Athens Review, Athens, Texas

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November 4, 2009

City works to bring new business

By Lauren Ricks Associate Editor

The Athens Economic Development Corporation is working to bring an established north Texas business to the community.

Howard Measurement, a natural gas measurement processing company — currently based in DeSoto and Oklahoma City, Okla. — is looking to relocate to Athens.

The Athens City Council heard a proposal from AEDC Board of Directors Chairman David Daniels on Wednesday morning.

He said the business is owned by Allen and Pam Hobgood. Daniels said the company has been in business for 30 years, and was purchased by the Hobgoods in 2002.

He said the owners have already sold the facility in DeSoto, and is moving into a temporary facility in Athens.

“They are looking to move out of the Metroplex,” Daniels said.

He said the Hobgoods want to move to Athens to be closer to their client base in East Texas.

“We have proposed giving them a plot of land,” Daniels said.

He said the land will be one of the five the AEDC owns in the Athens Industrial Park. Daniels said the company plans to build a 4,000 to 6,000 square-foot facility that will also have a gas-testing lab.

“The projected payroll for all of the jobs is expected to be $790,000, with the average salary being around $46,000,” he said.

Daniels said the proposed incentive package includes:

• one acre of land in the Athens Industrial Park;

• a construction-completion incentive grant of $40,000;

• an employment grant of $20,000 to be granted at the end of the first year of operation. Base employment will be 10 employees. AEDC will pay an additional $2,000 per employee over 10 employees;

• an employment grant of $15,000 to be granted at the end of the second year of operation. Base employment will be 10 employees. AEDC will pay an additional $1,500 per employee over 10 employees.

The amount budgeted for the package by the AEDC is $1,816,590.

“These are great folks, great company,” Daniels said. “We are tickled to death to have them.”

The council also discussed:

• adopting a Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance repealing Ordinance No. A-942, Ordinance No. 7-87 and Ordinance No. 33-91. Director of Planning and Development Gary Crecelius said the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been re-doing the flood map study. He said the change will be to the floodplain map;

• authorizing application to the Texas Department of Transportation Aviation Division for Routine Airport Maintenance Program Grant. Crecelius said the grant would cover 50 percent of the cost to install a video surveillance system at the Athens Municipal Airport. The system will cost $15,000. He said the city can also purchase a system for $10,000 to monitor take-offs and landings at the airport under the grant. Crecelius said the recommendation is to apply for $25,000.

“Not that we are going to spend that much,” he said. “Just so we cover our bases.”

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