Business Images High Ground of Texas: 2008-09

BUSINESS

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OF THE HIGH GROUND OF TEXAS

Hello, High Tech Welcome W elcome l mat rolls ll out tto o attract entrepreneurs

Keeping Meat on the Table Cattle and hog production remains prime here

Lining Up for Juice Transmission firms scramble to deliver even more power

SPONSORED BY THE HIGH GROUND OF TEXAS | 2008-09

contents BUSINESS TM

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OVERVIEW

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BUSINESS ALMANAC

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BUSINESS CLIMATE

No End in Sight

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The boom continues for the oil and agriculture industries across the region.

Heyday for The High Ground

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TR ANSPORTATION

Pathways to Progress

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Infrastructure improvements enhance businesses’ accessibility to rural areas.

Connecting the Hot Spots

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EDUCATION

Catering to the Business Community

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Higher education is attuned to the needs of business in The High Ground.

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High Ground Major Colleges and Universities

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On the Fast Track to Careers

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Foundation of Knowledge

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HEALTH

Searching for Solutions

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Texas Tech’s researchers seek to ensure continual improvements to health care.

Big Spring Opens Big Hearts to Veterans

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Small-Town Comfort, Big-City Amenities

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QUALITY OF LIFE

The Canyon, Sand Dunes and More

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Nature has been kind to The High Ground, providing scenic destinations from mild to wild.

Historic Theaters Stage a Comeback 55

52 HIGH GROUND

On the Cover PHOTO BY BRIAN McCORD Amarillo National Bank Plaza II

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AT THE CENTER OF THE TEXAS PANHANDLE FIND YOUR FUTURE Y BUSINESS LOCATION.

Pampa, future wind capital of the world

Texas Sized Business Opportunities: Wind, gas and coal power Diversified agriculture Dairies/feed lots Swine genetics Oil, gas and chemical production Support manufacturing Quality of life Rail and interstate access Clean air and water Great recreation Creative incentives

Give us a call or send us an e-mail!

Pampa Economic Development Corporation (806) 665-0800 • pampaedc@sbcglobal.net

contents ENERGY

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Towering Achievements

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When it comes to satisfying the nation’s energy appetite, the answer may be blowin’ in the wind.

Lining Up for Juice

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Help Wanted

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Powering Up with Natural Gas, Coal

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TECHNOLOGY

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Hello, High Tech

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Technological advances are redefining The High Ground, where entrepreneurs find fertile soil.

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MANUFACTURING

Making It in Business

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The region boasts a burgeoning, diverse manufacturing sector.

Vacuums to Pet Food

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AGRICULTURE

Land of Cotton

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Peanuts, wheat and other crops also thrive in this semiarid region.

BEEF & PORK INDUSTRIES

Keeping Meat on the Table

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The High Ground of Texas can certainly “steak” much of its reputation on the cattle industry.

DAIRY INDUSTRY

Plenty of Milk and Cheese

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New dairies and more cows mean ancillary businesses also are flourishing.

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Texas Twang Meets European Accents

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PORTFOLIO

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PHOTO ESSAY

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ECONOMIC PROFILE

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION: BIG SPRING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP.

This magazine is printed entirely or in part on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

HIGH GROUND

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contents LIFESTYLE | WORKSTYLE | DIGGING DEEPER | VIDEO | LINK TO US | ADVERTISE | CONTACT US | SITE MAP

BUSINESS

ONLINE OF THE HIGH GROUND

CONNECTIONS

An online resource at IMAGESHIGHGROUND.com

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Lifestyle A showcase for what drives The High Groundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high quality of life

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Read Business Images of The High Ground on your computer, zoom in on the articles and link to advertiser Web sites.

NEWS AND NOTES >>

Get the Inside Scoop on the latest developments in The High Ground from our editors and business insiders

Workstyle A spotlight on innovative companies that call The High Ground home

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS >>

Meet the people setting the pace for High Ground business DIG DEEPER >>

Log into the community with links to local Web sites and resources to give you the big picture of The High Ground DATA CENTRAL >>

A by-the-numbers look at doing business and living in The High Ground GUIDE TO SERVICES >>

See the Video Our award-winning photographers give you a virtual peek inside The High Ground

Links to a cross section of goods and services in The High Ground

GO ONLINE

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BUSINESS TM

OF THE HI GH GR OU N D OF TEXAS 2008-09 EDITION, VOLUME 3

CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

MANAGING EDITOR MAURICE FLIESS COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, SARAH B. GILLIAM ONLINE CONTENT MANAGER MATT BIGELOW EDITORIAL ASSISTANT JESSY YANCEY STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS SHARON H. FITZGERALD, LEANNE LIBBY, JOE MORRIS, JESSICA MOZO, GARY PERILLOUX, AMY STUMPFL DATABASE PROJECT MANAGER YANCEY TURTURICE DATA MANAGER RANETTA SMITH REGIONAL SALES MANAGER CHARLES FITZGIBBON INTEGRATED MEDIA MANAGER COLIN WRIGHT SALES SUPPORT MANAGER SARA SARTIN SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN MCCORD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT, ANTONY BOSHIER, IAN CURCIO, J. KYLE KEENER, JESSE KNISH PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT ANNE WHITLOW CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS ASSISTANT PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR HAZEL RISNER PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS MELISSA HOOVER, KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER, KRIS SEXTON, VIKKI WILLIAMS GRAPHIC DESIGN JESSICA BRAGONIER, ERICA HINES, ALISON HUNTER, JANINE MARYLAND, AMY NELSON, MARCUS SNYDER, CANDICE SWEET WEB PROJECT MANAGERS ANDY HARTLEY, YAMEL RUIZ WEB DESIGN RYAN DUNLAP, CARL SCHULZ COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN TWILA ALLEN AD TRAFFIC MARCIA BANASIK, SARAH MILLER, PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY

Look, a tall purple rectangle!

CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER V.P./SALES HERB HARPER V.P./SALES TODD POTTER V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER V.P./TRAVEL PUBLISHING SYBIL STEWART V.P/EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS MANAGING EDITOR/BUSINESS BILL McMEEKIN MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY KIM MADLOM MANAGING EDITOR/CUSTOM KIM NEWSOM MANAGING EDITOR/TRAVEL SUSAN CHAPPELL PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, RICHIE FITZPATRICK, DIANA GUZMAN, MARIA MCFARLAND, LISA OWENS RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY WALDRIP COMMUNITY PROMOTION DIRECTOR CINDY COMPERRY DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH IT SYSTEMS DIRECTOR MATT LOCKE IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS SALES COORDINATOR JENNIFER ALEXANDER EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP

Business Images of The High Ground of Texas is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through The High Ground of Texas.

For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

When you talk to your child you build vocabulary, so everyday moments become learning moments.

For more tips, visit bornlearning.org.

The High Ground of Texas 401 N. 3rd St., Suite 4 • P.O. Box 716 • Stratford, TX 79084 Phone: (806) 366-7510 • Fax: (806) 366-7511 E-mail: higround@xit.net www.highground.org VISIT BUSINESS IMAGES OF THE HIGH GROUND OF TEXAS ONLINE AT IMAGESHIGHGROUND.COM ©Copyright 2008 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

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HIGH GROUND

Borger’s About Business!

Borger has always been about blue skies, wide open spaces, oil wells and cowboys, but Borger IS About Business!

From the discovery of oil and its Boomtown beginning in the early 1920’s right up to today, Borger has always been a good place to live and do business. If you are considering relocating your business, take a look at Borger. You’ll find a business-friendly environment and a relaxing, slow-paced way of life, removed from the hectic lifestyle of the city, but close to city shopping and entertainment when you want to get away.

“I moved my business here from California. I found much lower taxes, less stringent regulatory control, inexpensive real estate and a city government that has really worked with me to help my business go. When I combine my greatly improved margin with the laid back lifestyle and lowered blood pressure, making the decision to move here was easy.”

You’ll also discover: • A great place to raise your family, with high-quality public education, professional medical facilities as well as Frank Phillips College, an accredited Texas State Junior College

Mike Kegley President, Morgan Metal Finishing Aviation metal finishing

• A diverse economy that includes oil production and refining, agriculture and manufacturing • Generous incentive packages and financial assistance for new and relocating businesses • Excellent transportation infrastructure, with nearby rail and interstate access

Two Recent Success Stories

• Abundant land and skilled labor “My business is in Bridgeport, Texas. I needed another location to expand production and be closer to my customers. The Borger Economic Development Corporation provided a location that fit my requirements and my budget perfectly. This location was exactly what I was looking for.

The BEDC made it happen for me ”

Madison Scott

• 45 minutes from Amarillo International Airport • Low real estate costs Look at Borger and look no further!

Owner, Sglass Fiberglass manufacturing

Dan Redd,

CEO

300 West Sixth Street • P.O. Box 1157 Borger, Texas 79008-1157 TEL 806 • 677 • 1704 FAX 806 • 677 • 1705

For more information, call, write or have a look at our website: www.borger.com

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Turn the pages of our

Virtual Magazine LIVE LINKS Hot links allow users to quickly link to other sites for additional information, and an ad index allows you to easily locate local advertisers in the magazine.

SEARCH AND YOU SHALL FIND An easy-to-use search function allows you to ďŹ nd speciďŹ c articles or browse content by subject.

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SHARE WITH A FRIEND E-mail individual stories using the pop-up text window.

imageshighground.com

HIGH GROUND

Save Money.

Smell the Flowers.

Looking for ways to save money on gas and help the environment? The EPA wants to share some smart driving tips that could give you more miles per gallon of gas and reduce air pollution. Tips like making sure your tires are properly inďŹ&#x201A;ated and replacing your air ďŹ lter regularly. And where possible, accelerate and brake slowly. Be aware of your speed ... did you know that for every 5 miles you go over 65 mph, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re spending about 20 cents more per gallon of gas? If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re shopping for a new car, choose the cleanest, most efďŹ cient vehicle that meets your needs. If we each adopt just one of these tips, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d get more miles for our money and it would be a little easier to smell the ďŹ&#x201A;owers. For more tips and to compare cleaner, more efďŹ cient vehicles, visit

www.epa.gov/greenvehicles.

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overview

EXCEPTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AWAIT

The High Ground of Texas

High Ground pursues target industries

From the Panhandle region in the north through the South Plains and on down to the Permian Basin, The High Ground of Texas offers exceptional business opportunities and an outstanding quality of life.

In all, the three sections span more than 60 counties and contain a population of 1.2 million people, including a workforce of about 550,000.

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Promoting economic growth in this region, where elevations typically exceed 3,000 feet, is The High Ground of Texas, a nonprofit marketing organization that in 2008 is celebrating 20 years of service. Its members include economic development corporations, cities, counties, chambers of commerce, cooperatives, educational institutions, industry associations, utilities and workforce organizations.

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Municipalities of all sizes are aggressive and actively involved in the pursuit of economic growth.

Target industries include alternative energy, beef processing, biotechnology, dairy, distribution, food processing, manufacturing and value-added agricultural products.

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The High Ground of Texas 401 N. 3rd St., Suite 4 P.O. Box 716 Stratford, TX 79084 (806) 366-7510 Fax: (806) 366-7511 E-mail: higround@xit.net www.highground.org

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HIGH GROUND

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Littlefield ... where BIG things happen.

Quality education: Pre-K through college Low tax rate, zero bonded indebtedness Most important assets: Students, teachers & parents 75-bed general acute care hospital Rural health clinic staffed by five family practice physicians 24-hour physician-staffed ER Business big & small thrives in Littlefield Business management coaching through the Sirolli Institute “We maintain our corporate offices

Resources & incentives match your business needs

in Littlefield, Texas because of the good life we enjoy in a small town with a unique spirit and pride in tradition.”

– Roger Lowe, Sr., owner

Access to major transportation corridors Centrally located for rail shipping Access to major medical facilities just 30 minutes away Two major highways intersect Littlefield

Lamb County Agricultural Statistics 2007 estimated agricultural income: $338 million, including cotton, corn, wheat & other crop products 2007 estimated milk income: $42 million+ 2007 estimated feed beef income: $68 million+

Littlefield Economic Development Corporation (806) 385-1573 • www.littlefieldtexas.org

overview

TOP 10 REASONS TO DO BUSINESS IN THE HIGH GROUND OF TEXAS 1. Strategic Location

7. Favorable Business Climate

From the East Coast to the West Coast, from Mexico to California, The High Ground region is in the middle of the action. We’ve got a superior transportation infrastructure – everything except a port – that will take care of your distribution needs.

The region’s economic development corporations, chambers of commerce, cities, counties, trade associations and utility companies all stand ready to help you expand your business and be successful here.

2. Quality of Life

8. Collaboration

Whether you enjoy the amenities of city life or the tranquility of rural living, The High Ground has everything that makes an excellent standard of living: outstanding educational institutions, top-notch medical facilities, retail stores, affordable housing, recreational opportunities and friendly neighbors. Museums, symphonies, children’s art programs, sports events and live theater can be found in the smallest of cities to the metro areas.

A long-standing code of conduct in The High Ground is: Help your neighbor. The attitude of “What’s good for one is good for all” continues to breed successful ventures. When you choose to do business and/or live in a High Ground city, expect a “package deal” – a friendly region that will support your needs.

3. Lower Costs Enjoy all of the services needed to make your business a success, without the high costs. Want a cost comparison? It’s yours for the asking.

4. Excellent Work Ethic The folks in The High Ground take pride in their work – just ask employers like Affiliated Foods, American Cotton Growers, Anon Refinery, Bell Helicopter, Coca-Cola, Owens Corning, Western Builders and many others. Whether in need of skilled or unskilled workers, you can count on a labor pool that appreciates putting in a good day’s work.

9. Boundless Spirit Infused with what is sometimes called “pioneer spirit,” we are independent folks who know how to get things done. We like our sunsets and our horses grazing on a beautiful afternoon, but our region is at the forefront of technology, and our businesses are highly competitive in the global marketplace.

10. Opportunity If there is one word to define what The High Ground is all about, it is opportunity – opportunitity as far as the eye can see. Everything you need in a location is found in The High Ground. It’s what we call “A 51st State of Mind.”

5. High Educational Standards From kindergarten to doctoral programs, educational opportunities in The High Ground are limitless. High-school-to-work and high-school-tocollege programs enhance students’ career prospects. Sixteen colleges and universities provide a tremendous array of educational choices for young people and adults alike.

The High Ground may be known for its beautiful rolling plains and panoramic vistas, but the region is home to a diverse economy with components that include agriculture, alternative energy, aviation, corporate headquarters, distribution centers, food processing, manufacturing, petroleum, refineries and much, much more.

HIGH GROUND

JESSE KNISH

6. Diverse Economy

The cowboy, such as this sculpture at the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum, remains a durable symbol here.

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Workforce Solutions Permian Basin is here to meet employer needs.

• • • • • • •

Customized recruitment Employer/employee workshops Computerized job training Outplacement services Task analysis & job restructuring On-the-job training Existing worker training

Regardless of your business needs, Workforce Solutions Permian Basin is here for you.

P.O. Box 61947 • 2911 LaForce Blvd.

Midland, TX 79711-1947 (432) 563-5239 • (877) 563-2580 Fax: (432) 561-8785 • www.workforcepb.org

Your business is our business.

• • • • • •

Skills development fund Local/statewide labor market info Occupational wage figures Tax incentives Customized training Many more services

business almanac

GO, BUFFS, GO Now that’s a big buffalo.

