Success Stories
DENT TRUCK LINES, INC.
Sweetwater, Texas-based company
Dent Truck Lines, Inc. sought a line of credit from a local Sweetwater, TX bank, supported by Sweetwater Economic Development, with an initial amount of $300,000.00, extendable up to $500,000.00. This funding is intended to expand its leased drivers and trucks operations and establish a brokerage division over a 3-year period, with the potential for extension upon request.
Sweetwater Economic Development granted this line of credit, with regular reviews every 6 months throughout the initial 3-year term.
Furthermore, to foster the growth of Dent Truck Lines, Inc. and stimulate employment opportunities in Sweetwater, Sweetwater Economic Development will also issue a $75,000.00 performance bond over 3 years, with options for two additional 1-year terms at the discretion of Sweetwater Economic Development.
LOGISTICS SUPPORT, INC.
Headquartered in Orange, Texas, Logistics Support, Inc. pursued a lease agreement with Sweetwater Economic Development for two diesel locomotives. These locomotives facilitate the transportation of railcar units from the BNSF switching yard in Sweetwater, TX, to the Buzzi Unicem cement plant in Maryneal, TX, enhancing operational efficiency and lowering shipping costs by qualifying for BNSF’s shipping programs.
Sweetwater Economic Development proposed purchasing two diesel locomotives at a cost not exceeding $575,000. Following the purchase, Sweetwater Economic Development leased the locomotives to Logistics Support, Inc., for the specified purposes.
Both Sweetwater Economic Development and Logistics Support, Inc. anticipated that increased rail shipments indirectly stimulate job creation in the Sweetwater area, leveraging its strategic rail infrastructure.
Logistics Support, Inc. successfully fulfilled all contractual obligations two years ahead of schedule.
CAPE & SON
COMMODITY MERCHANDISING & TRANSLOADING SERVICES
CAPE & SON sought to lease two locomotives from Sweetwater Economic Development to transport railcar units from its Sweetwater facility to the BNSF switching yard for nationwide shipment. This move aimed to enhance efficiency and reduce shipping costs by qualifying for BNSF’s shipping programs.
Sweetwater Economic Development proposed purchasing the locomotives for up to $520,000 and leasing them to CAPE & SON for the mentioned purposes.
Both Sweetwater Economic Development and CAPE & SON anticipated that increased rail shipments would indirectly boost job opportunities in the Sweetwater area by leveraging its strategic rail location.
As of June 2016, all terms and conditions of the agreement have been fulfilled, with Sweetwater Economic Development transferring the titles of the two locomotives to CAPE & SON.
In July 2018, CAPE & SON requested additional support from SEED to purchase more land, install extra tracks, and acquire a ten-ton overhead crane. They were granted a $600,000 incentive with the requirement to increase rail traffic. As of February 2023, they are on track to meet the requirements of this agreement.
TEXAS TST INC
Fontana, California-based company
Placed in an available building, they refurbished and expanded the facility.
Created 50 jobs and relocated 2-3 positions.
Manufactures secondary aluminum for the automotive and aerospace industries.
Sweetwater Economic Development offset the startup costs with a loan, forgivable over five years if employment targets were met.
All targets were achieved, and the loan was forgiven.
LUDLUM MEASUREMENTS INC.
Sweetwater, Texas-based company
To expand their operations, primarily for homeland security purposes, LMI sought financial assistance from Sweetwater Economic Development.
Sweetwater Economic Development coordinated an effort involving all three community banks and the Sweetwater Industrial Foundation to secure a $750,000 loan for LMI. Sweetwater Economic Development guaranteed the loan, allowing LMI to borrow at the prime rate.
Sweetwater Economic Development also provided a grant of $5,000 per job, up to 100 jobs, over a 15-year period. In just over two years, LMI created 100 jobs, and Sweetwater Economic Development provided $500,000 in incentives toward constructing a new addition to the LMI operations. Currently, LMI employs over 400 people at their Sweetwater locations.
Additionally, Sweetwater Economic Development guaranteed a $2.5 million loan for Ludlum Measurements to purchase a company based in London, England, where they now employ 90 people.
Ludlum Measurements continues to grow and expand. In August 2022, the SEED MDD Board of Directors entered into two agreements to further support their growth. The first agreement, amounting to $840,000, will assist in constructing a 42,000-square-foot building for Eljen Technologies, a Ludlum Measurement company in Sweetwater. The second agreement, amounting to $220,000, will assist in preparing for future expansion at the Ludlum Measurements headquarters.
LONESTAR TRUCKING
Fort Worth, Texas-based Lonestar pursued financing for a down payment on new tractor-trailer rigs to seize emerging opportunities. With a loan from Sweetwater Economic Development, Lonestar was able to hire new employees and enhance service to local wallboard plants. They currently employ 45 people at their Sweetwater location.
EMA ELECTROMECHANIC LLC
Buenos Aires, Argentina-based EMA specializes in manufacturing circuit breakers and grounding switches for substations in the renewable energy industry.
