News

Mayor urges community to shop local for holidays

Thursday, November 21, 2019

As sleigh bells and cash registers start to ring, Palestine Mayor Steve Presley sent a holiday message to the community: Shop Local. Presley told the Herald-Press he plans to partner with businesses and the local Chamber, as well as challenge city council members at their regular meeting, to come up with ways to keep more holiday jingle in Palestine, including the use of online and social media messaging. Read full article.

TVCC ready to serve small business owners

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Trinity Valley Community College’s Small Business Development Center is open for business, offering free research and consulting services to help business owners. Miranda Perry of Athens, a former teacher and business owner, offers consulting services each Wednesday at Palestine’s Economic Development Center. The service is not new in town, nor unique to the region. As a new SBDC consultant, however, Perry wants more people to know the service is available. The SBDC and other economic development centers like it infused more than $9 million into the region’s economy in the last fiscal year into sectors in manufacturing, services, retail, and even...

Palestine Toyota Has Started a Technician Training & Apprenticeship Program

Monday, November 18, 2019

Workforce training is important for Palestine Toyota, and other companies where the skilled trades are necessary for daily operations. Knowing that there is a large technician shortage – 40,000 technicians are needed in the coming years, Chuck Eldridge decided to start a program to train students to become the technicians the company will need. Chuck Eldridge and his partners have successfully piloted the program in other areas and were excited to bring it to Palestine. “It helps students to find out if they would be interested in becoming a technician upon graduating. Those who do can enter our summer apprenticeship progra...

Local rental market enters new era

Thursday, November 14, 2019

People looking for housing in Palestine are about to have 136 more options: A new $7.8-million apartment complex, Willow Creek, opened off S. Loop 256. It's about time, too. Palestine has suffered a severe housing shortage, especially in rentals, for at least a decade. Property Manager Joan Baker is confident pent-up demand will fill up Willow Creek Apartments quickly, despite critics who say $815 to $1,325 a month is too pricey for this area. Read full article.

Study: Texas is best state for launching a startup business

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Texans know there are countless reasons why the state is a great place to live. A recent study also showed Texas is the top state in the nation in which to launch a startup company. Read full article.

Chuck Eldridge, Owner of Toyota Palestine, On Why He Loves Palestine & Gives Back

Monday, November 11, 2019

Chuck Eldridge, owner of Palestine Toyota, has been thrilled with his decision to build a company and a life in this charming Texas community. “I have lived a lot of places, but Palestine is definitely my favorite. My wife and I want to make Palestine our forever home,” said Chuck Eldridge. Before moving to Palestine, Chuck worked in several metropolitan areas, but when he moved to Palestine, he finally felt at home. “In Palestine and other small communities, you get to encounter folks at your grocery shop and community events on a regular basis so you get to know folks. I...

Curious Museum exploring STEAM

Wednesday, November 06, 2019

Tucked away behind Palestine's Southside Elementary School, the Curious Museum is more than a science museum; it's also a hotbed for research in one of the latest education trends: STEAM. The new acronym adds the word “arts” to the popular STEM buzzword (science, technology, engineering, and math). More importantly, though, Curious Museum Director Lucinda Presley is exploring how integrating the arts with science can motivate learning. Read full article.

TEXAS DELEGATION ENTICES BOSTON COMPANIES TO GO BIG IN TEXAS

Friday, November 01, 2019

Texas executives and economic developers travel to Boston to share information with Boston-based companies about the benefits of expanding or relocating to Texas. Led by Texas Economic Development Corporation (TxEDC), in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism (EDT),the mission seeks to spread the message that companies can “Go Big in Texas” among an audience of corporate executives, site selectors and others involved in expanding and relocating businesses. Read full article.

Start a Business in Texas

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

In Texas, small businesses continue to thrive due to a variety of factors including our excellent geographic location, highly skilled workforce, low tax burden, reasonable cost of living, predictable regulatory environment and our legacy of having a business friendly climate. While there are simply no guarantees in business or a way to eliminate all the risks associated with starting a business, there is a way to improve your chances of success with good planning preparation and insight. Some basic steps to starting a business include selecting a location, deciding on a business structure and obtaining the necessary licenses and permits. Additionally...

TEXAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND ACCENTURE JOIN FORCES TO PROMOTE TEXAS AS A DESTINATION FOR INNOVATION

Monday, October 28, 2019

The Texas Economic Development Corporation (TxEDC) and Accenture announced a partnership to position Texas as the business destination of choice for innovation. The collaboration is a three-year commitment to advance the economic vision for Texas, particularly as it relates to the role of innovation and digital technologies. “As the world and Texas rapidly change and transform in this digital age, innovation is becoming an increasingly critical indicator for economic success,” said Robert Allen, President and CEO, TxEDC. “Already home to more than 17,600 technology companies and 50 Fortune 500 headquarters, Texas is on the rise as a destination for cutting-edge corporations...