A monumental sculpture of a buffalo and calf called The Original Texans is part of a new pedestrian mall at West Texas A&M University in Canyon.

Sculptor Doug Scott of Taos, N.M., created the impressive statue – 4 feet wide, 8 feet high and 12 feet long – from a brown marble slab. It was unveiled during the 2006 homecoming at West Texas A&M, where the sports teams are known as the Buffaloes.

Speaking of art, Georgia O’Keeffe was once a faculty member at the school.

WELD DONE It is math, English, history and acetylene torches for some students at Tulia High School in Swisher County.

A metal arts program trains potential welders, and many of its students have fared well in welding contests.

In class, students make such things as stock trailers, outdoor grills and truck beds.

Graduates are heavily recruited because welders are in great demand these days in a variety of industries.

MOUNTING SUCCESS Saddle up and head over to Amarillo, a place that knows about quarter horses and cutting horses.

The city is home to the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum. The spacious building reopened in 2007 after extensive renovations.

In February 2008, Amarillo served as the host city for the National Cutting Horse Association World Finals.

HIGH GROUND

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PERRYTON, TEXAS Central North American Trade and Energy Corridor Food for Thought Outstanding Health Care Systems Ochiltree General Hospital and Clinic: Trauma Four Rating; Fabulous State-of-the-Art Assisted Living Center Exceptional Education Opportunities Great Schools plus a New College: Frank Phillips College, Allen Campus Low Crime Rate Affordable Cost of Living Wide Open Spaces Regional Trade Center Super Retail and Service Related Businesses – We’re Loaded Strategically Located Central North American Energy Corridor – U.S. Highway 83 (Perryton is Located Halfway between Canada and Mexico – The Only U.S. Highway that Connects Canada to Mexico – It’s a Straight Shot).

P.O. Box 849 Perryton, TX 79070 (806) 435-4014 www.perrytoncdc.com

business almanac

ONE STANDS TALL, ONE LEANS Be sure to keep at least one eye on the road when driving on Interstate 40 past Groom, east of Amarillo. The city boasts two vertical landmarks that never cease to amaze.

Rising from a farm field is the second-tallest cross in the Western Hemisphere. Erected in 1995, it stands 19 stories tall. About 100 welders in Pampa fabricated the white cross in sections; they were then trucked to Groom for assembly on site. The structure, sponsored by Cross Ministries, is visible from a distance of up to 40 miles.

Nearby is the leaning water tower, built that way as a tourist attraction at what was once a truck stop.

WHO WAS THAT MASKED MAN? No, it’s not Zorro.

The Texas Tech University Masked Rider is a student dressed entirely in black – mask, shirt, trousers, cape and bolero hat – who sits astride a black quarter horse. He leads the Red Raiders football team onto the field before each home game in Lubbock as well as most away games.

Texas Tech calls the Masked Rider perhaps the most recognizable collegiate mascot in the country. The galloping tradition dates back to the 1954 Gator Bowl when the Red Raiders played Auburn.

HOMES ON THE RANGE Here’s something you can’t see anywhere else in the 21st century.

Forty-seven historic structures plucked from ranches and settlements across Texas form the basis of the National Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock. They include houses of many styles and materials, a one-room school, smokehouse, blacksmith shop, bunkhouse, commissary, stable, barn and train depot – plus windmills, corrals and shipping pens – from the 1780s through the 1930s.

SEE VIDEO ONLINE Travel back in time by visiting the grounds of the National Ranching Heritage Center.

HIGH GROUND

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Now Showing in our Video Gallery

Sit back and enjoy a preview of High Ground amenities.

Explore its stunning landscapes, cultural offerings, food and fun.

See its downtowns, neighborhoods, parks and attractions.

Experience the history, hotspots and local happenings.

The High Ground is rated L for Livability.

imageshighground.com

business almanac

REEL WORLD LOCATIONS REE Move o over, Hollywood.

The High Ground has had its share of bright lights, with scenes from several motion pictures filmed in the region. The list includes fro Leap of Faith starring Steve Martin, Hud with Paul Newman and Le Castaway featuring Tom Hanks.

C In addition, Caroline Frick, founder of the Texas Archive of the Moving Image, says many movies were filmed in West Texas M ffrom the 1930s to the 1950s. Perhaps more than 50 low-budget, 25-minute, black-and-white films featured local folks depicting 2 life in rural West Texas. The movies were produced by independent filmmaker Melton Barker, and Frick is seeking ind add some of them to the archiveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collection. to ad

CALLING ALL DRUIDS Is this England or West Texas?

Monolith Place on the campus of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in Odessa features a replica of Stonehenge. It was constructed in 2004 of locally quarried limestone slabs weighing 10 tons each.

The imposing monument is the width of the original but only 70 percent as high.

TexaStone of Garden City donated the stones.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON Two presidents named George slept here.

George H.W. Bush and his son, George W. Bush, lived and worked in the Midland/Odessa area.

Homes that the two presidents occupied are still standing.

The restored George H.W. Bush family home currently sits on the grounds of the Presidential Museum in Odessa. The elder Bush and his family rented the simple structure for $75 a month from September 1948 until April 1949, and it was moved in 2004 to the museum on the campus of University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

The same museum also owns a house on Golf Course Road in Midland that was owned and occupied by George W. and Laura Bush from 1978 until 1985. Also in Midland is the George W. Bush Childhood Home on Ohio Avenue, where the two future presidents and future first lady Barbara Bush lived from 1951-55.

The homes are open to the public.

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business climate

No End The boom goes on for the oil and ag industries across the region

I

oil-rich Permian Basin within a couple hours’ drive of Midland/Odessa, as well as some in the Texas Panhandle.

In fact, the economy is robust up and down the expansive High Ground territory, from Amarillo and smaller communities in the Panhandle down

P H OTO S B Y B R I A N M C C O R D

n January 2008, the “NBC Nightly News” told the story of how “black gold,” or oil – also known as Texas tea – is fueling the “Texas boomtown” of Andrews, which until a few years ago was in decline. But Don Teague’s report could have featured other towns in the

A Holiday Inn Express in Andrews is one of many new hotels being built to meet demand that has resulted from the boom in the Permian Basin oilfields.

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through the ranches and farms of the South Plains near Lubbock.

“In Andrews and the southern High Ground, the economy is hot – the oil and gas industries are going crazy, and we’re experiencing huge growth that overflows into other areas,” says Wesley Burnett, director of the Andrews Economic Development Corp. “Our housing industry is going strong, our business park is being developed and we’re experiencing capital influx in our area that other parts of the country just aren’t seeing. It’s an exciting time.”

LOOKING FOR LABOR Longtimers in the region remind that the economy hasn’t always been so dynamic. “Oil and gas is typically a boom and bust economy, and four years ago oil was only $20 a barrel or less,” Burnett says. “Now it’s up to $120 – a phenomenal increase. It makes our workforce stretched, but that’s a great problem to have.”

Andrews and other High Ground

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in Sight communities are working hard to recruit workers to meet demand.

Andrews added 500 new residents in less than two years and is getting new schools, hotels and businesses as a result.

“We need workers, and these are good-paying jobs,” Burnett says. “You can make great money out on the oilfields.”

In Monahans, southeast of Odessa, ground will be broken later in 2008 on a new Holiday Inn Express and a Comfort Inn, and a new Best Western opened a year and a half ago. Five new buildings are under construction in the Monahans Industrial Park, and two restaurants and a truck stop are ready to open.

“We’re a hub for drilling activity, so we’ve had several drilling companies set up shop here,” says Morse Haynes, director of the Monahans Economic Development Corp. “Four oil companies have put in new branches here in the past year. There are plenty of jobs, local shops and grocery stores are as busy as

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can be, and motels are staying full all nights of the week. Everybody’s saying this will continue for at least another five to eight years.”

FOOD FOR THOUGHT The Panhandle city of Perryton, known as the “Wheatheart of the Nation,” is experiencing similar growth, thanks to the booming agriculture industry. Local farmers raise wheat, cotton and corn. In addition, the area is home to major feedlots and a large hog operation, Texas Farm LLC, that produces up to 680,000 hogs annually.

Texas Farm is “our largest employer, and they’re very creative in their recruitment of employees,” says Sheryl Hardy, director of the Perryton Economic Development Corp. “We also have quite a few dairy individuals.

Clients from Denmark and Holland have purchased land and intend to build dairies here.” (See stories, pages 70, 75.)

In 2004, Perryton completed a $1 million Main Street Enhancement

Project that included the installation of brick sidewalks, new streetlights, ornamental trees, park benches, a visitor center and improvements to 38 storefronts.

“Even though we’re a small community, we’re considered a regional trade center,” Hardy says. “We’re seeing a lot of commuters traveling to work here, and unemployment hovers around 2 percent. Anybody who wants to work is working.”

The same can be said for pretty much everywhere in The High Ground.

“I’m a born optimist,” Hardy says, “but we have such a good infrastructure of retail, service, oil and gas, and agriculture, that the future looks great.”

In his report for NBC, correspondent Teague noted that the Texas oil industry is known for “big booms and even bigger busts,” but he added that “with skyrocketing global demand, no one here expects this boom to bust anytime soon.”

– Jessica Mozo

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business climate

Heyday for The High Ground LIKE A SNOWBALL, THE REGION’S ECONOMY GROWS AS IT ROLLS ALONG

F

ueled by growth in the energy and dairy industries, The High Ground’s economy is hot. Dave Quinn, director of economic development for the city of Levelland and chairman of The High Ground organization, offers his perspective on economic trends in the region.

volunteer organizations. You start to see the impact one person can have not only on your community but also on the county, the region and beyond.

Q

Q

What distinguishes The High Ground for companies thinking about relocating from another part of the country?

A

The cost of living is lower here, and there’s something to be said about the quality of life. If I make a dollar in a major metroplex, what’s it worth if I have to spend an hour driving to and from work? My friends call at 6:30 in the evening, and we’re finishing up dinner and heading out the door with the kids to play baseball while they’re still stuck in traffic. I can get to my kids’ school programs because I’m five minutes away and then get back to work. It’s those special moments you wouldn’t be able to have in a larger metro area.

For young professionals, there’s a lot of opportunity here to move very quickly to the next step. They can move up a lot quicker than in a metro area with tons of competition and a lot of people vying for the same job.

A

It’s our central location and the fact that we have a lot of land available. We’re not crowded like some of the major metropolitan areas. Right now there’s a lot of synergy for companies in energy, petroleum and renewable fuels. We take an aggressive approach to building business, and we work with companies to ensure their success.

Q

What types of businesses are a good fit for The High Ground?

A

We have lower utility rates than a lot of the areas of Texas and the country, so if you’re a big energy consumer, The High Ground is great. Aviation, the petroleum industry, heavy manufacturing – those things that take a lot of space have good reason to come here. Biolife sciences also are well suited for our region.

Q

How promising does the future look for The High Ground’s economy?

A

There could not be a better time for The High Ground, from the south where you have petroleum and heavy manufacturing to the north where you’ve got aviation, wind energy and ethanol. These industries are only going to see growth. Energy consumption is up worldwide, so there’s a lot of opportunity on the horizon for individuals and companies to come into that market. Agriculture is very important and will continue to be, with ethanol eating up a lot of the cornstalks.

From an economic standpoint, the synergy continues to build like a huge snowball that keeps turning over. Things are really good in The High Ground.

– Jessica Mozo

Q

What kind of growth are you seeing in The High Ground due to the boom in the oil and dairy industries?

A

We’re seeing a lot of manufacturing companies fill the need for tanks, trailers, pumps and anything else related to the petroleum industry. We’re seeing a lot of growth from all aspects of the oil industry – production, well servicing and exploration.

As dairies have clustered here, we’re seeing more cheese and value-added agricultural products. Service companies like veterinarians and chemical suppliers are coming, too.

People are finding they can locate here and not only service the dairies located in The High Ground, but they’re a day’s drive from other regions that are heavy with dairies.

Q

What are the advantages to working in The High Ground region?

What attracted you and your family here?

We’re so passionate about living here because of the attitude of the people. We stick together. We have a “can-do” attitude. We find ways to make things happen so we can move forward and help our communities grow.

People are able to come here and connect. We’re all looking for somewhere to belong, and when you come into Levelland or any of The High Ground communities, you can find that connection through church, service organizations or

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BRIAN MCCORD

A

Levelland’s Dave Quinn promotes all of The High Ground.

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Pathways to

Progress Infrastructure improvements enhance business accessibility to rural areas

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P H OTO S B Y J E S S E K N I S H

transportation

It’s a familiar sight across The High Ground’s territory: A Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train passes in front of a grain elevator – in this case in the Panhandle.

A

t Moore County Airport near Dumas, general aviation pilots prize the affordable selfservice fuel and the courtesy vehicles that cart them two miles down U.S. 87 to K-BOB’s Steakhouse.

Imagine, then, how vital the airport becomes if you work for a $90-billion-ayear oil company and frequently fly into the Texas Panhandle to monitor the progress of nearly 500 people processing 170,000 barrels of crude oil a day.

That’s a snapshot of management for San Antonio-based Valero Energy Corp., which now flies Gulfstream jets to Amarillo, then drives an hour to the company’s McKee refinery north of Dumas. Though smaller Gulfstreams can land in Dumas, larger Gulfstream 550 and 650 aircraft like Valero’s need a bit longer take-off distance than the airport’s 5,466-foot main runway provides.

Taking flight

COMMERCIAL AIR SERVICE IN THE HIGH GROUND

LUBBOCK PRESTON SMITH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Flights daily – about 60 Airlines – American Eagle, Continental Express, Southwest Annual boardings – 565,000

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By 2010, Brandon Cox looks forward to welcoming Valero executives on the tarmac at Moore County Airport, already a permanent base for 15 planes.

“We’re going to widen and extend the main runway up to 6,000 feet or possibly longer,” says Cox, the general manager.

“Valero’s a big reason why we’re doing it: They even pitched in a half-million dollars themselves for this project. It’s a good economic development tool.”

With construction scheduled to start by the end of 2008, the $6 million project will elevate the Dumas airport’s status.

“When we put a group together from the headquarters, we’ll fly out on the corporate plane (to the McKee refinery),” Valero spokesman Bill Day says. “This runway expansion will give us more flexibility to do that and could really increase the number of visits.”

The airport also provides a vital link to the land, with a pair of crop dusters

MIDLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Flights daily – about 60 Airlines – American Eagle, Continental Express, Southwest, New Mexico Airlines Annual boardings – 474,000

RICK HUSBAND AMARILLO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Flights daily – about 60 Airlines – American Eagle, Continental Express, Southwest, Great Lakes Aviation Annual boardings – 447,000

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org

806-872-2207

transportation

serving corn, cotton and grain farms from March to the first fall freeze.

KEEPING TABS ON CATTLE, CHEESE The same agricultural link animates Dalhart Municipal Airport, Texas’ northernmost aviation center about 40 miles northwest of Dumas.

While corporate aircraft from Colorado visit the JBS Swift meatpacking plant north of Dumas, officials from Minneapolis-based Cargill Inc. fly to Dalhart to monitor cattle feedlots.

Two agricultural spray companies fly from Dalhart, which is home to three dozen planes, and the rise of regional dairy farms parallels a $190 million investment by California-based Hilmar Cheese. With its 2007 opening, Hilmar’s Dalhart plant began churning out more than 2 million pounds of cheese weekly.

