TexAmericas Center census report reveals hundreds of new jobs, $48.5 million in payroll

(File photo)
(File photo)

TEXARKANA -- Results from the TexAmericas Center's Annual Census of Employment and Payroll report show increases in the number of new businesses coming to the industrial park, growth in the number of jobs located there and a high retention rate for tenants.

The company completes an annual census of tenants and businesses to evaluate its impact on the greater Texarkana region. The nationally ranked industrial park brought in 11 new businesses in 2022, showing a 22 percent increase compared to the previous year. Businesses recorded 218 new jobs, marking a 263 percent increase over 2021, according to the report.

Meanwhile, TexAmericas Center recorded a 91 percent retention rate in the past year, up from 74 percent in 2021.

The 2022 census also revealed an overall reported payroll of $48,547,478 on its combined footprint.

"We are thrilled to share this report that illustrates our hard work and dedication to growth in the region," said Scott Norton, executive director and CEO of TexAmericas Center. "The contributions TexAmericas Center provides to growing our economy and supporting businesses is unmatched -- and will be a catalyst for future growth for the greater Texarkana region."

Other highlights from the report include:

• a 40-percent increase over five years in the number of companies located on TAC -- growing from 32 companies in 2018 to 45 in 2022.

• a 16-percent increase in job growth over the past year, with 763 overall jobs in 2022, 506 of those being non-Red River Army Depot employees.

Norton said the attraction of jobs and industry to Texarkana and TAC can be attributed to low business taxes, regulatory climate and talent availability.

"Job growth is very important to a local economy," he said. "Every year our high schools, colleges and universities graduate thousands of people into the local workforce. However, at best, the Texarkana area creates hundreds of jobs, so, we hemorrhage labor every year to growing job markets like Dallas-Fort Worth and Little Rock.

"Creating our own jobs, and especially quality jobs that pay at or above the average wage for the Texarkana region means our children don't have to leave Texarkana to get a good job and that young adults that left Texarkana can come home."

Norton said TAC's research shows that at its height, the combined Red River Army Depot and Lone Star Army Ammunition Plant employed over 30,000 people in the summer of 1969. Now that employment is about 3,000.

"Creating jobs is the difference between a growing economy and stagnant and shrinking economy," Norton said.

TexAmericas Center will soon have announcements regarding its state-of-the-art spec building, the expansion of existing tenants and attraction of new employers in 2023. In addition, the organization will be adding more products for job creation, including redeveloping buildings, a new business park, and additional certified sites.

With roughly 12,000 development-ready acres of land and approximately 3.5 million square feet of commercial and industrial product, TexAmericas Center services four states -- Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

"TexAmericas Center's mission is job creation and the redevelopment of the former DOD property," Norton said. "There is no other entity or organization like us. We offer a complete basket of tools to help a company get stabilized and keep growing."

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