since they are planning a large area for guests. Existing businesses will benefit from the presenc...

Palestine Chick-fil-A set to open Thursday

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Chick-fil-A Palestine, located at the intersection of the TX-256 Loop and Crockett Road, is slated to open for business Thursday, Oct. 22. Chick-fil-A Palestine will initially open for drive-thru, mobile curbside and third-party delivery service. Guests can take advantage of contactless ordering and payment through their mobile apps. Their hours of operations will be 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday. In place of the traditional Chick-fil-A First 100 Grand Opening celebration, Chick-fil-A Palestine will be providing free meals for a year to 100 local heroes making an impact in the Palestine community. Read more here.

PHS welding winning more titles, scholarships

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Palestine High School’s welding program is building a promising future for a growing number of students with top prizes at statewide competitions. With roughly 175 students taking welding courses this year, teachers Joey Perez and Gary Scoggin are helping students get on track to skilled jobs that pay $45,000 or more. Senior Alan Cruz, for example, won a $750 scholarship to Texas State Technical College in Waco, where he plans to continue his studies and earn a certificate. Read more here.

Small business webinar offers economic recovery assistance

Thursday, October 01, 2020

Small business owners seeking a way to recover from the emergency economic shutdown can learn about helpful resources in an upcoming webinar. The Small Business Development Center of Trinity Valley Community College is hosting a virtual Zoom seminar titled “Economic Shut Down Recovery Strategies Town Hall Meeting,” 5:30 to 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 29. The COVID-19 shutdown has affected many businesses in Anderson County. Though some have closed, businesses that remain open are modifying or rethinking their strategies. Read more here.

How Small Businesses in the Heartland Are Coping

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

The Brookings Institution hosted a webinar on June 10 titled “Mitigating the Economic Impacts of COVID-19 in Rural Areas.” Moderator Tracy Hadden Loh, a Brookings Institution Fellow, engaged three experts on rural economies in looking back at the pandemic’s effect on two small towns and across rural America, and how recovery steps are taking shape. The panelists were Lindsey Dotson, executive director of the Main Street Downtown Development Authority in Charlevoix, Michigan; Todd Wolford, executive director of Downtown Wytheville, Inc., Wytheville, Virginia; and Matt Wagner, vice president of revitalization programs at the National Main Street Center. Much of the discussion initiall...

Palestine joins national registry of ‘Where Women Made History’

Monday, September 07, 2020

Palestine recently qualified as one of 1,000 or more places “Where Women Made History,” a new database curated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation that commemorates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which allowed women the right to vote. Two historic women, Mary Kate Hunter and Osjetea Briggs, represent Palestine in the nationwide campaign of more than 1,000 places where women left a footprint on their communities. Thus far, only 24 entries from Texas are listed in the database, and how Palestine became one of 14 places in the state where women made history is a story of its own. Rea...

Palestine, TX is Ready to Support Companies Onshoring in the United States

Friday, September 04, 2020

The Site Selectors Guild has reported an increase in onshoring requests from companies looking to bring some or all of their manufacturing to the United States. The big driver has been to avoid supply chain disruptions like the ones caused by COVID-19 and recent natural disasters. They said, “Members pointed out that the previous focus on the lowest cost scenario, which led to growth in China and Southeast Asia, will now become more balanced as companies look to reduce risk.” Members of the Site Selectors Guild went on to say that Life Sciences, Logistics and Advanced Manufacturing will emerge a...

Improvements Granted at Palestine Airport

Tuesday, September 01, 2020

The Palestine Airport is getting some much needed improvements due to Texas Department if Transportation and the CARES Act Grant. In a zoom meeting of the Airport Advisory Board on Aug. 11, the board and the city discussed both grants. The main topics for the agenda of the meeting were the 2020-2021 budget, including repairs on various projects the airport. The city is using a Texas Department if Transportation grant it received for replacing its 20-year old Automated Weather Observation System. The replacement is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Read full article.

Distillery intends to relocate to Palestine

Thursday, August 27, 2020

If economic and legal conditions allow, TahWahKaro Distilling Company of Grapevine is seeking to relocate to Palestine’s former Coors plant at 100 N. Church St. TahWahKaro will present its plans at a special council meeting, but have already been working with the Palestine Economic Development Corporation to move its business into the former brewery and relocate its operations to Palestine. Read full article.

Governor Abbott Announces Procurement Of Over 1 Million Devices, WiFi Hotspots Through Operation Connectivity

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Governor Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Education Agency (TEA), in partnership with Local Education Agencies, has procured more than 1 million personal devices and internet WiFi hotspots as part of the state's Operation Connectivity initiative. Financed by a previously announced $200 million allocation of Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding that was allocated to the TEA, and matched by school districts across Texas, the procurement effort will ensure that students attending a Texas public school will have both a device and connection to the internet throughout the 2020-21 school year and beyond. Read full article.