During the plant’s development, “we

had planes that brought employees in on Monday and took them home on Friday,” says Dalhart City Manager Greg Duggan, who has overseen $13 million worth of airport improvements in the past several years. “We get quite a bit of jet traffic and cross-country traffic that stops here. We’re almost exactly in the center of the United States – and for fueling, that works out good.”

In recent years, landowners from as far as Florida, Arizona and Maryland have avoided capital gains tax liability by accumulating hundreds of thousands of Panhandle ranch acres, Duggan adds.

They, too, frequent Dalhart Municipal Airport.

COMMERCIAL AIRPORTS, RAILWAYS As for commercial airline service, airports in Amarillo, Lubbock and Midland offer dozens of flights daily with direct

service to such hubs as Dallas, Denver, Houston and Las Vegas for 1.5 million outbound passengers a year.

Rounding out off-road assets in The High Ground, Permian Basin Railways completed a $4 million track upgrade from Lubbock to Levelland in 2008 to allow freight shipments to a new ethanol plant in Levelland. Permian Basin owns the wedgeshaped, 107-mile West Texas & Lubbock Railway that fans out from Lubbock to New Mexico on upper and lower legs. It also operates the 104-mile Texas-New Mexico Railroad from Monahans west of Odessa to Lovington, N.M. The short-line railroads connect to Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and Union Pacific Railroad, giving them access and the potential in today’s energy boom to double their business regionally by 2010, says Ed Ellis, president of parent company Iowa Pacific Holdings.

– Gary Perilloux

Connecting the Hot Spots HIGHWAY CORRIDORS KEEP THE HIGH GROUND IN HIGH GEAR

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Ron Sinclair, ATD’s senior vice president of marketing.

Lubbock scored a coup in 2003 with the opening of the world’s largest fire sprinkler manufacturing and distribution facility. Built by Tyco Fire Products LP for about $20 million, the I-27 facility sprawls over 235,000 square feet of space.

Also in Lubbock, O’Reilly Automotive Inc. will open a 200,000-square-foot distribution center in 2009.

“This stuff just keeps building on itself,” Reeves says.

– Gary Perilloux

BRIAN McCORD

Michael Reeves knows better than most that neither Rome nor its roads were built in a day. His Ports-to-Plains Trade Corridor Coalition – a decadeold group uniting businesses, cities and chambers of commerce – seeks a superhighway from Canada to Mexico. A core 775 miles from Laredo to Denver via Midland/Odessa, Lubbock and Amarillo might take two decades to build, but the advocacy is working.

“The funding for this project doubled … in the six years after our organization was founded,” says Reeves, president of the Lubbock-based group.

Texas has $40 million in corridor four-lane work under construction, with an additional $275 million earmarked for expansions and $458 million tagged for bypasses through 2014.

A widened corridor is critical to commerce, he says.

“We’re more the agriculture and energy heartland of the U.S., and trade is so important for us.”

Ports-to-Plains includes I-27 from Lubbock to Amarillo, where it intersects with east-west I-40.

These interstates plus I-20 create a distribution nexus that’s increasingly attractive to companies like American Tire Distributors Inc. In 2007, ATD opened an 81,000-square-foot distribution center in Amarillo, serving 400 dealers in five states.

“When we made a decision to expand in Amarillo, one of the key benefits [we considered was] the frequency of our delivery to our customers,” says

A network of interstate highways and other arterial roads have created a distribution nexus that companies appreciate.

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Catering

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education

to the

Business

Community Large and small campuses prepare students for demands of the workplace

relations specialist, with the initial course offerings limited to the upperlevel business curriculum.

“What we’re looking at is work that’s closely associated with a master’s degree in business, or an M.B.A.,” Wyatt says.

“Amarillo College is already there, and what we’re doing won’t be cutting into their offerings. We hope to eventually create a partnership to increase both our enrollments.”

TAILORED FOR EMPLOYERS’ NEEDS There’s plenty happening at Amarillo College, too. The college offers multiple education and training programs that can be tailored to be as broad or narrow as the employer requires, says Damaris Schlong, dean of workforce & economic development.

“Our programs reinforce the fact that we are the community’s college,” Schlong says. “Our employers have real needs, and Amarillo College does everything possible to listen and

Left: Amarillo College offers training tailored for employers. PHOTO BY BRIAN McCORD Right: In addition to its campus in Canyon (pictured), West Texas A&M University will be offering classes at its new Center in Amarillo in the 2008-09 academic year.

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JESSE KNISH

H

igher education is attuned to the needs of business in The High Ground.

Sixteen colleges and universities in the region offer everything from certificate programs for specific industries to graduate-school degrees.

The largest public universities – Texas Tech University, West Texas A&M University and the University of Texas of the Permian Basin – continue to enroll record or near-record numbers of students, about 28,000, 7,500 and 3,500, respectively. Smaller campuses are booming as well, both in terms of serving as feeder institutions to the larger schools and also for their degree and certificate programs.

West Texas A&M in Canyon is in the process of opening the Center in Amarillo, its first presence in the city since the early 1960s.

“Half of our students and workforce come from there, so beginning in fall 2008 we’ll be offering some courses in that market,” says Joe Wyatt, media

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education

FROM PILOTS TO WELDERS Another example is Midland College’s pilot training program. “We had a partnership where we handled the ground training and someone else handled the pilot training, and that fell apart in 2004,” says Curt Pervier, dean of technical studies at Midland. “We had had our aviation maintenance program since the early 1990s.

Eventually the whole [pilot training program] came back to us.”

The college initially leased aircraft and later purchased six planes to build

JESSE KNISH

respond to their needs.”

Advisory and planning committees keep the campus rooted in the business community, she adds, furthering cooperation at all levels.

“We try very hard to get employers to help us get the new programs off the ground with in-kind support,” Schlong says. “We try to focus on sustainability rather than a program that will die with the next north wind, but we cannot be shy about taking a calculated risk. If we don’t, someone else will.”

Texas Tech University’s main campus in Lubbock occupies more than 1,800 acres.

With about 28,000 students, TTU is the region’s largest center of higher education.

its own fleet. Midland’s graduates feed into Mesa Airlines’ staffing program, beginning as co-pilots.

“We’ve had pretty steady growth in all the aviation programs, and we’re looking to expand,” Pervier says. “Now we’re looking at avionics, so we may purchase a flight simulator to do some additional, top-off training here. If we do that, we’d look into feeding our graduates into another couple of airlines.”

At Frank Phillips College in Borger, the Warren Chisum Welding and Safety Center is set to open in summer 2009.

The 15,000-square-foot facility will feature classroom and lab space for a number of welding and welding-tech programs, says Dr. Herb Swender, president.

“We’ll be offering pipeline welding, production welding, welding fabrication and assembly, and using all of the various steels and aluminums that are used on sites in the area,” he says.

“People around here are bringing in welders from out of state, even from overseas. Less than six years ago we had single-digit participation in our program, and now we’re running 160, 170 students every week. There’s a huge demand for this, and there’s a lot of gratitude to the college for stepping up and doing it.”

– Joe Morris

High Ground Major Colleges and Universities Amarillo College (other campuses in Hereford, Dumas); www.actx.edu

Texas State Technical College (Sweetwater); www.westtexas.tstc.edu

Clarendon College (other campuses in Pampa, Childress); www.clarendoncollege.edu

Texas Tech University School of Pharmacy (Amarillo); www.ttuhsc.edu/sop

Frank Phillips College (Borger; other campus in Perryton); www.fpctx.edu

Texas Tech University (Lubbock); www.ttu.edu

Howard College (Big Spring; other campuses in Lamesa, San Angelo); www.howardcollege.edu Lubbock Christian University; www.lcu.edu Midland College; www.midland.edu Odessa College; www.odessa.edu South Plains College (Levelland; other campuses in Lubbock, Reese, Plainview); www.southplainscollege.edu

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Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (Lubbock; other campuses in Amarillo, El Paso, Permian Basin); www.ttuhsc.edu University of Texas of the Permian Basin (Odessa); www.utpb.edu Wayland Baptist University (Plainview; other campuses in Amarillo, Lubbock); www.wbu.edu West Texas A&M University (Canyon); www.wtamu.edu Western Texas College (Snyder); www.wtc.edu

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Foundation of Knowledge

High school students in Ector County have many career-oriented academic opportunities, such as learning the ins and outs of the plant-nursery business.

On the Fast Track to Careers SCHOOL DISTRICTS OFFER HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AN ARRAY OF PRACTICAL COURSES With a steady supply of workers needed for The High Ground’s expanding businesses, some public school districts are offering fast-track opportunities for high school students to get an early start in labor-hungry fields.

A prime example is the Odessa-based Ector County Independent School District, which opened its career center in the early 1990s and recently completed a top-to-bottom overhaul of its academic offerings.

“It was organized around a career-cluster concept and was almost an independent campus,” says Ian Roark, director of career and technical education. “The students were full-time enrollees and weren’t a part of the two high schools. We had declining enrollment (at the career center), even as the business and economic leaders wanted to see more students there.” In 2007-08, enrollment was 396 full-time students.

To combat the problem, school officials worked with area colleges to create updated and additional fields of study, such as health sciences and technical careers, while at the same time integrating the center’s students into regular high school life. The students now attend one of the county’s two high schools and are shuttled to the career center for technical courses.

The center also now will weigh the credits for some upper-level classes at the advanced-placement level, while also qualifying some for national certificates.

Students have responded positively to the changes. “Our student requests for the first cycle, which begins during the 2008-09 school year, have been overwhelming,” numbering more than 2,000, Roark says.

Other career-oriented programs in The High Ground include the Lubbock Independent School District’s ongoing work with South Plains College at the Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center.

– Joe Morris

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Learning about table etiquette and hearing a Holocaust survivor’s stories may not sound like schoolwork, but it’s part of the overall education for children in the Panhandle city of Stratford.

With an eye toward giving students a broader view of the world outside of textbooks and chalkboards, the Stratford ISD Education Foundation works to identify people, places and programs of interest, then connect them with some or all of the district’s students.

The original idea was to replicate the success of the local community foundation, but it has evolved into much more, says B.A. Donelson, president. “Since we began in 2002, we’ve raised about $320,000,” he says. “Our goal is to do projects that reach the most children.”

Examples include having Perryton author John Erickson tell grade school students about his series of Hank the Cowdog books to collaborating with the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts in Amarillo on a Spanish-language concert for more than 800 young people.

On a lesser scale, a high school speech class was treated to a traveling production of the musical Hairspray, and 11 younger students in a special reading class were taken to Barnes & Noble to buy a book and then were given a lesson in sit-down etiquette before being treated to a fancy lunch.

“Our goal is to get them as close to all the arts as we can and to expose them to something they maybe didn’t even know existed,” Donelson says. “We’ve done some marvelous things, and we hope to keep broadening what we’re able to do.”

– Joe Morris

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health

Searching

for Solutions Texas Tech’s researchers seek to ensure continual improvements to health care

T

exas Tech University Health Sciences Center is known for its strong medical school and its programs in nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy and other health-related fields. Not to be overlooked is the Lubbockbased center’s burgeoning research component.

“It’s a common misconception that our mission is easily divisible,” says Dr. John C. Baldwin, TTUHSC president. “Our three principal missions – research, patient care and teaching – are inextricably linked.”

Research, Baldwin notes, plays a vital role in ensuring that health care continually improves.

“It’s a very important responsibility to be meaningfully involved in research and make sure health care keeps getting better,” he says. “It’s also important to have a high level of (National Institutes of Health) funding; it’s always the gold standard people look at.”

Biomedical research includes scientists working solely in the lab as well as research that, in industry lingo, goes from bench to bedside.

“We conduct this research in ethically, carefully controlled ways to see if what we’ve found is better than what’s been done before,” Baldwin says.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center encompasses five different schools. Right: Dr. John C. Baldwin, president

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LURING THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST Dr. Douglas Stocco, TTUHSC executive vice president for research, discovered and characterized a protein that is critical in controlling the synthesis of all of the steroid hormones in the body. Stocco’s groundbreaking research has since been used in hundreds of biomedical studies.

Stocco says Baldwin’s goal of increasing the center’s research capacity has the potential to strengthen not only the

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Friona Friona

Modern medical facilities Award-winning school system Strong community spirit Friendly people Pleasant year-round climate Long-time leader in grain and cattle production Fast growing dairy industry Home of Cargill Meat Solutions and Hi-Pro Feeds

2009 Cheeseburger festival and cook-off: July 18, 2009 Friona Economic Development Corporation 621 Main St. • Friona, TX 79035 • (806) 250-3491 • Fax: (806) 250-2348 • fedc@wtrt.net • www.frionachamber.com

health center’s research department but also the organization as a whole.

“The medical school has done a good job of teaching students and taking care of patients in the community,” Stocco says. “We also want to be more scholarly to be able to compete for the best and the brightest.”

Increasing the center’s research program will involve a combination of recruitment and supporting existing faculty.

“We want to increase the infrastructure and tools [faculty members] have,” Stocco says. “And when we have the chance to replace people, we go after certain types – proven scientists who can bring viable, new, ambitious programs to the institution.”

A former colleague of Baldwin’s at Harvard, for example, brought $1.5 million in funded research to TTUHSC’s El Paso campus. An oncology group from the University of Southern California is bringing $1 million in funding, plus opportunities to apply for state funding.

Growing the research program, Stocco says, is beneficial to the center, the medical community and the local economy. “These are smart people who make good salaries and have a penchant for the good things in life, like the arts,” he says.

REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY One reason for the center’s overall success, Dr. Baldwin says, is its close link to the community. He notes that 55 percent of the area’s indigent care is provided by the Health Sciences Center.

Community outreach is a priority. Faculty members mentor high school and college students. The center invites local citizens to a community medical school program, which runs during the academic year and gives a lay version of the medical school curriculum.

“It’s a good way of bonding with the community,” Baldwin says.

– Leanne Libby

Fact Check Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center encompasses the schools of medicine, pharmacy, nursing, allied health sciences and biomedical sciences.

The main campus is in Lubbock, with other campuses in Amarillo, Permian Basin and El Paso.

The center received nearly $15 million in research funding in fiscal year 2007.

Big Spring Opens Big Hearts to Veterans VA MEDICAL CENTER OFFERS HEALING FOR MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT

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facility that dominates the Big Spring landscape. The improvements call for expanded outpatient care as well as a 40-bed unit to accommodate veterans battling substance abuse. Groundbreaking is scheduled for October 2008.

Terry Wegman, executive director of Big Spring Economic Development Corp., says the center brings traffic that boosts the local economy, particularly the hotel and restaurant sectors. The upcoming construction work will provide an additional economic

infusion, Wegman says.

With 510 employees, the center is not the area’s largest employer in terms of jobs, Hanslik says, but it does have the highest payroll.

Moreover, about 300 volunteers provide valuable staff and patient support, she says, adding that the center always needs volunteers willing to donate time and good cheer. “Providing care for veterans is the most rewarding experience you could ask for. It’s an honor to be able to give back, even if it’s just a little bit.”

– Leanne Libby

BRIAN MCCORD

Military veterans living in and around Big Spring have access to specialized medical services right in their backyard, thanks to the West Texas VA Health Care System.

The system, anchored by the VA Medical Center in Big Spring, serves a 54,000-square-mile region and nearly 60,000 people, including 19,000 in Big Spring. In recent years, the center has assisted about 900 veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“Last year the average age of our veterans dropped,” says Iva Jo Hanslik, community relations coordinator. “Most of our veterans are now under 65.”

