News

FREE Going Into Business Seminar Coming to Palestine This June

Thursday, April 02, 2020

Palestine, Texas is an excellent place to launch and grow a business, but many entrepreneurs don’t know how to start the process and are unaware of the local resources that are available to them. The six week Going Into Business Seminar seeks to bridge that gap by providing local entrepreneurs and businesses owners with the information, tools, resources and individual assistance they need to succeed. When asked about the motivations for launching the seminar, Tish Shade, President/CEO of the Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce said, “Going into business is hard. I want all of our future business owners to be arme...

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...

Tips to Help Businesses Navigate Through the Response to COVID-19

Monday, March 23, 2020

Businesses are struggling financially as the response to COVID-19 has led to a reduction in consumer spending, some business closures, contract and payment delays. Business will eventually get back to normal, but what do you do in the meantime? We have compiled a list of suggestions for businesses to consider. #1 Seek financial assistance Now is the right time to seek financial assistance in the form of loans and grants. Even if you are unsure how much capital you will need, applying for it before the emergency is always wise. If you are in an emergency financial situation already, do not hesitat...

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...

Residents' help needed for better internet

Friday, March 13, 2020

A non-profit group helping Anderson County improve its broadband internet service said Thursday it will need residents to complete up to 1,600 surveys to make it happen. Connected Nation plans to perform a broadband mapping and data analysis between March and June to determine ways to improve and expand broadband service in Anderson County. “What we're eventually looking forward to is better service at a lower cost,” Mayor Steve Presley said. Connected Nation spokesman Tom Stephenson urged the community to get involved by providing information – positive and negative – about their internet service through online surveys. The company seeks to identify barrier...

Tips for Navigating Incentives in Site Selection Process

Thursday, March 05, 2020

Rose Davidson, Sr. Vice President, Business and Economic Incentives, at JLL, spoke with Area Development about navigating incentives during the site selection process, after her presentation, “Moving the Needle - How to Navigate Projects, RFPs and Offer Letters in the Right Direction,” at our Charlotte Consultants Forum. This article was based on an interview conducted by Margy Sweeney, Founder and CEO, Akrete, Inc. and Area Development Editorial Board member. More Collaboration Expected Compared to 10 years ago, there have some notable changes to today’s site selection process. I think one of the more important changes is the incentive package. The kinds o...

Workforce Program Positions Young Adults to Succeed & Provides Palestine Employers with Local Talent

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Workforce Solutions East Texas has an innovative workforce program that’s designed to help young adults learn the life and work skills they need to succeed long term before being placed in a job. The young adults who participate in the program must be between the ages of 16 and 24, and facing an obstacle such as lacking a high school diploma or being a young parent, and also facing economic hardships. Those who qualify, and are willing to put in the work, are presented with the opportunity to change the rest of their lives. Sound dramatic? It is. To truly understand th...

Dental program creating smiles – and careers

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Wearing braces, Dekedryn Butler smiles all the time. He's happy his teeth are straightening, but the personable Palestine High School senior has something more to smile about: His future in dentistry. By earning a Registered Dental Assistant certification while still in high school, Butler, 17, can earn $12 an hour right after high school and more soon after. He also can qualify for two- or four-year college programs that will lead to dental careers that can pay, depending on location, $70,000 a year. Read full article.

Chick-Fil-A bringing 100 jobs to Palestine

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Local murmurs about this well-known national food chain have percolated for months. On February 10th, members of the Palestine City Council made it official, announcing the deal had been cut. The company plans to hire 80 to 100 part-time employees and 10 to 15 full-time employees. Pay rates for those jobs are not yet known. “We are excited to welcome a new business to our community,” City Manager Leslie Cloer told the Herald-Press Tuesday. Cloer is also interim director of Palestine Economic Development Corporation. Read full article.

Palestine welders sweep state competitions

Friday, February 07, 2020

Palestine High School welding students took top honors at competitions in Fort Worth and San Angelo – two of the state’s biggest agriculture mechanics contests. The two FFA competitions are part of the so-called Majors – the largest agriculture mechanics shows in the state. Later in February, the young welders competed in San Antonio for hefty scholarships of up to $10,000 per student. Students invested hundreds of hours in each project over the past 6 months. Many arrived at 7 a.m. and continued after school four days a week – as late as their instructors would allow. Read full article.

Moving to Palestine Was a Dream Come True for Tammie and Larry Flowers

Thursday, February 06, 2020

Tammie and Larry Flowers fell in love with Palestine when visiting several years ago. Originally from Alabama, the couple lived in Louisiana and had a business there until horrendous flooding caused them to lose everything. In search of higher ground, and better weather, they made their way to Palestine via Houston. “On our first visit to Palestine it was obvious that this is where we wanted to be. We put our house on the market and moved as soon as it sold,” said Tammie. What they moved to was something truly spectacular - the Neches Gardens home. This stunning Colonia...

New owner for Anderson County Livestock Exchange

Friday, January 17, 2020

The Anderson County Livestock Exchanged opened under new owners and management. Dr. James Peters began the purchase of the sale barn in December, signing a lease, and held a soft opening for the livestock barn with his staff Wednesday to a crowd of 150 cattle buyers. State Representative Cody Harris – R. was there for the new owners first sale and enjoyed lunch in the sale barn cafe as well. Read full article.

Hot Jobs: Growing Industrial Sectors

Wednesday, January 01, 2020

Although the number of jobs lost during the Great Recession have been regained, not all regions or industry sectors have experienced the same recovery. Where are the best job opportunities, and in what sectors? The research from market analytics consultant Emsi suggests that some of the most attractive sectors in terms of decent-paying jobs are also doing fairly well in terms of job growth. Most states will welcome all the manufacturing activity they can get, for example, and many states have been seeing healthy manufacturing job growth in recent years. Auto manufacturing is in respectable shape, biopharm is healthier all the time...

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...

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.