News

Mother-Daughter Partnership Brings Business & Property Renovation to Palestine

Thursday, June 06, 2019

Sloan Shuffler, Lisa Priest and Kat Graser weren't born in Palestine, but they got here as fast as they could and have made it their true hometown. Sloan Shuffler fell in love with the beauty and inviting nature of Palestine, when visiting from Plano in 1996. She and her husband quickly purchased a weekend home in the area and commuted every week to enjoy the beauty and relaxing pace of East Texas. Quickly, they decided to make the move permanent and live in Palestine full time. “People were friendly, the environment was gorgeous, and I got here as fast as...

East Texas High School Idea Challenge

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

The East Texas High School Idea Challenge is the largest innovation competition in East Texas for high school students. The Idea Challenge is designed to encourage, support, and inspire the next generation of inventors and entrepreneurs with the goal of growing East Texas’ knowledge and economy. All East Texas high schools are invited to submit teams of 2-5 students to participate in the Challenge. The winning team’s school will receive $2,500, with second place taking home $1,000. The monetary award can be invested in the school’s entrepreneurship and innovation programming. Winning students will earn a scholarship to study at The University of Texas at...

TEXAS RANKED BEST STATE FOR BUSINESS FOR 15TH STRAIGHT YEAR

Tuesday, May 07, 2019

The Lone Star State tops Chief Executive's 15th annual Best and Worst States for Business survey. Texas secured the No. 1 spot on Chief Executive’s Best and Worst State for Business survey. Texas achieved the top spot each year since the ranking's inception. The rankings reflect CEO perceptions of best and worst states for business based on a range of key measures. The Lone Star State's dominance in this ranking is thanks to its hospitable business climate, top-notch workforce and high quality of life. Texas was followed once again by Florida at No. 2, while North Carolina fell to No. 4, replaced by Tennessee...

Tech Jobs

Thursday, May 02, 2019

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) has released its annual Cyberstates report, providing a detailed look at trends in technology employment. It’s a great way to check how Texas is faring relative to other states in a key component of future growth. CompTIA uses a measure of technology employment that includes technology workers across the entire economy. By this measure, the US total reached an estimated 11.8 million in 2018, up 2.3% from 2017. Since 2010, national tech employment rose by 18.8%. For Texas, estimated 2018 tech employment was almost 983,000, second behind California, which is far higher with almost 1.8 million. Texas...

Texas labor force tops 14 million as monthly job growth continues

Wednesday, May 01, 2019

Texas marked its 107th consecutive month of job gains in March, according to data released by the state's workforce commission. The state added 22,600 jobs in March, up from the 17,700 it added in February. Much of the state's job growth was driven by the private sector in March, though it continues to grow at a slower rate than in the past. Read full article.

Palestine Comes Together for Community Projects to Enhance Our Beautiful Outdoor Spaces

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

The Palestine Community Services Department maintains over 275 acres of beautiful outdoor public spaces that includes parks, playgrounds, and sports facilities. Thanks to their dedication, and the generous support of the community, including the PEDC who donates $50,000 annually, Palestine has some of the most beautiful parks in the region. In fact, the natural beauty of Palestine is so well known, it is one of the reasons families choose to move here. The outdoor recreation activities in Palestine are vast ranging from Lake Palestine to the Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area to Reagan Park and the Grapeland Safari. Each provides incredible...

City manager resigns

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

City Manager Michael Hornes has resigned, Mayor Steve Presley told the Herald-Press Monday. “Obviously, this is not the most opportune time for the city to lose him,” Presley said. “But he's made this decision based on what's best for his family – and family and faith come first.” Hornes' resignation will take effect May 24. He became city manager in October 2017, earning an annual salary of $125,000 and managing more than 200 employees. Before becoming city manager, Hornes, 39, acted as assistant city manager under Mike Alexander. Hornes was widely credited with navigating the city through a tough budget process last year, as...

What Does Sustainability Mean in 2019?

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Although sustainability in the built environment is still important, fewer projects are seeking certifications, while wellness features/amenities are becoming more mainstream. For the third year in a row, our construction management firm has conducted a survey among our clients and partners to determine what the real estate community truly thinks about sustainability in the built environment. Our survey measures everything from the expected ROI of sustainability, wellness, and resilience planning to which third-party rating systems have the most market impact. We find it a fascinating glimpse into how our clients perceive, value, and interpret the myriad factors that impact sustainability in the built...

On Country Mice And City Mice

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Yes, we could be called a tad repetitive, if you’re a reader of Site Selection for more than a couple of years, particularly of the March issue. But both Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts and Texas Governor Greg Abbott are no less deserving of their respective Governor’s Cups for economic development success in 2018 than they were the last few times they won. This is the Nebraska chief executive’s third consecutive win and his state’s fourth; Gov. Abbott adds a fifth consecutive Cup to his state’s collection that now boasts seven. You may experience some déjà vu, too, when you get to...

Location and Accessibility Helped to Define Palestine and Shape the City’s Growth

Friday, March 29, 2019

Palestine, Texas was a river transportation and railroad community that provided easy transportation access for farmers, ranchers and businesses during the 1800 and 1900’s. Today, Palestine is still defined by high accessibility, as is evident by the distribution centers that have grown in the community. This is a natural evolution in Palestine’s rich history and one of the main reasons the city has experienced a stable and thriving economy over the past 150 years. Palestine was formed in 1846 by the Texas legislature to serve as the Anderson County seat. The city was chosen, in part, because of the transportation advantages...