The center’s medical care includes ophthalmology, outpatient surgery, rehabilitation and mental health services.

“We have a wonderful worktherapy program,” Hanslik says.

“We work with the community to place veterans and get them back in an employment setting.”

A $20 million program of expansion and renovation will bring upgrades to the nearly 60-year-old

More than 900 veterans who served in Afghanistan and Iraq have been treated here.

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MONAHANS Diversity at its best Roy Hurd Memorial Airport

Rail Spurr Accesss

The Hub of Drilling Activity in the Permian Basin

Industrial Ind dustrial Park Pa rk

Ward County Golf Course

Butterfield Festival

San Sands Artt A Center

Sandhills State Park

MHS Stadium

Monahans Economic Development Corporation Morse Haynes • Executive Director 303 S. Allen Ave. • P.O. Box 61 • Monahans, TX 79756 (432) 943-2062 • monahansedc@monahans.org • www.monahans.org

Small-Town Comfort, Big-City Amenities RURAL AREAS ENJOY STATE-OF-THE-ART CARE

HIGH GROUND

and will be administering the dialysis program.

Sandlin estimates that 25 Bailey County residents currently travel to Lubbock three times a week for dialysis treatments. He previously had turned away two dialysisdependent potential residents after discussing with them and their families the wear and tear of a 12-hour day to make that trip.

He is optimistic that these two individuals now will choose to live at Park View.

“There’s a great need in these rural areas for people to have dialysis services,” Sandlin says.

“I get calls nearly every other day, with people asking how [the construction is] going.”

Meanwhile, medical centers in The High Ground’s largest cities – Amarillo, Lubbock, Midland and Odessa – continue their commitment to providing top-quality care.

In Odessa, for example, Medical Center Hospital is embarking on a $10.7 million renovation and expansion project for its operating rooms. And the Odessa Heart Institute has a new Philips Brilliance 64-slice CT scanner that provides a highly detailed picture of the cardiovascular system. Odessa Regional Medical Center also offers 64-slice CT imaging.

– Leanne Libby

Picnic & Play

Campgrounds

Section House Rental

Philips Brilliance 64slice CT scanner PHOTO COU RTESY OF RENS VAN MIERLO

When it comes to health care, rural communities in The High Ground are starting to look like their big-city cousins.

In Lamesa, the new, $14 million, 70,000-square-foot Medical Arts Hospital is scheduled to open by the end of 2008.

“As construction has progressed, the excitement has grown exponentially,” says Melissa Matlock, the hospital’s director of community relations. “This is a wonderful reward for our staff and our community.”

The new building, Matlock says, will reflect the new era in hospital equipment.

“The surgical suites, for example, were designed from the ground up to accommodate the latest and greatest in technology,” she says.

“They are extra large, and we looked to the surgeons to tell us what they needed. Our lab and X-ray areas are also much larger.”

Matlock says the decision to build the hospital coincided with a construction boom in the area – a true boost for the local economy.

“Health care in our town is largely a community service,” Matlock says.

“We want to have the best quality so we can take care of our own.”

Smaller projects are having a big impact in rural areas as well.

In Muleshoe, Park View Nursing Care Center is becoming the first nursing home in Texas to offer in-house dialysis service.

The colonial-style building, which is part of the Muleshoe Area Hospital District, was built in 2002 and houses 58 residents. Park View Nursing Care Center is supported by four local physicians and offers services such as in-house physical therapy.

Administrator Sandy Sandlin says an independent vendor has leased space at Park View

Dunagan Visitor Center P.O. Box 1738 Monahans, TX 79756 (432) 943-2092 Rates & Reservations: (512) 389-8900 Information Only: (800) 792-1112 sandhills@monahans.org www.tpwd.state.tx.us

IMAGESHIGHGROUND.COM

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HIGH GROUND

portfolio

Sophisticated Cities Enhance Region

W

ith its gorgeous sunsets and wide-open spaces, The High Ground region seems to embody the very essence of the Old West. But look closer and you’ll discover a collection of modern cities, each with a distinct charm and downtown skyline.

Amarillo grew up around the agriculture and energy industries, but today it boasts a well-balanced economy featuring manufacturing, health care and customer service. The city also offers a mix of cultural amenities, such as the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, the Lone Star Ballet and the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra.

“Amarillo also is home to two famous museums – the Panhandle Plains

Historical Museum and the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum,” says Lorie Vincent, executive director of The High Ground of Texas organization.

“The cowboy mystique is still there, but there’s a lot more to do in terms of arts and entertainment.”

As the birthplace of legendary singer Buddy Holly, Lubbock also is known for its contributions to the arts.

“Lubbock is a major focal point for music, with the Buddy Holly Center bringing in a lot of visitors,” Vincent says. “But beyond this unique legacy, Lubbock continues to host great live music, thanks to Texas Tech University and the Spirit Arena.”

Traditionally known for its oil and

gas industries, Midland and Odessa have taken on a more cosmopolitan feel, offering a blend of culture, history and recreation.

“There’s a lot of history here with the Bush family, and visitors can complete a driving tour or visit [George W. Bush’s] childhood homes. Both communities also are home to great arts venues and various cultural events and festivals.”

Overall, Vincent says, “I think people are pleasantly surprised by what they find here. We have wonderful cultural amenities, along with major shopping, medical centers and more. Each city is different and sophisticated in its own way.”

High rises penetrate The High Ground in the central cities of Amarillo (pictured), Lubbock, Midland and Odessa.

HIGH GROUND

PHOTO BY BRIAN M C CORD

IMAGESHIGHGROUND.COM

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portfolio

There’s Zeal for a Meal at Leal’s W

BRIAN MCCORD

hen you eat at one of Leal’s Mexican Restaurants, you’re doing more than enjoying a tasty meal – you’re honoring a family tradition.

It all started with Jesse and Irma Leal, newlyweds living and saving for their first home in Muleshoe. But as they settled into the community, they recognized a need for

Fajitas and margaritas are among the specialities at Leal’s.

traditional Mexican food sparked by the influx of “braceros” – Mexican citizens brought here to work the local farms.

In 1957, the enterprising young couple decided to use their savings to open a small tortilla factory rather than buy a house. Soon they expanded to offer home-style favorites such as huevos rancheros and tamales, and later they opened a full restaurant to meet the growing demand for their recipes.

“The farmers would drop off their workers to grab a bite to eat while they waited out in the truck,” says son Victor Leal.

“My father would bring a plate out to them, and, of course, they loved it. Before you know it, the farmers started bringing their wives along to try this new food. At that time, most people didn’t know anything about Mexican food, so I feel like our family really helped educate the local population.”

Today, the Leal name is synonymous with outstanding Mexican food and great customer service. The company operates four restaurants in Texas (including Muleshoe, Amarillo and Plainview in The High Ground) and two in New Mexico, as well as the original tortilla factory and a thriving retail business – all managed by Leal family members.

“We grew up with it,” says Victor Leal, who in his adult life has served as mayor of Muleshoe. “Some of my earliest memories are of delivering tortillas with my dad or working behind the counter with my mom. All six of us kids are involved in some way or another, and we are proud of what we’ve accomplished. We just celebrated our 51st anniversary in May (2008), and we continue to grow.”

Various kinds of Leal’s salsa and tortilla chips can be ordered from www.lealsmexicanfoods.com.

Milking Community Service

W

hat started as a simple social gathering has evolved into a dynamic service organization.

Established in March 2006, the group known as Panhandle Dairy Women of Hereford works to promote the dairy industry through education and community service.

“One of the local dairy women had the idea to get everyone together just so we could get to know one another,” explains Leslie Heida, whose husband is a fourth-generation dairy farmer.

“We quickly decided to create a more formal organization to promote the dairy industry.”

Heida says the Panhandle Dairy

44

IMAGESHIGHGROUND.COM

Women’s primary focus is on education, adding that the group frequently donates dairy products such as milk and ice cream to other organizations.

“We work closely with the YMCA, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and the United Way,” she says. “It’s very important to us to give back to the community.”

Dairy MAX – a nonprofit trade organization representing dairy producers in Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas – provides the Panhandle Dairy Women with product literature to distribute locally, Heida says.

“Dairy MAX is a big help to us, enabling us to get the latest informa-

tion out there. We provide nutritional information to local kids and were recently able to help the high school get a new milk vending machine.”

One of the group’s biggest projects is Hereford Dairy Day, an annual event that celebrates the local industry as well as National Dairy Month in June.

“It’s a lot of fun, and it’s all free to the public,” Heida says. “We have games and activities for the kids, plus we give away a lot of dairy products. And through sponsorships and donations, we are able to give back to the community. It’s our way of saying thank you.”

HIGH GROUND

Satisfying an Appetite for Education ane Cook may work in a kitchen every day, but the longtime teacher insists that the sweetest part of her job is not the cookies – it’s the students.

Cook has worked in the Career and Technology Education for Students with Disabilities program at both Levelland Middle and High schools for 25 years and says she never grows tired of helping young people succeed.

“I just love these kids,” she says.

“When they learn something, it’s more of a triumph than with regular students.

The ‘Aha!’ moment is bigger for them.

They’re so enthusiastic, so happy to be here.”

Cook divides her time between the two schools, training students in food production, management and services.

“The class is set up like a regular restaurant, with the same kinds of equipment. We teach food preparation but also social skills. And as the kids learn how things are prepared, it reinforces their reading, math and science skills.”

The program offers a variety of catering services as well as special orders.

“Teachers can order their lunches from us, and we have catered meals for all of the schools in the Levelland district. We also do a lot of baking. One nearby school ordered 70 dozen cookies for Valentine’s Day. We probably bake about 10,000 cookies each year. These kiddos stay very busy.”

Best of all, students are able to earn a high school diploma and enter the work force with marketable skills.

“A lot of our students go on to work with Great Western Dining Service at South Plains College as well as McDonald’s restaurants,” Cook says. “I’m so proud of what they’re able to do.”

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The Career and Technology Education for Students with Disabilities program at two Levelland schools teaches food preparation as well as social skills.

HIGH GROUND

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Get Your Kicks on the Texas Panhandle

I

wonderful, and the specialty of the house is ‘ugly crust’ pie.”

Other sights along the 178-mile stretch across the Texas Panhandle include the leaning water tower and 19-story-tall cross, both in Groom (see story, page 21), and the Devil’s Rope Museum in McLean, featuring the world’s largest collection of barbed wire. In Shamrock, visitors can check out the art deco Tower Station and Café – home of the former U-Drop Inn. “We have some beautifully restored filling stations that have been converted to restaurants, gift shops and museums,” Drake says. “In the past few years, we’re seeing a lot of growth, and people are starting to take more of an interest in preserving this history. But along with the history, I think people also get a sense of what America is all about. The food, the people – it’s all part of the journey.”

– Stories by Amy Stumpfl

ANTONY BOSHIER

t’s no secret that Texas boasts a wide range of tourist attractions. But for a real slice of Americana, you can’t beat the legendary Route 66.

“As Americans, I think we take Route 66 for granted,” says Linda Drake, manager of the Oldham Chamber of Commerce. “But people come from all over the world to drive, walk and bike the road and get a taste of what America is all about.”

Motorcycle and classic car tours are extremely popular. Drake says a group of Norwegians ship their classic cars to the United States just to drive Route 66 and take in the unusual attractions along the way.

“The Midpoint Café and Gift Shop in Adrian is a popular stop,” she says.

“There’s a sign declaring this the official midpoint of Route 66, with 1,139 miles to either Los Angeles or Chicago. It’s a great photo opportunity. The café is

The Devil’s Rope Museum in McLean is one of the unusual attractions on Route 66.

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HIGH GROUND

Big Spring, BIG SKY, BIG HEART

Texas

Settling for Nothing Less HISTORIC HOTEL GETS A MAKEOVER

Special Advertising Section

Big Sky, Big Hear t

Settling for

Nothing Less BROTHERS RESTORE HISTORIC

E

“Brint and I were born in nearby Luther and have wanted to invest in our hometown area for quite awhile,” Kristopher Ryan says. “Brint owns the largest state and local tax consulting firm in North America and wants to give back.

So we are.”

What the brothers are doing is in the planning stages right now, but they hope to have the hotel reconstruction project started in late 2008. The entire restoration is expected to take 18 to 24 months to complete.

“We envision retail spaces on the first and second floors and are also considering amenities like a fitness center, restaurant and conference center,” Ryan says. “The ballroom and lobby will also

be restored according to the original architectural plans from the late 1920s.

It is our goal to eventually nominate the Settles Hotel for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.”

As for floors three through 15, Ryan says they will all be hotel suites – no apartments. The 15th floor will feature one large penthouse.

“These will all be large suites with perhaps full kitchens in each, or at least a bar area,” he says. “All rooms will have plasma TVs, and the interiors will look like $300 to $400 rooms found in Dallas.

But the Settles Hotel won’t charge anywhere near those prices.”

The brothers have also hired a top hotel consultant who has worked on

JEFFREY S. OTTO

lvis Presley and Lawrence Welk stayed there, and so did President Herbert Hoover.

The Settles Hotel, which opened in 1930, is a 15-story landmark that is still considered one of the most famous historic buildings in West Texas. But like so many older buildings in downtowns throughout the United States, it had fallen into disrepair over the years.

In fact, the Settles Hotel has been vacant since the early 1980s.

Enter Brint and Kristopher Ryan. The businessmen brothers purchased the hotel in 2006 from the city of Big Spring, founded the Settles Hotel Development Co., and are currently drawing up blueprints to completely resurrect it.

SETTLES HOTEL

The Settles Hotel, a 15-story landmark in Big Spring, is being refurbished by native sons Brint and Kristopher Ryan.

Special Advertising Section

Big Sp rin g, Te x a s

similar landmark renovation projects in New York, Las Vegas and Miami.

“It is a very complicated endeavor and, because of the age of our building, we must get approval for any improvements from the Texas Historical Commission in Austin,” Ryan says. “A lot of the work will involve demolishing and rebuilding walls on floors three through 15, and the commission must monitor everything.”

Ryan says the entire project is

“Brint and I were born in nearby Luther and have wanted to invest in our hometown area for quite awhile.”

Kristopher Ryan Settles Hotel Development Co. expected to cost between $17 million and $18 million.

“We certainly won’t make any money on this – it is simply a labor of love for our hometown,” Ryan says. “We want to help turn Big Spring into a major West Texas destination and believe it is possible. I hope this project inspires other downtown building owners to reinvest in their older properties, too.”

Breezing Into Town NEW WINDMILLS ARE SURE TO ELECTRIFY HOWARD COUNTY Here is a wind-wind situation for Howard County and Big Spring.

Five different developers have planned construction projects to install 300 alternative energy windmills on various private properties in the area. Once construction is completed in 2009, the 300 windmills will be able to supply electricity to 90,000 homes.

“The electricity generated by the wind turbines flows into the ERCOT electrical distribution grid and supplies energy to West Texas, as well as metropolitan areas such as Dallas-Fort Worth,” says Terry Wegman, executive director of the Big Spring Economic Development Corp. “With 300 windmills, this is one of the larger wind energy developments in West Texas.”

Wegman says wind energy only accounts for 1 percent of all energy produced nationwide, but the Texas Legislature wants the state to increase its own renewable energy to 10 percent by 2012.

