Out in West Texas

When newcomers weaned on Texas movies and novels first arrive in Abilene, some still expect to see the West Texas of cattle and cotton and oil fame. "We say that's part of it, but there's a lot more to it," said William Ehrie, president of the Abilene Industrial Foundation.

"I don't think you'll find a community that hasn't recognized you can no longer exist on the old sectors we've had. We have to keep oil and gas viable, but we have to grow complements," he said, which is exactly what Abilene has done. "Now people ask, 'You're making speedboats in Abilene?'"

In addition to Tige Boats, which relocated to Abilene from California, Abilene is now home to a new Sitel Corp. telemarketing facility, and a planned expansion of Hirschfeld Steel. Technical Space Inc., an Indiana-based portable building manufacturer, also expanded to Abilene this year. Maryland-based UNC this year began operations at a branch plant to refurbish aircraft interiors.

"In our community, you can be a big fish in a small pond. We have a very targeted approach, which allows us to make for very comfortable marriages. We fulfill our obligations," Ehrie said.

Amarillo, too, is becoming more aggressive at courting outside employers. The Amarillo Economic Development Corp. since 1990 has reported providing grants, loans or rebates to 45 new or expanding companies.

Amarillo also advertises a strong infrastructure and industrial services network, including Southwestern Public Service, which the trade magazine Electrical World reported "continues to maintain its profile as a low-cost, reliable and service-oriented supplier of electricity." Southwestern Public Service has posted overall rate reductions of up to 31 percent for the past eight years.

Lubbock, too, is expanding its economic development opportunities. "We want to respond quickly to business and industry. We'll be a force to be reckoned with," said Steve Morath, executive director of Market Lubbock, which was formed just last year. "We see great things coming."

Already, Market Lubbock has acted as a partner in developing plans for a new Lubbock Area Cooperative Career and Technology Center to serve the work-force development needs of the area. Lubbock enjoyed a 26.5 percent increase in non-residential construction building permits issued between July 1995 and July 1996. One of the new companies coming to the city is NTS Communications, one of the nation's largest regionally based long distance companies.

More