In 2009, SEED constructed a 20,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and leased it to EMA. This facility has since been expanded twice.
SEED also provided EMA with a $286,000 operating capital loan. At that time, EMA employed 14 people at its Sweetwater location.
By May 2023, EMA’s workforce had grown to 43 employees, and the company had outgrown its facilities. EMA aimed to expand its operations and become more vertically integrated in its manufacturing processes. To support this effort, SEED offered $450,000 in incentives to help offset wage discrepancies between Sweetwater and competing locations and to fund the construction of an additional 34,000 square feet of manufacturing space. With this expansion, EMA plans to hire at least 30 more employees. As of July 2024, the new facility is under construction.
SHERMCO INDUSTRIES
Irving, Texas-based company
Shermco is a leader in providing services for electrical power system and wind generator repair, maintenance, testing, and training. Sweetwater Economic Development played a pivotal role in helping Shermco representatives find a permanent facility in Sweetwater.
WIND ENERGY TURBINE SERVICES (WETS)
Sweetwater, Texas-based company
Sweetwater Economic Development assisted a group of four local electric service company employees in starting a wind service repair company. Sweetwater Economic Development provided a full-time employee (FTE) incentive based on $3,000.00 per FTE. They currently employ over 50 people at their Sweetwater location.
TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE WEST TEXAS
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Sweetwater, Texas-based Technical College
Sweetwater Economic Development provided a matching grant of $325,000.00 to TSTC West Texas to secure funding for a $3,500,000.00 transportation training facility. They currently employ 91 people at their Sweetwater location.
GEORGIA PACIFIC
Atlanta, Georgia-based company
Georgia Pacific manufactures gypsum wallboard. Sweetwater Economic Development helped Georgia Pacific reopen a gypsum wallboard manufacturing plant in Sweetwater by providing a financial incentive to cover local property taxes for five years. The plant currently employs 70 people at its Sweetwater location. In December 2020, SEED entered into another $2,500,000 agreement with GP to facilitate the installation of a waterline for their new $300 million facility, ensuring it has the necessary water supply. You can find the news story below regarding the unveiling of the new facility.
ICY BREEZE
Manufacturers and sales of portable air conditioners and coolers.
SEED was able to incentivize an expansion and keep them in Sweetwater.
IcyBereeza purchased parts used in the manufacturing process from West Texas Molding, a local company that is a division of Ludlum Measurements.
NEWMAN DOG PARK
One of the items on the Master Plan of our Park System.
Through a cooperative program between the City of Sweetwater and Sweetwater Economic Development MDD, our MDD paid for the construction of the Newman Dog Park, and the City Staff designed and built it.
SUTHERLAND’S LUMBER
A regional building supply company.
Through a cooperative agreement between Sutherland’s, The City of Sweetwater (380 Agreement), and Sweetwater Economic Development MDD (377 Agreement), we were able to offer incentives that allowed them to purchase the former K-Mart building on I-20.
Sutherland’s occupies the western 70% of the building and will lease out the eastern 30% to another company.
Sutherland’s is also interested in providing a pad site in its parking lot for a potential additional retailer or restaurant.
Sutherland Lumber opened in March 2020 and has been performing very well ever since.
SPLASH PAD
On the community’s Master Parks Plan.
MDD Board, with the support of the Sweetwater City Council, agreed to build our first splash pad in Newman Park.
Mustang Harbor Splash Pad opened in June of 2020.
HOUSING
In 2017, we commissioned a housing study that showed us that only 10 houses were built in the Sweetwater City Limits over a 10 year period.
SEED MDD is currently working with Bentgrass of Texas that, as of February 2023, has built 9 homes at the Southwood Terrace addition with another 22 on the way. We are also working Rick and Holly Betenbough to develop a 92 lot subdivision.
In 2022, Jose Villafranca completed three homes located on Skinny Drive. All three have been sold.
In total, SEED MDD has invested over $2,000,000 into housing for Sweetwater.
FACADE GRANT PROGRAM
Started to assist in the remodeling of downtown buildings
The program will provide financial assistance to property owners seeking to renovate or restore their exterior signage, lighting, or commercial building facades
Designed to impact properties in need of revitalization, resulting in the improved exterior, visibility, and presentation of a business in our Downtown district
Will provide a 50% not to exceed $15,000 reimbursement for the funding of the well-designed improvements which will coordinate all the important features of the storefront into a more attractive image while creating, if necessary, an accessible entrance for the public.
APARTMENT REMODELING
In 2017, a housing study was conducted in Sweetwater and showed a lack in workforce housing.
Since the transition to a Municipal Development District, Sweetwater Economic Development is able to assist with the workforce housing issues.
Since 2017, SEED has worked with L2HI on the four unit Locust Street apartment complex, and PeyDex Partners on the 80 unit Oaks apartment complex.
Our Board of Directors will continue to work to increase the availability of desirable and modern rental housing units in our community.