“Wind energy will really begin to grow as part of the overall mix of electrical production in Texas,” he says. “In Howard County, it has already begun.”

To erect the windmills, the developers are leasing private land from ranchers and farmers. Besides annual lease payments, the ranchers and farmers will also receive royalty percentages from the electricity sold.

From an economic standpoint, the five projects represent an investment of $650 million to $700 million in Howard County.

“School districts will benefit from this investment,” Wegman says.

“Plus, the city of Big Spring is benefiting because the hundreds of people working on these projects are living in town and spending money at our gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants. While parts of the United States are experiencing a slumping economy, that’s not true here in West Texas – and much of the reason is because of energy.”

This special section was created for the Big Spring Economic Development Corp. by Journal Communications Inc.

CU S TO M M AG A Z INE M ED I A

For more information, contact: Big Spring Economic Development Corp.

215 W. Third St. • Big Spring, TX 79720 Phone: (432) 264-6032 • Fax: (432) 264-6047 www.bigspringtx.com ©Copyright 2008 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080.

STAFF PHOTO

All rights reserved. No portion of this special advertising section may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.

On the cover: Settles Hotel

Alternative energy windmills are making an impact in Howard County.

www.bigspringtx.com

Big Sky, Big Hear t

Never a

Dull Moment

GOLF, MUSIC AND HUNTING ADD TO QUALITY OF LIFE IN BIG SPRING

BRIAN M C CORD

A

Special Advertising Section

dventures from mild to wild make Big Spring an interesting place to live – and visit.

“Once the Settles Hotel is renovated downtown, we want our city to truly become a tourism destination for West Texas, and we think that can happen,” says Debbie Wegman, coordinator of the Big Spring Convention & Visitors Bureau. “There is a lot to see and do in Big Spring.”

For starters, there’s golf. The Comanche Trail Golf Course just completed a $2 million upgrade to its 18-hole public facility, and Big Spring Country Club provides another option to residents wanting to hit the links.

“We are also trying to make Big Spring a destination for hunters and fishermen, especially with a new hunting lodge called Moss Creek Ranch. The Quahadi Wildlife & Ranch Retreat is also a local hunting destination,” Wegman says. “As for fishing, Moss Creek Lake as well as Comanche Trail Lake in Comanche Trail Park both provide anglers with opportunities for good catches.”

Comanche Trail Park also hosts a

Big Spring Municipal Auditorium

Big Sp rin g, Te x a s

number of events, including a patriotic concert at its amphitheater every July 3.

“The amphitheater was built in the 1930s and can seat up to 6,000 people,” Wegman says. “It is packed on July 3 with a 6:30 p.m. Pops in the Park show that ends with our symphony playing to a fireworks display.”

Yes, Big Spring is home to its own symphony, making it the smallest city in Texas with a professional orchestra.

The Big Spring Symphony Orchestra performs most of its concerts at the Big Spring Municipal Auditorium, which also dates back to the 1930s.

“As for sports, work has begun on a youth sports expansion at Roy Anderson Sports Complex to increase our softball, baseball, soccer and Little League football offerings,” Wegman says. “Those upgrades will allow Big Spring to attract regional and perhaps state competitions,

which will bring thousands of visitors to our city.”

Wegman points out that Big Spring also has an 18-hole disc golf course, museums, a Vietnam Memorial, an annual dog show, an annual American Indian powwow and the “Funtastic Fourth,” a celebration of the Fourth of July with a full day of music in the Heart of the City Park downtown. There are other celebrations held throughout the year. The Festival of Lights holiday event features 1 million lights and 40-foot-tall poinsettias at Comanche Trail Park.

“Big Spring has a low cost of living, great medical facilities, a nice college, and we welcome retirees,” she says of the city of 25,000 residents. “This is a nice place to live. And being at the crossroads of West Texas, the intersection of Interstate 20 and U.S. Highway 87, we are a great and easy place to visit, too.”

Golf is just one of the many recreational options available to residents of Big Spring.

A Trusted Resource BIG SPRING CHAMBER INVOLVED IN MANY ASPECTS OF COMMUNITY LIFE

D

ebbye ValVerde says that being a member of the Big Spring Area Chamber of Commerce lends more credibility and respect to a business.

“A majority of phone calls we receive are from people asking if a business is a chamber member,” says ValVerde, executive director of the Big Spring Area Chamber of Commerce. “The callers regard the chamber as something similar to the Better Business Bureau. They figure that if a company is good enough to be a chamber member, they can be trusted. A lot of people go by that.”

The Big Spring Area Chamber of Commerce was established in 1919 and today has 380 members.

Besides ValVerde, the staff consists of Nancy Newell and Vicki Stewart.

“Here in Big Spring, people call us for just about everything,” ValVerde says. “We get calls on everything from why isn’t the post office answering the phone, to when is the next arts and crafts show.

People are just comfortable calling us.”

ValVerde says some businesses have been members for several generations.

“As family businesses change hands, the new family members remain with the chamber,” ValVerde says. “Examples are Elrod’s Furniture, Harris Lumber & Hardware, Al’s & Son Bar-B-Que, The Harley-Davidson Shop – the oldest Harley store in Texas – and Red Mesa Grill. All have been members for generations.”

ValVerde adds that the chamber also organizes yearly events such as a Community Health Fair, the Leadership Big Spring Program and a Big Spring Ag Expo. Other community volunteers work on the Pops in the Park Symphony Concert on July 3, Festival of Lights Dec. 15 – Dec. 31, Keep Big Springs Beautiful and many more events throughout the community.

“We even organize drives to get people to vote,” she says. “The chamber is truly involved with just about everything in this area. It is not what the chamber can do for me, it is what can the chamber and my investment do for the better of the community.”

www.bigspringtx.com

Big Sky, Big Hear t

Always Aiming

Higher N

ot only does Howard College enjoy a large presence in the Big Spring area, it was recently named among the top 20 fastest-growing community colleges of its size in the nation.

The school’s main campus sits on 120 acres in Big Spring, and the college’s SouthWest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf is also located here. Furthermore, there are satellite campuses in Lamesa and San Angelo.

“We have a multifaceted role in the communities we serve,” says Cindy Smith, director of information for Howard College.

“Of course, we offer several traditional certificate and associate’s degree programs, with many of our students going on to earn four-year degrees after completing their time at Howard.

In addition, we also have several programs for students wanting to quickly enter the workforce. They can enroll in our Workforce Education Program and study nursing, dental hygiene, agriculture, criminal justice or the oil industry.”

The college also has an extensive non-credit program through continuing education classes and coordinates several workforce training programs for area businesses.

Howard College also offers distance learning and dual credit classes for high school juniors and seniors throughout the service area.

The Howard College Hawk athletic programs have seen their own share of success throughout the years.

“The Howard College Hawks team sports in men’s and

WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION, BIG SPRING HAS IT COVERED

women’s basketball, baseball, softball and rodeo have represented our school well,” Smith says. “We have outstanding athletes and athletic facilities, such as the Dorothy Garrett Coliseum – home of Hawk basketball – Jack Barber Field for baseball, Foundation Field for softball and our own rodeo arena. In addition to these organized sport facilities, we have a football stadium and sand volleyball court on campus to serve students in our intramural sports as well.”

Meanwhile, the college’s SouthWest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf is located on the former Webb Air Force Base in Big Spring and has approximately 130 students enrolled each fall.

It was founded in 1980 and is one of the only post-secondary institutions in the United States dedicated solely to the provision of education and career training for deaf students.

“We are very proud of our SWCID campus and students,” Smith says. “We have students come to our campus from all over the country to receive their education or career training here in Big Spring, and we are very pleased to be a part of their educational journey.”

The SWCID campus is fully equipped with dormitories, a recreation center, classroom space and excellent lab facilities to accommodate its students.

“Howard College continues to see record growth,” Smith says. “We like it like that and want to continue to grow and evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of the communities we serve – all 13,000 square miles of them.”

Howard College has been named among the top 20 fastest-growing community colleges of its size in the nation.

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Big Sp rin g, Te x a s

The Picture of

Health THREE TOP HOSPITALS TAKE CARE OF RESIDENTS

Big Spring’s Scenic Mountain Medical Center continues to expand its health services to residents of West Texas.

B

ig Spring is big on health care – the Texas town boasts three different medical facilities.

At Scenic Mountain Medical Center, the 150-bed hospital admits 3,400 patients each year, while its emergency department annually sees 14,000 people.

Over the past three years, SMMC has added nine new physicians.

In 2008, the hospital expanded its services to include lithotripsy treatment and a sleep lab. A recent upgrade to its magnetic resonance imaging equipment allows physicians to examine a patient’s blood vessels in order to quickly and precisely diagnose health problems. A Level IV Trauma Center designation, first earned in 2005, certifies that the Emergency Department at Scenic Mountain provides the equipment and resources to care for patients with traumatic injuries.

“This designation was given after SMMC voluntarily underwent the intensive survey process by the Texas Department of State Health Services to demonstrate its commitment to highquality trauma care for the residents of Howard County and the surrounding

area,” says George N. Parsley, CEO of Scenic Mountain Medical Center. “We will continue to work to set new standards of excellence in providing emergency care.”

SMMC has a staff of more than 300 employees and an annual payroll of $17 million, and it is involved in several community nonprofit efforts.

“The hospital spends about $1 million annually on capital equipment upgrades to keep abreast of the everchanging technology available in the marketplace,” Parsley says. “We are creating a great place for people to work, physicians to practice medicine and, most importantly, for patients to receive great care.”

Meanwhile, two other hospitals in town are just as dedicated to providing quality care to patients.

Big Spring State Hospital, which is known for its innovative methods in treating mental illness, is a 200-bed psychiatric facility that serves 58 counties in West Texas and the Texas Panhandle.

It was founded in 1938 and is the largest employer in Howard County with a staff of 600, including doctors, nurses and www.bigspringtx.com

social workers.

And the West Texas Veterans Administration Health Care System, commonly referred to as the VA hospital, welcomes approximately 19,000 patients each year to its 25-bed facility in Big Spring. The hospital only treats veterans, and its service area spans 47 counties in West Texas and Lea County, N.M. “Our main campus is Big Spring, but we also have veterans’ outpatient clinics in Abilene, San Angelo, Odessa, Fort Stockton, Stamford and Hobbs, N.M.,” says Iva Jo Hanslik, community relations coordinator for the West Texas Veterans Administration Health Care System. “The area we serve is actually larger than 33 of the U.S. states.”

Besides extensive outpatient ambulatory care, the VA hospital also performs several hundred eye surgeries each year at its Big Spring site.

“Our ophthalmology department actually provides the training for all the ophthalmology residents at Texas Tech University,” Hanslik says. “We do a lot here at this hospital so that our veterans receive the absolute best care we can provide them.”

Big Sky, Big Hear t

Fueling the

Economy ALON USA REFINERY PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN THE BIG SPRING COMMUNITY

T

he ALON USA Big Spring Refinery is not like the world’s other oil refineries.

For starters, it’s located inland rather than on the coast, and it’s the last operating refinery of any kind in the central part of the Permian Basin.

ALON is also a major player in Big Spring’s economy.

The facility produces 70,000 barrels of fuel products a day and has 170 employees, many of whom have been with the refinery for more than 20 years.

“The history of the Big Spring Refinery is woven into the very fabric of the Howard County community,” says Jeff Morris, president and CEO of ALON USA. “Generations of local residents have

worked at the plant, and their contributions to the refining industry, as well as to the city, are as important today as they were when it began operating.”

The Big Spring site was constructed in 1928 by Joshua Cosden, then expanded during World War II and again in the 1950s and 1960s. It was purchased by American Petrofina in 1963, expanded again in the 1980s and was finally bought

by ALON USA in 2000.

The refinery transforms crude oil into gasoline, low sulfur diesel, asphalt, solvents and emulsions, and supplies these products to customers throughout West Texas, Arkansas, Arizona, New Mexico and southern Oklahoma. Many of its fuel customers are FINA and

ALON USA is an active corporate citizen in Big Spring. The oil refinery donates money to local charities, sponsors sports programs and helps local schools.

Special Advertising Section

7-Eleven gas stations.

“In the 2006 Solomon Reports, the Big Spring Refinery was rated No. 1 in maintenance and operational reliability compared to other refineries of its size,” Morris says. “Presently, nearly 1,500 people are working around the clock to rebuild the refinery following a February 2008 explosion with the goal of returning it to its previous No. 1 status.”

The company also strives to be a good corporate citizen with annual contributions to local charities such as United Way, Christmas in April, the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk and the Multiple Sclerosis Walk. The Big Spring Refinery also sponsors Little League and softball programs, college sporting events and memberships for youngsters at the YMCA. “To celebrate the refinery’s 75th anniversary [in 2003], we purchased 75 computers for a Big Spring Independent School District computer learning lab,” Morris says. “We also sponsor and underwrite many major events in Big Spring, such as the Big Spring Area Chamber of Commerce Health Fair.”

In addition, the refinery is, and has been for decades, the largest taxpayer to Howard County and the Big Spring ISD. “The bottom line is that we annually produce 4 million tons of fuel products and asphalt intended for the Southwestern United States,” Morris says. “We have also received many awards and honors and are very active in our community.”

– Stories by Kevin Litwin

photo essay

Wow Factor

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P H OTOS BY J E SS E K N I S H

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Horses are among the animals that call Palo Duro Canyon home.

An old wagon at Rusty Spur Outpost stands as a reminder of the means of transportation that brought people and supplies to the canyon area before the invention of the automobile.

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photo essay

Rocky outcrops intermingled with extensive vegetation have delighted visitors since the state park opened on July 4, 1934.

Bus photo essay copy Bus photo essay copy Bus photo essay copy

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautiful, but beware of touching a prickly thistle that shoots up from the earth.

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A new, adobe-style housing development called Sunday Canyon blends in well with the natural surroundings.

Views are spectacular from the occasional home perched on the rim of Palo Duro Canyon.

Rusty Spur Outpost is a circa-1870 Old West town overlooking the canyon.

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photo essay

THESE 2 PHOTOS ARENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T VERY APPEALING, SEE EMAIL FOR IDEAS ON ALTERNATIVES

A road along the floor of the canyon gives motorists and cyclists an up-close-and-personal encounter with scenery plus access to trailheads.

Perhaps the most familiar face for canyon visitors is that of state park fee taker Jim Couzzourt.

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The Canyon,

Sand Dunes More

Diverse landscapes make for gorgeous getaways around the region

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S TA F F P H OTO

quality of life

Whitetail deer are frequently sighted and occasionally hunted in some of the parklands in The High Ground region.

Left: It’s slow going on the dunes in Monahans Sandhills State Park, which rise as high as 70 feet. PHOTO BY JESSE KNISH

N

ature has been kind to The High Ground of Texas, providing scenic adventure destinations from mild to wild for the throngs of people who visit each year.

And visit, they do.

For reasons made apparent by the preceding photo essay, Palo Duro Canyon State Park attracts about 350,000 annual visitors who camp, hike, mountain bike and bird watch. “We are nicknamed the Grand Canyon of Texas,” says Randy Ferris, superintendent of the 26,275-acre state park. “Palo Duro is the second-largest canyon in the United States.”

Motorists in the Armstrong and Randall counties portion of the park can drive along the canyon’s floor, which is as deep as 800 feet. “They certainly can’t do that in the Grand Canyon,” Ferris notes.