Position Available with the EDC: Economic Development Director

Friday, October 25, 2019

To plan, direct, manage and oversee the activities and operations of the Palestine Economic Development Corporation (PEDC) which includes Economic Development, Marketing/Tourism and Main Street Programs; to coordinate assigned activities with other city departments and outside agencies; and to provide support to the City Manager. The PEDC Director is responsible for facilitating, promoting and ensuring economic development in order to secure opportunities for economic growth and business development, and increase employment and population. The PEDC Director with the assistance of the Palestine Economic Development Board will develop, coordinate, and implement a comprehensive master plan relating to economic development in th...

Palestine Economic Development Corporation Receives an IEDC Website Award

Saturday, October 19, 2019

The Palestine Economic Development Corporation was recognized by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) during their 2019 Annual Meeting in Indianapolis on October 14th. Palestine EDC received an IEDC Excellence in Economic Development Award for the EDC’s website, in particular, for the online tools that allow site selectors and business executives to easily search for properties, obtain demographic data and gather the information necessary to evaluate the benefits of locating in Palestine, Texas. About IEDC IEDC is the largest organization of economic development professionals in the world. As an organization, IEDC is known for being an industry thought-leader and go-to source fo...

Hundreds attend Chamber awards banquet

Monday, October 14, 2019

The Pendleton Springs Wedding Venue set the stage for this year's Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce Fundraising Banquet, with the theme “Commerce to Table.” Roughly 300 people attended, applauding the YMCA and director Cindy Piersol, who received the award for best non-profit. Council member, editor, and entrepreneur Dana Goolsby took the Game Changer award; and Mario's Mexican Restaurant was named Entrepreneur of the Year. Citizen of the Year went to Jo Ellen Walley; Jocelyn’s Donuts was awarded the Business of the Year. Read full article.

Recognizing efforts to restore, preserve

Monday, October 07, 2019

Two monthly awards—one for historic restoration and the other for beautification—are moving around town to new spots every month to applaud and encourage property owners who have improved their properties. The awards are drawing attention to the city's most significant assets—its history and eye appeal. Another motive: Attracting a larger piece of Texas' $2.6-billion heritage tourism industry. Among Texas cities, Palestine's potential for increasing its heritage tourism is second only to Galveston, which has the state's largest number of historic homes. Read full article.

Texans Can Finally Buy Beer Directly From Breweries

Wednesday, September 04, 2019

The Beer-to-Go law went into effect September 1 after a long, protracted legislative battle. On Sunday, September 1, just in time for Labor Day, breweries across the state toasted to a long-awaited landmark moment: The Beer-to-Go law finally went into effect, allowing Texas craft brewers to sell beer directly to customers. Before Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1545 in June, breweries had the right to sell on-site but were prohibited from selling beer to go. (Wineries and distilleries have long been allowed to sell on-site.) With Abbot’s signature, Texas became the 50th state to legalize the arrangement for breweries, shifting th...

How Oil-Loving, Frack-Happy Texas Could Lead the Low-Carbon Future

Monday, September 02, 2019

The energy industry has been good to Texas ever since oil gushed from Spindletop in 1901—and Texas has been good to the world. Blessed with an abundance of hydrocarbons, we prospered mightily, created millions of good jobs, and helped the Allies win World War II. Our technical know-how, risk-taking spirit, and vast resources have sparked innovations that have spread across the globe and bankrolled many of the institutions—universities, museums, public parks—that enrich our public life. In an era when carbon emissions didn’t matter, Texas was king of the energy world. But climate change threatens to knock us off the throne. Scientist...

Why are so many startups heading to Texas?

Sunday, September 01, 2019

Everything's bigger in Texas, especially small businesses! WalletHub recently released 2019's Best & Worst States To Start A Business report that compares all 50 states to determine which ones are best for starting a business in the United States. If the opening sentence didn't already tip you off, Texas earned the top spot as the overall best state to start a business. Methodology for the report examined conditions that make for ideal business creation. Some of these factors were capital access, available talent in the workforce and affordable office space. Texas narrowly edged out Utah with a total score of 61.05 and earne...

Despite a hiccup from council, downtown redevelopment continues

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Craig and Daria Allen's dream of living above their home renovation business was on the bubble when council members questioned their matching $50,000 grant application. The static came despite the application's meeting all the guidelines for the Downtown Matching Fund Grant program that City Council already approved. “I can't tell my constituents their tax dollars are going to fix up someone's home,” District 4 Councilman Joe Baxter said. “I'm going to vote no, and I just wanted to tell you why.” District 5 Councilwoman Dana Goolsby, however, questioned how council members could oppose a grant application that was done properly, under a program th...

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 a...