Manufacturing Month in Palestine, Texas: Where There’s Room for Your Business
October 11, 2021
Palestine, Texas is home to global manufacturing companies producing goods using cutting-edge technologies, and there is room for more with ample available properties, incentives, and infrastructure. With Manufacturing Month kicking off in October, we at Palestine Economic Development Corporation (PEDC) are celebrating these companies for their employment opportunities and innovations that grow our economy.
Large Inventory of Commercial and Manufacturing Space
“Throughout the challenges of the last year and a half, Palestine has continued to grow both in the residential and commercial sectors,” said Greg Laudadio, CPM, PEDC Interim Economic Development Director. “We have had a very high interest in warehouse and manufacturing space in the Highway 79 corridor through Westwood. There is a large inventory of commercial and industrial buildings on larger acreage lots, and in some cases with access to rail.”
“We are contacted almost weekly by prospective businesses looking to relocate to Palestine. Oftentimes the Palestine Economic Development Corporation is the first contact that a potential business makes to inquire about available real estate and building stock in the area. I believe this area will continue to see growth as infrastructure and highway accessibility already exists and many buildings are already standing and could be repurposed for manufacturing and distribution use.”
Spotlight: Tampico Bottling Company Expansion
Tampico Beverages, Inc, is one such manufacturing company that saw the benefits of expanding their operations to Palestine. With the purchase of a 107,000 square-foot manufacturing plant in the Willow Creek Business Park in the first quarter of 2021, Tampico Beverages expanded into the Texas heartland market with Tampico Bottling Company.
Tampico Bottling Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tampico Beverages Inc., one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of high-quality and value-added juice drinks. Tampico Beverages was founded in Chicago, Illinois, in 1989. Tampico Beverages is a global brand sold in over 55 countries and has served its portfolio of fruit-flavored drinks for over 30 years. With substantial brand awareness in the United States and throughout the world, Tampico has a longstanding tradition of success and maintains a leadership position in the juice drink category.
“One production line has been in operation since Tampico Bottling Company acquired the facility in March 2021, providing contract manufacturing for a well-known national brand,” said André Dubé, Executive Vice-President, Operations, Tampico Beverages, Inc. “Tampico is making upgrades to two other lines that will provide a variety of packages for contract manufacturing, and supply Tampico branded products to Texas and the surrounding states. The improvement to the current line, as well as the significant investments made by Tampico to increase production capabilities and capacity are allowing us to fully leverage the potential of the facility.”
When Tampico acquired the plant, it employed around 50 employees in total. Mr. Dubé said they expect this number to grow as they continue with plans to further develop the installations.
When asked about the benefits of being located in Palestine, Mr. Dubé said, “The location of the Willow Creek Business Park along the TX-256 Loop in Palestine is providing fast and easy access to our facility. The availability of fiber internet connection is also critical for us to conduct business both internally as well as with our customers and partners. Additionally, the PEDC was there to support us from the beginning, providing useful information and contacts for us connected with the local community.”
“The community in Palestine has been very welcoming to me and to the employees we have added to the team,” said Mr. Dubé. “Tampico is a wonderful company that offers a competitive range of benefits and focuses on building long term relationships with its employees and the local community. Being located in a city such as Palestine that supports employers is definitively a big incentive for us to continue developing our installations.”
Why Manufacturing Companies Should Locate in Palestine
As mentioned above, Palestine offers several advantages to national and global manufacturing companies. Among them are infrastructure assets such as fiber optic, major highways, and affordable utilities.
Businesses in Palestine benefit from robust transportation access because Palestine is a logistical hub. Five major highways converge around the City, making it possible to head in any direction and reach major cities like Dallas, Houston, Austin, Oklahoma City, Jackson, New Orleans, and Kansas City in less than a day. In Palestine, the Union Pacific Railroad has an intersection of north/south and east/west lines. Palestine also has a municipal airport and businesses needing to move products by ship can reach the Port of Houston in under 2.5 hours.
In the Willow Creek Business Park and beyond, sites and buildings are available for manufacturing companies looking to expand. In Palestine, businesses have the room they need to grow, and local economic developers are available to make it easy to find the perfect location. In certain cases, financial incentives can be applied to make the move an even better investment. Local incentives include Chapter 380 loans and grants, direct cash flow, and tax abatements.Texas is consistently ranked as one of the best states for business which means there is also an abundance of state incentives including an Opportunity Zone that encompasses both the Willow Creek Business Park and Palestine Municipal Airport.
To learn more about manufacturing opportunities in Palestine, contact the PEDC at 903-729-4100 or by email. We are prepared for growth and ready to provide immediate and customized assistance. Explore our available properties here.