Nature lovers also can view up to 40 types of mammals and dozens of bird species. “In addition, the park features a number of wild plants and trees such as prickly pear cactus, honey mesquite, juniper and yucca,” Ferris says.

SAND DUNES FAR FROM ANY SEA Another interesting state park in The High Ground region is Monahans Sandhills, which is home to six miles of sand dunes. About 65,000 people annually visit the 3,840-acre park in Ward and Winkler counties to camp and hike as well as surf down the 70-foot-high dunes.

“We are open seven days a week throughout the entire year, and our busiest times are March through May when the weather is warm but not terribly hot,” says Glen Korth, Monahans Sandhills State Park manager. “Then from June through August, we have a drop-off simply because the surface temperature of the sand gets up to 140 degrees during

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the day. However, by September the visitors start returning.”

Korth says Monahans Sandhills attracts many guests who stop by to spend the evening, then head into nearby national parks the next day. “We are considered the gateway to Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Big Bend National Park,” he says. “People who visit us are true outdoor enthusiasts.”

LAKES AND WETLANDS Other popular High Ground destinations include Buffalo Springs Lake in Lubbock County, Lake Allen Henry in Garza County, the 5,809-acre Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge in Bailey County and the 50,000-acre Lake Meredith National Recreation Area in Hutchinson County.

“We have a 10,000-acre reservoir with bass, trout, catfish, crappie and walleye, while hunters can go after whitetail deer, mule deer, turkey, ducks and quail,” says Rozanna Pfeiffer, chief of interpretation for Lake Meredith National Recreation Area. “We have no entrance fee at the gate, and it doesn’t cost anything to camp. The only fee we have is for launching boats into the lake.”

The recreation area also is home to Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, which dates back 12,000 years to when people mined the f lint to make arrowheads, tools and weapons. The old excavation sites at Alibates can be accessed only by ranger-guided hikes.

“Lake Meredith itself seems to primarily serve our local community, while the flint quarries seem to be more popular with traveling tourists,” Pfeiffer says. “Both are in the same recreation area yet attract completely different clientele. We are lucky to have both sites.”

– Kevin Litwin

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quality of life

Historic Theaters

Stage a Comeback Renovated buildings bring entertainment back to communities’ downtowns

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purchased the Gem in 1993 after the building had been closed for many years, and we immediately started renovations because they certainly were needed,” says Roy Rutherford, director of programs for the Gem Theatre. “Now it is a beautiful facility. In fact, the interior woodwork actually looks prettier today than what was originally installed.”

Although the Gem originally was a movie theater, Rutherford says the Armstrong County Museum decided to change the focus.

“The city of Claude is too close to Amarillo to compete with the big theater chains there, so we decided to have live stage shows at the Gem,” he says. “Our 190-seat theater now hosts a variety of musical acts during 20 to 30 weekends each year. Like its name says, the Gem has become a true gem again in this community.”

– Kevin Litwin

P H OTO C O U R T E S Y O F J AC K I E K L E I N

I

t had become a real mess. The Cactus Theater in Lubbock – an old B-movie house built in 1938 – closed in 1957. Afterward, the interior was basically gutted, and the building was rented out for storage.

However, all that changed in 1994 when 25 local investors signed onto a 20-year bank note to redo the entire interior and exterior.

“It was my brainchild to renovate the Cactus, and I’ve since bought most of the stock back – only five people are involved with the theater today,” says primary owner Don Caldwell.

He has long been involved in the music recording industry and had wanted a place in Lubbock where he could showcase West Texas talent.

“So now, every Friday and Saturday night throughout the year features concerts at the Cactus Theater,” Caldwell says. “The theater has also helped to rejuvenate what is called the Depot Entertainment District of downtown Lubbock. It’s exciting stuff.”

The excitement level also has risen at other renovated theaters in The High Ground of Texas region. For example, the upgraded Palace Theatre in Canadian brings first-run motion pictures to a community that otherwise might not have access to them.

At the La Rita Performing Arts Theatre in Dalhart, the downtown venue hosts a wide variety of theatrical and musical productions throughout the year, featuring both amateur and professional performers.

Meanwhile, the Gem Theatre in Claude, which dates from 1915, received a massive renovation in 1993 to upgrade the historic building to its present, impressive condition.

“The Armstrong County Museum

Step right up to the checkerboard box office at the Palace Theatre in Canadian.

Top: Marshall Allen Bailey leads a live radio show at the Gem Theatre in Claude.

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Towering

Achieve Wind turbines continue to sprout on The High Groundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hills and plains

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energy

W

ments Scorecard

1 Texas’ ranking nationally in wind energy capacity added in 2007

1,618 megawatts of wind energy capacity added in Texas in 2007, for a total of 4,446

1 Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center’s ranking nationally in wind energy capacity among individual projects

736 megawatts of wind energy capacity at Horse Hollow

4 Number of Texas wind farms in the top 5 nationally, also including Sweetwater (585 megawatts), Capricorn Ridge (364) and Buffalo Gap (353)

hen it comes to satisfying the nation’s evergrowing appetite for energy, the answer may indeed be blowin’ in the wind.

Harnessing wind to provide power isn’t a new idea, but advances in technology have made wind energy a much more viable option, and wide-open West Texas is a perfect spot for wind farms. Indeed, wind power’s time has definitely come, says Greg Wortham, executive director of the West Texas Wind Energy Consortium.

“Four of the largest projects in the United States are here in The High Ground (see Scorecard), and it’s growing across the state,” says Wortham, who is also mayor of Sweetwater.

An ongoing goal of wind proponents is to make sure businesses and the public know they’re not advocating this energy source as a replacement for, but rather as a supplement to, coal, natural gas and nuclear power. Nationally, wind energy currently generates only about 1 percent of the nation’s electricity, but a federal government report released in May 2008 said it is growing rapidly and could produce as much as 20 percent by 2030.

“They can exist together,” Wortham says.

IN TOWN AND COUNTRY The High Ground is home to more than half of the operating wind turbines in the United States. They can be found atop hills or on the plains, on undeveloped rural land and in cities.

Invenergy Wind, a subsidiary of Chicago-based Invenergy LLC, is set to launch operations in October 2008 at its McAdoo Energy Center in Dickens County. The wind farm will consist of 100 General Electric wind turbines, producing 150 megawatts of electricity. It will be sold to the ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) wholesale market. The towers stand 265 feet tall and support 115-foot fan blades.

The project has been a company favorite from the outset, says Heather Otten, director of business development. “This is really one of the best markets for wind, and we can get the power on the grid and sell it very quickly, making the operation very liquid,” Otten says. “Plus, we’ve just had the best time working with everybody out in the area.”

So pleased is the company, in fact, that Otten says were it not for a tapped-out transmission system, the company would be doing more. “We’ve submitted 800 megawatts for approval into the ERCOT process, so if we had the transmission we’d build it,” she says.

Meanwhile, oilman T. Boone Pickens is building what likely will be the world’s largest wind farm in the Panhandle.

A few non-energy businesses also are erecting towers to provide some of their energy needs. One example is cottonseed miller PYCO Industries Inc., which has begun installation of

Source: American Wind Energy Association Wind turbines are becoming as common as jackrabbits from the Panhandle to the Permian Basin. P H OTO B Y B R I A N M C C O R D

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energy

10 wind turbines on its Lubbock site. The $16 million project is expected to generate 10 megawatts of electricity.

PYCO is the city’s second-largest energy consumer, and the company expects to see a 40 percent reduction in its energy costs once the wind turbines are operational.

JESSE KNISH

GUNG-HO FOR DEVELOPMENT While it won’t release specifics just yet, ongoing research at the Reese Technology Center in Lubbock could soon add even more power-production capability to the area.

“Reese Technology Center has several research projects under way that aim to improve our existing energy resources – and some that could change the face of the renewableenergy industry,” says Todd Reno, director of business development.

That kind of gung-ho attitude is music to an economic development official’s ears, says Ken Becker, executive director of the Sweetwater Enterprise for Economic Development.

“There is plenty of wind business to go around, and we promote the business of wind,” Becker says. “It’s a quickmoving business that locates in certain regions for a reason.

We are currently focusing on the service side of the wind development, as we are in the center of 2,000 megawatts-plus

of turbines in a concentrated area.”

A current challenge, Becker says, is integrating this successful new player into the local business scene.

“Employees are leaving local jobs for the wind-related business,” he says. “We must find a way to blend the new industry with the existing.”

– Joe Morris

PYCO Industries in Lubbock is making its own wind power.

Lining Up for Juice TRANSMISSION FIRMS SCRAMBLE TO HANDLE NEW POWER SOURCES

BRIAN MCCORD

With wind, coal, gas and hybrid energy coming online, and more in the works, power carriers throughout The High Ground are finalizing plans to increase their transmission capacity.

No fewer than four major transmission projects are slated for the next five years along Xcel Energy’s lines. “We’ll be upgrading several transmission and substation segments in the Texas North project, which will increase reliability and reduce congestion,”

Power lines connect dots to the grid.

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says Dale Williams, director of community service and economic development. “That one will involve about 213 miles of transmission upgrades.

“The second will be the Seminole Interchange, which will be to accommodate the new generator station Lee Power is building in Hobbs (N.M.). That project also will provide additional transmission capacity to connect with Golden Spread Electric Cooperative’s Mustang Station.”

Xcel’s other projects include a 35-mile, 230-kilovolt line in the Seven Rivers-Pecos-Potash area, and the State Line Grave project, which will be a new interchange near the border with Oklahoma.

The upgrades and expansions are good news for Golden Spread, which is working with the power producers and others to help plan the area’s future transmission and power grid, says Bob Bryant,

president and general manager.

“There’s so much transmission that needs to be built,” Bryant says. “For example, there is more wind generation and more planned than can flow out of the west ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas) zone. The same situation exists in other areas, and we’re going to need more transmission if we’re going to maintain reliability and be able to harvest the wind potential in these areas.”

In July 2008, Texas state officials gave preliminary approval to a $4.9 billion wind-power project that would add a massive system of transmission lines to help move electricity generated along the windy patches of West Texas to power-hungry metropolitan areas such as Austin. If the plan wins final approval, it will be the country’s largest investment in clean and renewable power.

– Joe Morris

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Help Wanted Energy-industry boom leads to low regional unemployment

R

ecord demand for oil and gas, coupled with several high-profile projects in the energy sector, has led to a job seeker’s paradise throughout The High Ground.

Unemployment in Midland is tracking around 2.8 percent, while in Odessa, Lubbock and Amarillo it’s averaging a bit higher than 3 percent. That’s about half of the national average, and the employment situation is likely to remain bright for the foreseeable future, says Kirk Edwards, president of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association.

“The energy industry is doing its best to keep people employed right now, and that’s causing a lot of stress on other industries to keep up the pace,” says Edwards, who also is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank’s El Paso branch. “I think everyone’s done their best to diversify away from oil, but with oil working really well now, and diversification also working well, it’s created a perfect storm for employees.”

Major producers are making news with high starting salaries and signing bonuses, but Edwards notes that it may well be easier for smaller producers to find top-quality employees.

“The bigger companies have set payrolls based on formulas and percentages,” he says. “Independents can roll out a project, hire people and complete it. Once they’ve sold out, then they can build a new team, start a new project and go from there. Because they’re doing things project by project, they can pay better – and they are taking employees from the majors.”

The energy sector’s hiring bonanza has filtered into other areas of the region’s employment picture, with even low-end service jobs commanding well over minimum wage these days.

“Any cashier at any sandwich shop is making $8 an hour, and if you can run any kind of equipment in an oilfield, pass a drug test and show up for work, you’re going to make at least $20 an hour,” Edwards says.

He adds that some new energy-related projects are creating “hundreds of jobs … that are going to be fairly long term, so this is going to be going on for quite a while. We’re going to need a lot of manpower.”

– Joe Morris

Installations such as the PSEG Texas electric-generation plant in Ector County are running at full tilt.

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P H OTO B Y B R I A N M c C O R D

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energy

Powering Up With Natural Gas, Coal NEW PLANTS WILL SEND MORE ELECTRICITY TO THE GRID A new power plant or refinery is a costly proposition, but given the way land in The High Ground is being snapped up by energy generators, the region will remain a hub of activity for years to come.

A prime example is Odessa, which took a hit when the Department of Energy stalled the $1.8 billion FutureGen coalgasification project in January 2008. Within a few weeks, discussions had begun regarding another major energy-generating installation in the area.

“Summit Power is the project developer for the proposed Texas Clean Energy Project,” says Gary Vest, Odessa Chamber of Commerce director of economic development.

“Odessa has a 600-acre site west of the city where Summit is proposing a 500-megawatt Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle clean-coal power plant with 60 percent carbon capture.”

Summit would join other major players including Navasota Energy Partners LP, which is developing the $200 million Quail Run Energy Center, an 825-megawatt, natural-gasfired facility in Odessa, and Tenaska Inc., which has proposed the Trailblazer Energy Center, a 765-megawatt facility near Sweetwater that would capture 85 to 90 percent of carbon dioxide released during its high-tech coal-pulverizing process, then resell that gas to oil and gas producers.

Quail Run has been operating since June 2007, with a second phase subsequently completed and a third planned to begin within two years, according to Navasota Energy.

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The $3 billion Trailblazer project could begin coming out of the ground in late 2009 and go operational in 2014, says Helen Manroe, Tenaska’s manager of business development, who notes that the 1,919-acre site met some extremely difficult criteria.

“We needed rail, because the

coal will be brought in – preferably two lines,” Manroe says. “We needed water, access to high-voltage transmission lines and, in our case, to be fairly close to the Permian Basin because that’s where we’re going to sell the carbon dioxide for enhanced oil recovery.”

– Joe Morris

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Hello,

High Tech The welcome mat is out for technology entrepreneurs

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technology

F

rom a composite material to protect America’s soldiers to tiny illumination chips and critical cell-phone software, technological advances are redefining The High Ground, where entrepreneurs find fertile soil.

“This is a great business climate,” says Ed Rose, president and chief executive officer of Falcon International. When the time came to establish a production facility for his business, based in Huntsville, Ala., Rose chose Odessa, where he grew up. He left 22 years ago to join the U.S. Air Force.

Rose’s military experience is the reason he surmised that a sturdy yet lightweight material the company was using to encase asbestos held promise as armor. He was proved right. Bullets are def lected by the fiberglass-reinforced plastic, now marketed as Falcon Protective Coating, and the company has landed military contracts to outfit Humvees, helicopters and other equipment.

“Our primary mission is to protect the war fighters out there. It’s our responsibility to give them the best equipment that we possibly can,” Rose says. “People are very patriotic out here, and they’ve all rallied to the cause.”

Falcon received $1.7 million in incentives over five years from the Odessa Development Corp. and another $850,000 from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund. Rose says the support “made it very attractive for us to move,” adding that he anticipates having 60 employees on the payroll by the end of 2008. Falcon’s corrosion-resistant coating also has applications for infrastructure such as storage tanks and bridges. Moreover, its high-technology water-jet cutter, used to craft the ballistic panels, “can make anything from flanges for oil wells to tweezers for surgery,” Rose says, noting the company’s growth potential.

R&D IN NANOPHOTONICS A $2 million grant from the Emerging Technology Fund also helped lure two highly renowned researchers to Texas Tech University.

Another $2 million from the university and $5.35 million from AT&T to establish two endowed chairs for the husband-and-wife team sealed the deal.