Texas Water Smart Garden dedicated in Palestine

Thursday, March 28, 2019

State and local partners install garden highlighting water conservation and community beautification PALESTINE, Texas (July 31, 2017) – The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), City of Palestine and Texas Water Smart Foundation (TWS) are pleased to announce the installation of a water conservation demonstration garden in downtown Palestine. “Palestine embodies the best of rural Texas,” said Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. “The vision and focus of city and community leaders made this project possible, and their efforts will enhance the Main Street District by providing an outdoor space that is attractive and also serves as an education point to teach the public about...

Tiny homes, apartment complexes help fill huge need in Palestine

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

A set of small houses are soon to make their way into one Palestine neighborhood. "There will be four of them, [approx.] 600 square-feet," Gayle Cooper, the City of Palestine's economic development director, said. City leaders approved the construction of the small houses on Blanton Road to combat the housing shortage inside the city limits. Although small in size, the homes will have one bedroom, one bathroom and a kitchen. Click here for the complete article.

Residents and Business Owners Love How Palestine is Beautiful, Affordable and Accessible

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Palestine, Texas is known for its natural beauty, historic charm, affordability and how easy it is to access major markets throughout the country. People are choosing to call Palestine home, businesses are moving in and there’s a reason why – Palestine has everything they need to thrive. Palestine is Full of Natural Beauty and Historic Charm Located in the Piney Woods of Northeast Texas, Palestine’s landscapes are rich, vibrant and teeming with life. This natural beauty ensures that everything from the downtown and residential areas to the Willow Creek Business Park are surrounded by trees year-round. Plus, nearby Lake Palestine provides a...

The Small Business Development Center

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

The Small Business Development Center is a program of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of Texas, and Trinity Valley Community College, supplying free and confidential advice for start-ups and existing small business. Contact Tom at the numbers below for your personal appointment. Thomas Westgate|Business Advisor Trinity Valley Small Business Development Center 100 Willow Creek Parkway Ste.A Palestine, TX 75801 Office: 903.675.7403 Fax: 903.675.4830 Cell: 903.780.0642 www.tvcc.edu/sbdc

Council seeks ideas for Memorial Hospital land

Monday, February 11, 2019

City officials have scheduled a town hall meeting for Feb. 18, at 6 p.m. in City Hall, on how to use the Old Memorial Hospital lot. City Council members want neighbors of the 3.5-acre lot, in the 900 block of South Sycamore Street, to help decide whether the city should use the property for housing, a park, or another purpose. Demolition work on the lot is scheduled to finish in February. Continue to full article

Texas was the top U.S. market for more U-Haul moves in 2018

Thursday, February 07, 2019

That moving truck you saw last week on the interstate was probably headed to Texas. Texas was truck and trailer provider U-Haul's No. 1 growth state in 2018 for the third year in a row. Texas beat out second-place Florida and South Carolina as the fastest-growing state for U-Haul's business. The rental company looked at data from 2 million of its moves to rank the states with the largest net gains in moves for the year. A lot of them were headed to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Continue to full article

Texas Top-Ranked State for Firm Relocations

Tuesday, February 05, 2019

Relocations of firms and corporate offices generate interest among policymakers and the public who view them as generators of jobs and positive economic spillovers. Apple’s plans for a $1 billion corporate campus in Austin and the intense national competition to land Amazon’s HQ2 are striking examples of the importance placed on landing the big prize. Texas, with its hospitable business climate, is a leading contender for firms looking to cross state borders.1 Anecdotal reports have long highlighted the state’s ability to attract businesses from high-tax and heavyregulation places, such as California and New York, though exact counts of businesses that...

Upcoming: TxDOT's Texas Construction Career Academy Trainings 2019

Tuesday, February 05, 2019

Applicants Looking For Careers in Construction Are Strongly Encouraged To Apply! The Texas Construction Career Academy (TCCA) is looking for 25 highly motivated candidates interested in pursuing a career in the heavy highway construction industry to apply for its upcoming training sessions in Houston, March 18-29, 2019. Candidates are encouraged to apply online before the March 3, 2019 deadline! Apply Today!

TEXAS RANKED NO. 1 FOR GROWTH PROSPECTS

Monday, February 04, 2019

Forbes ranked the Lone Star State No. 1 in the nation for Growth Prospects, thanks to strong job, income and gross state product growth forecasts. Texas ranked No. 1 for Growth Prospects in Forbes’ Best States for Business 2018 based on favorable growth forecasts for job, income and gross state growth. Right on the heels of this announcement, the Bureau of Labor Statistics published a report that solidified this strong ranking, indicating that several Texas metros saw the largest over-the-year employment increases as of October 2018. Continue to full article

Check for $100K just one incentive for new trucking company

Wednesday, December 05, 2018

Erickson Trucking & Supply, a Minnesota staple since 1968, is setting up shop in Palestine – with an incentive package which includes a $100,000 check from the Palestine Economic Development Corporation. “We're tremendously excited to have Erickson Trucking in Palestine,” PEDC Director Gayle Cooper told the Herald-Press Tuesday. “They are bringing manufacturing to the city, which is vital to economic development.” Erickson Trucking company recently purchased a plot of land at 8049 US HWY 79, with one office building and four outbuildings. The company sells new and used big-rig trailers, and sells after-market parts. They will also fabricate parts on-site, eliminating the need...