Palestine welcomes new fire truck to fire fleet

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Out with the old, in with the new. The Palestine Fire Department hosted a “Push-in Ceremony” for its new ladder truck. City administrators, fire department personnel and community members joined together to celebrate the delivery of the newest edition to the fleet. For the special ceremony, congratulatory words were spoken, a local minister blessed the truck and then the firemen put the truck in neutral and pushed the vehicle into the truck bay. Read full article.

Economic Development Leader, Lisa Denton, Sees Unlimited Potential in Palestine

Tuesday, July 07, 2020

Lisa Denton, Director of Economic Development for the City of Palestine, has come to Palestine after sixteen years of regional economic development experience. Having worked in Athens and Kilgore, she understands the unique assets and challenges facing Palestine and knows how to maximize the community’s opportunities for growth. “Palestine’s infrastructure and market access are our biggest assets. We have an incredible opportunity to attract manufacturing and distribution companies who want to be close to the Dallas, Houston and Austin MSAs, but don’t want to deal with the heavy traffic, costs and bureaucracy often associated with larger cities. Within 2.5 hours, companie...

Texas Ranked Best State For Business For 16TH Consecutive Year

Thursday, June 11, 2020

AUSTIN, TX – Texas has secured the No. 1 spot on Chief Executive Magazine's annual ranking of the Best and Worst States for Business. Texas has achieved the top spot every year since the ranking's inception. The ranking reflects CEO perceptions of the best and worst states for business based on a range of key measures. The Lone Star State continues to dominate this annual survey thanks to its favorable business climate, low taxes, reasonable cost of living, and diverse and growing labor force. Read full article.

Jucy’s Taco Has Expanded Into Palestine

Friday, May 15, 2020

Jucy’s Taco has come to Palestine! They are serving up fresh tacos that are fan favorites throughout East Texas, and fast becoming a staple in the city. “There was an opportunity for us to expand our brand into Palestine from Marshall, Longview, and Henderson. Opening a Jucy’s Taco in Palestine was a natural progression for our brand, and we are pleased by the amazing reception we have received from the community. Everyone has been very welcoming,” said Molly Anthony, Owner/Operations Manager of Jucy’s Hamburger/Jucy’s Taco. Jucy’s Taco is part of the Jucy’s Hamburgers family – a chain of family-owned restaurants servin...

Cups of normalcy at Cream and Coffee

Tuesday, April 07, 2020

COVID-19 forced Cream and Coffee’s popular Wells Creek spot to close last month, but the drive-through kiosk on Crockett Road is booming. Small wonder: The family business continues to give local residents one of the few comforting rituals of normalcy in these crazy times. Patrons arrive early to form lines, sometimes eight cars long. They seek not only a great cup of coffee, but also a reminder of life before the coronavirus locked us down. “You’re always greeted with a smile and some Southern hospitality,” J’Ann Sartain, a loyal customer and friend, told the Herald-Press. Click here for the complete article.

Female--owned business thrives in Palestine

Wednesday, April 01, 2020

When Pentecom moved in 2017 into the old Alamo school and former Palestine Public Library building on Cedar Street, 18-year employee Miria Dean could not imagine Pentecom would outgrow the newly renovated 7,000-foot building in three years. Pentecom already employs 60 workers, but the data conversion and consulting company is poised to hire dozens more within the next two years, President Kathy Rainbolt told the Herald-Press. “Anyone who has these skills should get in touch with our human resources department,” she said. Like other workers at Pentecom, Dean supports her family with income and benefits earned at the company, and is amaze...

Texas Restaurant Relief Fund Application

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

To support independent restaurants, the TX Restaurant Relief Fund will distribute grants of up to $5,000 PER UNIT to immediately support their financial needs. These funds are earmarked specifically for use to support keeping your doors open and workers employed. As an independent restaurateur, please complete this application to the best of your ability. Applications will be processed in a first come, first served basis as we raise funds. We want to put money in your hands as quickly as possible, for which we are asking you to provide your bank information so that, once approved and funded, we can transmi...

Important: SBA Loan Application Now Available

Friday, March 20, 2020

Dear Fellow Texans and Economic Development Partners, Please share this information with small businesses and non-profits in your area. Today, Governor Abbott announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has now granted Texas’ Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) assistance declaration, making loans available statewide to small businesses and private, non-profit organizations to help alleviate economic injury caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Next Steps: Small businesses who believe they may be eligible for an SBA EIDL should visit the SBA’s website where they can directly apply for assistance. The online application is the fastest method to receive a decision about loan eligibility. For additional information o...

Distillery intends to relocate to Palestine

Thursday, August 27, 2020