In 2008, Drs. Hongxing Jiang and Jingyu Lin moved their research endeavors from Kansas State University to Lubbock, where they are continuing their work in nanophotonics – the study of light at the tiniest of scales.

The couple also brought with them the

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entrepreneurial enterprise they founded, III-N Technology Inc., to help move their research from the laboratory to the marketplace. “We have been doing this kind of nanophotonic research for many years. In the beginning, it was more laboratory curiosity. But as we go along, we actually make devices, which we have found are very practical,” Lin says. One innovation may someday replace the residential light bulb, while another may allow computer use without a screen by projecting the image on a wall, a windshield or even eyeglass lenses.

PINPOINTING 911 CALLERS In fact, Texas Tech has emerged a hub of technology-related activity, and Michael Powers, an owner and the president of GBSD Technologies Inc., says his company’s software gurus feed off their interactions with engineering and computer faculty. He anticipates the same kind of intellectual cross-pollination in the Reese Technology Center in Lubbock.

GBSD-developed technology allows cell-phone carriers to pinpoint the location of a cell phone.

The obvious application is a 911 call when the caller doesn’t know the location or is unable to communicate. “We actually have four levels of technology that we use, based on what the carrier wants to spend,” Powers says.

The company is doing more business overseas than domestically, he says, although the newest customer is the New York City subway system.

– Sharon H. Fitzgerald

Fact Check REESE TECHNOLOGY CENTER Location: Lubbock Size: 2,500 acres Former use: Reese Air Force Base (closed in 1997) Infrastructure: fiber-optic cable; 45 Mb wireless network; high-performance computing center Educational partnerships: Texas Tech University, South Plains College Tenants: currently 17 Plans: additional laboratories and offices plus retail and restaurants Web site: www.reesecenter.com

Technology entrepreneurs are finding that West Texas has just the right climate for R&D. Left: High tech is transforming The High Ground.

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manufacturing

Making It

in Business Region boasts a healthy mix of traditional and innovative manufacturers

T

An employee at Amarillo Gear Co. operates a spiral bevel machine.

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he High Ground’s economy has long been known for its oil and agricultural underpinnings.

But the region also boasts a burgeoning, diverse ma nufac turi ng sec tor, producing everything from aircraft engines to telemetry cable systems.

Amarillo Gear Co., which originated as a welding and machine shop in 1917, is now a leading producer of right-angle gear drives for agricultural irrigation and cooling tower systems. A member of The Marmon Group of companies, Amarillo Gear employs approximately 180 workers and maintains operations in both Amarillo and Monterrey, Mexico. A subsidiary, Amarillo Wind Machine Co., manufactures machines used to protect orchards and vineyards from frost.

“We’re well diversified,” says Clay Barbee, sales manager for Amarillo Gear. “Our gear drives can be used for many applications – from agriculture to oil refineries to utilities.

“This is really where the irrigation industry started, so it’s a natural location for us,” he adds. “Amarillo is centrally located and close to key

agricultural and irrigation states such as Kansas, Arkansas, Nebraska and Mississippi. It’s a good distribution point, with convenient access to interstates and rail.” Barbee says exports represent roughly 35 percent of the company’s business, with products shipping to 48 countries worldwide.

Besides location, he cites the region’s labor force as an important asset. “The workforce is quite stable, with an excellent work ethic,” he says.

TAKING OFF FROM MIDLAND AND ELSEWHERE Buddy Sipes agrees, pointing to labor as a major advantage to operating in the region. As chairman of Trace Engines LP, which builds high-performance aircraft engines in Midland, Sipes has firsthand experience with the area’s aviation capabilities.

Trace Engines worked closely with Midland College’s Aviation Department to recruit top mechanics when the company opened in 2006.

“We had over 200 applications for two positions,” Sipes says. “We were really impressed and surprised by the

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Vacuums to Pet Food DIVERSE PRODUCTS MANUFACTURED HERE A sampling of The High Ground’s manufacturing sector: Best Made Designs LLC, Monahans – nylon field gear for military and hunting purposes; www.bestmadedesigns.com American Cotton Growers, Littlefield – denim; www.pcca.com P H OTO S B Y J E S S E K N I S H

Weyerhaeuser Co., Amarillo – container board; www.weyerhaeuser.com Kirby Co., Andrews – vacuum cleaners; www.kirby.com

In business since 1917, Amarillo Gear makes a variety of products such as these spiral gears. Its customers include agricultural companies, oil refineries and utilities.

SOS from Texas, Shamrock – organic cotton apparel; www.sosfromtexas.com Herring Tank Co., Perryton – metal tanks; www.herringtank.com Ludlum Measurements Inc., Sweetwater – radiation testing equipment; www.ludlums.com The Cocoa Co. Ltd., Friona – cocoa mixes; www.mcmcocoacompany.com

response. Midland College has an aircraft maintenance department as well as a pilot training program (see story, page 32), so the workforce is extremely well qualified.

“We have a first-class airport here that not only supports commercial aviation but also is interested in promoting manufacturing,” he says.

“And the investment dollars are here – that’s important for new business.”

Other traditional manufacturers include Towner Manufacturing LLC, which produces custom machine parts along with high-grade firearms in Lubbock.

The region also is home to innovative manufacturers such as Midland’s Steward Cable Inc., which produces telemetry cable systems, leader wire and connectors for the geophysical industry, and Milex Corp. of Pampa, which makes a natural plastic resin used in biodegradable packaging, pet toys and more.

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RELOCATING FROM CALIFORNIA For Mike Kegley, it all comes down to The High Ground’s pro-business attitude. Kegley opened Morgan Metal Finishing in 2008 after relocating to Borger from Southern California. The company, which anodizes aluminum parts for the aerospace and medical industries, expects to employ up to 40 workers before the end of the year.

“It’s just a different world out here – there’s not as much stress, the people are nice and it’s business friendly,” says Kegley, who operates the business with wife Nancy, daughter Jenna and son-inlaw Charlie Morgan. “Local leaders have bent over backward to assist us, and the employees’ attitudes are different, too.

The work ethic is great.”

Kegley also points to the region’s affordable costs of doing business. “In California, we spent about $2,000 a month for gas. Here it’s more like $200.”

– Amy Stumpfl

Susie’s South Forty Confections Inc., Midland – gourmet candy; www.susiessouthforty.com Aloha Fiberglass Pools, Plainview – swimming pools and spa shells; www.alohafiberglasspools.com Tejas Industries, Hereford, Friona, Stratford and Amarillo – pet food; www.tejasindustries.com

SOS from Texas in Shamrock makes apparel from organic cotton.

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Land of

Cotton

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agriculture

Scorecard TEXAS AGRICULTURE,

BY THE NUMBERS:

Peanuts, wheat and other crops also thrive in this semiarid region

S

ammy Means was a busy man in 2007. The general manager of Ropes Farmers Co-op Gin in Ropesville saw 99,224 bales of cotton pass through the processing gin.

“It was the second-largest year for cotton bales in our history, and we’ve been around since 1957,” Means says.

“Up until about four years ago, our average was 40,000 bales. Now we’re putting out close to 100,000 bales a year.”

Means says the reason for higher production is simple: Cotton plants have been improved genetically so that they yield more and better fiber.

“In the last few years, growers have been producing as good a quality of cotton here in West Texas as anyone in the world,” he says. “Honestly, West

Texas at one time grew some of the worst cotton around. But now when mills from overseas want great cotton, they come to West Texas.”

Cotton grows best where humidity is low and there isn’t much precipitation, which are the exact conditions of West Texas.

“About half the cotton grown in the United States is grown in Texas, and about 60 percent of Texas’ crop is grown in The High Ground,” Means says.

“Those are impressive numbers.”

PROCESSING BILLIONS OF PEANUTS Other crops around the region also are doing well. For instance, the area accounts for 545 million pounds of peanut production each year, about 78

2 National ranking in overall agriculture production

1 National ranking in production of cotton and hay

2 National ranking in production of sorghum and peanuts

5 National ranking in production of wheat

229,000 number of farms

129,500,000 acres of farmland

22,714,000 acres planted

P H OTO S B Y J E S S E K N I S H

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

A tractor is used to plant seed in the fertile soil between the cities of Levelland and Lubbock. Left: Irrigation equipment

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Hereford, Deaf Smith County, Texas An A n agricultural leader in the P Panhandle anhandle of T Texas exas

Panda Energy Ethanol Site

Hereford Municipal Airport

One of Hereford’s 10 new dairies

Rooted in progress and positioned for the future

New packing plant opened in 2005

Location Education Hereford Fire Department

Transportation

Hereford Aquatic Center

John Pitman Golf Course

Hereford is in the center of the western Texas Panhandle, 45 miles southwest of Amarillo.

Qualified workforce is supported by outstanding public and private schools. Community college local campus opened in the fall of 2005. West Texas A&M University is 30 miles to the east, and Texas Tech University is 90 miles to the south.

Major highways intersect in Hereford, with U.S. Highway 385 going north and south, and U.S. Highway 60 going east and west. The BNSF mainline railroad runs through the city of Hereford. Major international airport in Amarillo.

Recreation

Hunting, golfing, swimming and rodeos all available locally.

Water sports and snow skiing close by.

Community

Progressive, growing and “great neighbors.”

Hereford Economic Development Corporation Heref 701 North N Main St. • P.O. Box 1266 • Hereford, TX 79045 Sheila Quirk, Executive Director • hedc@wtrt.net Call (806) 364-0613 today or visit www.herefordedc.com

percent of the Texas total.

“It’s because of the low humidity, and the soil is very good for our product,” says Jesus “Chuy” Garrocho, operations manager for the Peanut Corporation of America’s Plainview Plant. “Plus, we don’t have trouble with aflatoxin that peanut growers have on the East Coast and the Southeast United States.”

Af latoxin is produced by certain mold strains. Because it becomes a toxic carcinogen at elevated levels, the U.S. Department of Agriculture allows only 15 parts per billion in peanuts, Garrocho says.

“We don’t have trouble with aflatoxin because of our low rainfall and low humidity,” he says. “That’s a big reason why the Peanut Corporation of America, which is based in Virginia, decided to set up a plant in Plainview.”

The recently opened Plainview facility, with a 110-member workforce, handles peanuts that already have been removed from the shells.

“First we blanch the peanuts, which means that we take the skin off,” Garrocho says. “Then we oil roast, dry roast, granulate or offer some flavors such as hot-and-spicy peanuts as well as jalapeño peanuts. Our plant is planning on adding peanut butter production in late 2008 or 2009.”

NATIONAL ADVOCATE FOR WHEAT Other crops that do well in The High Ground include soybeans, hay, guar beans and wheat.

“In Texas, 80 percent of the wheat is grown in The High Ground because wheat is a very drought-tolerant plant, and West Texas is quite dry,” says David Cleavinger, president of the National Association of Wheat Growers and the owner of a 4,500-acre farm in Deaf Smith County.

“We actually grow a hard red winter wheat in West Texas that is made into products such as tortillas and pita bread.”

Cleavinger says the National Association of Wheat Growers is currently working with scientists, millers and bakers to come up with biotech wheat that will produce higher yields in even drier conditions.

“We want wheat advancements to mirror the technology currently seen in cotton, corn and soybeans,” he says.

“Cotton, corn and soybeans can now grow in drying conditions and use fewer herbicides, which results in less expense to the growers. That’s what we eventually want for wheat.”

Even so, irrigation remains important for certain crops in the semiarid High Ground region, beneath which water flows in aquifers.

– Kevin Litwin

SEE VIDEO ONLINE

BRIAN MCCORD

See how cotton is ginned at the Ropes Farmers Co-op Gin in Ropesville at imageshighground.com.

Ropes Farmers Co-Op Gin in Ropesville is now ginning nearly 100,000 bales a year.

The gin’s general manager credits genetic improvements for the higher crop yields.

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Keeping Meat on the Table Production of cattle and hogs remains prime at ranches and farms here

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P H OTO S B Y J E S S E K N I S H

beef & pork industries

A cattle transport truck rests on the side of a highway south of Lubbock. Left: Cattle graze in a pasture near Amarillo.

T

he High Ground of Texas can certainly “steak” much Inc. near another Panhandle town, Stratford. “I agree that the of its reputation on the cattle industry. first advantage we have here in the cattle business is the Approximately 30 percent of Texas cattle and calves climate, which is ideal for the performance of cattle.” sent to slaughter each year come from the region, and Lasley says the paucity of rain in West Texas also is good ranchers cite several reasons why these animals thrive so well for ranchers. “Rain leads to mud, and cattle won’t eat as much in this locale. or perform as well in muddy conditions,” he says. “Our “We have a good climate,” says business is all about fat animals, Jim Waterfield, a rancher in the and fat animals don’t like mud or Scorecard Panhandle and former president of heat. In the north Corn Belt, they the Texas Cattle Feeders Association. have a slogan that by July 4 you HERE’S THE BEEF – “Our cattle don’t die in the summer either sell them or you smell them.

AND THE PORK, TOO due to oppressive heat and humidity, We don’t have that problem here.” and they are comfortable in the Lasley adds that the several winter so that ranchers can continue meatpacking plants in The High to grow them big without any Ground work closely with the Texas’ rank nationally in sales of problem.” ranchers. “With current diesel and cattle and calves Waterfield also points out that gasoline prices so high, ranchers West Texas hasn’t become urbanized and truckers don’t have nearly the like so many parts of the United freight costs in this region because States, which means there is ample the packing plants aren’t too far proceeds from Texas sales of land for grazing. away,” he says. “That’s a nice cattle and calves in 2007 “I’m about 100 miles from advantage.”

Amarillo and then 50 miles from HIGH GROUND HOGS the next-largest city, so there is Not just the cattle industry is quite a bit of open range out here,” Texas’ population of cattle and doing well in the Panhandle. So is he says. “In Canadian where I live, calves the pork industry. For example, there isn’t much farming. It’s mainly Texas Farm LLC in Perryton, with a grassy area where cattle can graze 32,500 sows capable of producing during the summer before they are 680,000 market animals annually, moved into the feed yards.”

Texas’ population of hogs and pigs is one of the major pork producers NO MUD, NO FUSS not only in the state but also in the The overall economic impact of nation. the cattle industry in The High Ground exceeds $20 billion “They are virtually the same as [us cattle ranchers] when annually, with an estimated 25,000 jobs related to the cattle- it comes to wanting to raise the fattest animals for market,” feeding business.

Waterfield says of the hog farmers. “The old saying certainly “I run a 20,000-head feed yard and sell to all the major holds true around here when talking about cattle and hogs: meatpackers, so my cattle products are shipped all over the They grow ’em big in Texas, and they grow ’em really big in world,” says Walter Lasley, owner of Walter Lasley and Sons West Texas.”

– Kevin Litwin

1

$8.1 billion

13.8 million 1.2 million

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Plenty of

&

Milk k Cheese

Dairy cows are becoming increasingly numerous as more dairies begin operations. As of February 2008, the Panhandle was home to 166,000 cows and 85 dairies. One estimate projects those numbers will reach 214,000 and 113 by 2010. PHOTO BY JEFF ADKINS

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dairy industry

Prosperity flows from Panhandle dairies and cheese-makers to a vast area

T

wenty years ago, dairy farms in the Panhandle were few and far between.

Though long regarded as a top beefproducing region, the area remained largely undiscovered by folks in the business of milking cows.

Whether escaping urban encroachment, unfavorable weather conditions or some other limitation, herds of dairymen from all over the world now are finding their way to The High Ground’s wide-open spaces.

John Cowan, executive director of the Texas Association of Dairymen, cites several factors for the surge: “It’s already a good agricultural area. The higher elevation and less humid climate are beneficial for cow comfort and animal health, which make for better efficiencies. One of the paramount reasons is that the infrastructure is all in place for growing and obtaining feed. Land prices are attractive.

And ag people attract ag people.”

The numbers certainly bear that out. Cowan says there were 34 dairies and 35,500 cows in the Panhandle in 2002, when the dairy boom was gaining momentum. By February 2008, those numbers had swelled to 85 dairies and 166,000 cows. Cowan estimates that by 2010, the region will be home to 113 dairies and 214,000 cows.

JOBS CREATED AT CHEESE PLANTS The influx of dairies also has brought related industries.

Hilmar Cheese Co., operator of a California plant that is the largest single-site cheese manufacturing facility in the world, opened its second location in Dalhart in October 2007.

It makes cheddar, colby and Monterey Jack cheeses in 40-pound blocks that are sold to cut-

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and-wrap wholesalers.

“Our decision to expand to Dalhart was based on several key factors, including Texas’ positive business climate, reliable regulatory environment and an up-and-coming local dairy industry,” says David Ahlem, site manager.

The 200,000-square-foot Hilmar facility ultimately will employ about 350 people, and in August 2008 the company announced a Phase II expansion that will double the size of the plant. Economic development experts project an additional 1,600 jobs in the milk-production operations that supply the plant.

“Beyond the direct impact from Hilmar Cheese Co. jobs, purchases and taxes, there are many other related businesses that contribute to the local economy, including the dairy farms and agricultural-related industries,” Ahlem says.

“Banking, hospitality, services and most any business in the area have likely been affected in some way.”

One study predicts an eventual economic impact exceeding $2 billion from Hilmar’s ripple effect.

In nearby Amarillo, Pacific Cheese Co. is putting the finishing touches on its 93,000-square-foot plant, which is scheduled to begin production Oct. 1, 2008. The company will cut and package blocks of Hilmar cheese, and it will launch a Texas original – Lone Star Cheese.

Pacific Cheese will create more than 100 jobs. But according to Richard R. “Buzz”

Scorecard HILMAR CHEESE CO., BY THE NUMBERS: 450,000 gallons of milk received daily 60,000 cows that supply the milk 80 trucks that deliver the milk, 6,000 gallons at a time 12 minutes required to empty one of the 6,000-gallon tankers 3 million pounds of cheese produced weekly more than 500,000 pounds of cheese to be produced daily at Phase I full capacity in 2014

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Where progress comes easily

MULESHOE, TEXAS Ce nt er

tr y n u o of th C e Dairy

“Proactive describes Muleshoe the best. I was looking at various places to locate my business so I could diversify and I found what I was looking for right here. They’re outside-the-box thinkers in this town and that is a little unusual for its size.” – Tom Landry, L&L Pallet Supply, Inc.

Muleshoe Economic Development Corp. • (806) 272-7455 • www.city-of-muleshoe.com

dairy industry

David, president and chief executive officer of the Amarillo Economic Development Corp., that’s not all. “More importantly, it helps us develop the food-technology-industry cluster that we want to see more of in this area,” he says. “The cheese industry is in growth mode, big-time.”

Pacific Cheese Co.’s 93,000-square-foot processing plant in Amarillo will cut and package blocks of Hilmar cheese.

VET CLINICS, SCHOOLS EXPAND Other High Ground cities and counties also are benefiting from the dairy industry’s remarkable growth.

“We’ve gone from virtually no milk producers in the county 10 years ago to, as of March 2008, Deaf Smith County being the third-largest milk producer in the state,” says Mike Schueler, president of the Hereford Economic Development Corp.

“Everything from retail to farm prices, farm equipment and sprinkler companies are all booming,” Schueler says. “[Hereford] went from a stagnant housing market to vibrant housing construction going on. For a town of 15,000, you just don’t often see that.”

The Muleshoe Animal Clinic has added seven large-animal veterinarians in the last six years, Dr. Steve Kennedy says.

“Our practice services about 50 dairies,” compared with one when he arrived in Muleshoe two decades ago. “Now, 80 to 85 percent of our business is dairy,” Kennedy says.

Muleshoe schools also are getting a boost. In 2006, the community voted by a two-to-one ratio in favor of a $25 million bond issue for school construction. Muleshoe Independent School District Superintendent Gene Sheets could be speaking for the entire Panhandle when he says, “This is an exciting time.”

– Carol Cowan

Texas Twang Meets European Accents IMMIGRANTS LURED TO HIGH GROUND FOR DAIRY AND CHEESE WORK It’s a long way from the Netherlands to The High Ground, and Harry DeWit crossed the Atlantic Ocean and traveled a long road through Canada, California and central Texas to reach it.

DeWit and his wife, Margret, own High Plains Dairy, a successful 4,400-cow operation in Parmer County near Friona.

Significantly, some fellow countrymen have been drawn to West Texas in pursuit of the dairy life.

“There’s a good handful of us Dutchmen,” DeWit says, with just a hint of an accent. “And we have a couple (dairy farmers) from Denmark.”

Local developers would like to see more. “A group of us went to Denmark to meet with some dairy people and talk to them about coming into the region,” says Richard R. “Buzz” David, president

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and CEO of the Amarillo Economic Development Corp. “We are actively recruiting dairy people from Denmark.”

The Netherlands and Denmark both rank among the top exporters of cheese, so it’s only natural that dairy folks from both countries would recognize that the Panhandle – with its available space, reasonable land prices, favorable climate, established infrastructure and ready feed supply – is ripe for their milk and cheese expertise.

Years ahead of his time, Dutchman Ben Mesman established one of the region’s original dairies, Mesman Dairy Farms Inc. in Farwell. Now in his late 70s, Mesman still makes his cheese the way they did in the old country. And you can’t buy it until he says it’s ready.

– Carol Cowan

Dutch and Danish dairy farmers bring milk and cheese expertise to Texas.

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Official host of the High Ground of Texas 2006 Spring Conference

Lubbock owned and operated 5310 Englewood • Lubbock, TX 79424 • www.arborinnandsuites.com For reservations:

(866) 644-2319 • (806) 722-2726

Commercial Business Financing Long-term Fixed Rates Small Down Payment New Construction Existing Buildings Equipment Financing Dairy design and steel by Prime Metal Buildings and Design. Photo: ©2006 Paul Chaplo

Texas Panhandle Regional Development Corporation P.O. Box 9257 Amarillo, Texas 79105 (806) 331-6172 • www.tprdc.com

Caprock Business Finance Corporation P.O. Box 3730 Freedom Station Lubbock, Texas 79452

(806) 762-8721 • www.caprock504.org

SBA 504 – The money that makes America work

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ECONOMIC PROFILE BUSINESS CLIMATE

TOTAL REGIONAL POPULATION 2000 Census, 1,174,829 2007 estimate, 1,204,715 2012 projection, 1,214,513

MAJOR MSA POPULATION CENTERS Lubbock, 267,211 Amarillo, 242,240 Abilene, 159,343 Odessa, 129,570 Midland, 126,408

TOTAL LABOR FORCE 2000 Census, 538,663 2007 estimate, 554,228 2012 projection, 606,908 Blue-collar occupations, 44.5% White-collar occupations, 55.5%

THE HIGH GROUND OF TEXAS TARGET INDUSTRIES Alternative & renewable energy (wind, solar, biofuels & ethanol) Ancillary opportunities to existing businesses Aviation Biotechnology Customer service centers Dairies Distribution Food processing Manufacturing Metal fabrication/welding Oil & gas/petroleum Plastics/packaging Value-added agriculture

A SAMPLE OF REGIONAL EMPLOYERS Affiliated Foods Alon Inc. ASARCO Inc. AT&T Wireless Azteca Corn Milling Backyard Adventures Basic Energy Services

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The High Ground of Texas is involved in the recruitment and expansion of several target markets that are a good fit for the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy.

The current target markets include manufacturing, alternative energy, food processing, value-added agricultural products, customer service centers and the growing dairy industry.

Bell Helicopter Ben E Keith Distribution BWXT Pantex LLC Cactus Feeders Cargill Meat Solutions Conoco Phillips Convergys Corp.

Dawson Geophysical Excel Family Dollar Distribution Halliburton Services Hilmar Cheese Hollman Cos. Key Energy Owens Corning Fiberglass Plains Cotton Cooperative Saulsbury Co. Telvista Inc. Texas Farm Tyco Fire Protection Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. Valero Wal-Mart Distribution Warren Industries

2008 HIGH GROUND MEMBERSHIP FOUNDATION MEMBERS Amarillo Economic Development Corp., www.amarilloedc.com Golden Spread Electric Co-op.

Inc., www.gsec.coop Odessa Development Corp., www.odessatex.com

COMMUNITY MEMBERS Andrews Economic Development Corp., www.andrewsedc.com Aspermont Economic Development Corp., www.aspermonttexas.com Moore Development for Big Spring, www.bigspringtx.com Booker Economic Development Corp., www.bookertexas.org Borger Economic Development Corp., www.borger.com Brownfield Industrial Development Corp., www.ci.brownfield.tx.us Canadian-Hemphill County Economic Development, www.canadiantx.com Canyon Economic Development Corp., www.canyonedc.com Childress Economic Development Corp., www.childresstexas.com Claude Chamber of Commerce, www.armstrong countymuseum.com Crosbyton Chamber of Commerce, www.crosbytoncofc.com

Xcel Energy, www.xcelenergy.com

Dalhart Economic Development Corp., www.dalhart.org

PLATINUM MEMBERS Midland Development Corp., www.midlandtexasedc.com

Dimmitt Chamber of Commerce, www.dimmittchamber.com

BRONZE MEMBER Atmos Energy Corp., www.atmosenergy.com COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS Panhandle Regional Planning Commission, www.theprpc.org South Plains Association of Governments, www.spag.org

Dumas Economic Development Corp., www.dumasedc.org Friona Economic Development Corp., www.frionachamber.com Fritch at Lake Meredith, www.cityoffritch.com Gruver Community Development Corp., www.gruvertexas.com

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Good for business.

Good for people.

Visit Our Advertisers Amarillo College www.actx.edu Amarillo Economic Development Corporation www.amarilloedc.com Andrews Economic Development Corporation www.andrewsedc.com Arbor Inn & Suites www.arborinnandsuites.com Ashmore Inn & Suites www.ashmoresuites-amarillo.com Atmos Energy www.atmosenergy.com Bell Helicopter www.bellhelicopter.com Borger Economic Development Corporation www.borger.com City of Canyon, Texas www.canyonedc.com

The Dumas Business Park provides a Texas-sized opportunity for success. Go to www.dumasedc.org to learn more.

P.O. Box 595 1015 N. Maddox Dumas, TX 79029 (806) 934-3332 www.dumasedc.org

City of Plainview, Texas www.ci.plainview.tx.us Dumas Economic Development Corporation www.dumasedc.org First Ag Credit www.agmoney.com Friona Economic Development Corporation www.frionachamber.com Golden Spread Electric Cooperative Inc. www.gsec.coop Hereford Economic Development Corporation www.herefordedc.com High Ground of Texas www.highground.org High Mesa Homes www.highmesahomes.com Lamesa Economic Development Corporation www.ci.lamesa.tx.us Levelland Economic Development Corporation www.golevelland.com

questions

answers

Littlefield Economic Development Corporation www.littlefieldtexas.org Midland Development Corporation www.midlandtexasedc.org Monahans Chamber of Commerce www.monahans.org Monahans Economic Development Corporation www.monahans.org Moore Development for Big Springs www.bigspringtx.com Muleshoe Economic Development Corporation www.city-of-muleshoe.com Pampa Economic Development Corporation www.pampaedc.com

©2002 American Cancer Society, Inc.

Perryton Community Development Corporation http://cdc.perryton.com Ports-to-Plains www.portstoplains.com Shamrock Texas www.shamrocktx.net Texas Panhandle Regional Development Corporation www.tprdc.com

8 0 0 . A C S . 2 3 4 5 / c a n c e r. o r g

Wolfforth, Texas www.wolfforthedc.org Workforce Solutions Permian Basin www.workforcepb.org Workforce Solutions South Plains www.spworksource.org

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economic profile City of Hale Center, www.angelfire.com/tx3/ halecenter/index.html

Sweetwater Enterprise for Economic Development, www.sweetwatertexas.net

Hereford Economic Development Corp., www.herefordtx.org/HEDC

City of Tulia, www.tuliachamber.com

Lamesa Economic Development Corp., www.growlamesa.com Levelland Economic Development Corp., www.golevelland.com Littlefield Economic Development Corp., www.littlefieldtexas.org City of Lorenzo, www.cityoflorenzo.org

City of Wellington, www.wellingtontx.com City of Wheeler, www.wheelertexas.com Wolfforth Economic Development Corp., www.wolfforthedc.org COUNTY MEMBERS Bailey County, www.co.bailey.tx.us

Mitchell County Board of Economic Development, www.mitchellcountyeconomic development.org

Cochran County, www.co.cochran.tx.us

Monahans Economic Development Corp., www.monahans.org

Dallam County Industrial Development Corp., www.dallam.org

Muleshoe Economic Development Corp., www.city-of-muleshoe.com

Hockley County, www.co.hockley.tx.us

Pampa Economic Development Corp., www.pampaedc.com Perryton Community Development Corp., www.perrytoncdc.com City of Plains City of Plainview/Plainview Hale County Industrial Foundation, www.phcif.org Reese Technology Center, www.reesecenter.com Seminole Economic Development Corp., www.seminoleedc.org Shamrock Economic Development Corp., www.shamrocktx.net Sherman County Development Committee, www.shermancountytx.org Slaton Economic Development Corp., www.slatontexas.org Spearman Economic Development Corp., www.spearman.org Sundown Economic Development Corp.

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Rita Blanca Electric Cooperative Inc., www.RBEC.org South Plains College, www.southplainscollege.edu Swisher Electric Cooperative Inc., www.swisherelectric.org Texas Cattle Feeders Association, www.tcfa.org Windstream, www.windstream.com WorkForce Solutions South Plains, www.spworksource.org WTAMU Enterprise Network, www.IncubationWorks.com West Texas A&M University, www.wtamu.edu XIT Communications/XIT Wireless/XITv, www.xit.net

Cottle County, www.paducahtx.com

Ochiltree County, www.co.ochiltree.tx.us Oldham County, www.oldhamcofc.org Wheeler County, www.wheelertexas.com ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERS Amarillo Area Foundation, www.amarilloareafoundation.org Amarillo College, www.actx.edu American Electric Power, www.aep.com Bailey County Electric Cooperative Association, www.bcecoop.com Greenbelt Electric Cooperative Inc., www.greenbeltelectric.coop Northwest Texas SBDC, www.nwtsbdc.org Oncor Electric Delivery, www.locationtexas.com WorkForce Solutions Panhandle www.wspanhandle.com Permian Basin Regional Planning Commission, www.pbrpc.org

FOR MORE INFORMATION The High Ground of Texas 401 N. 3rd St., Suite 4 P.O. Box 716 Stratford, TX 79084 Phone: (806) 366-7510 Fax: (806) 366-7511 E-mail: higround@xit.net www.highground.org

SOURCES: www.highground.org, U.S. Census Bureau

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