TEXAMERICAS CENTER COMPLETES REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Over the past three years TexAmericas Center has received considerable funding to improve infrastructure on its property from two separate sources: Economic Development Administration (EDA) and Texas Capital Fund (TCF). The EDA grant totaled $1.5 million and the TCF grant totaled $750,000. Both enhancements have spurred additional private investment and job creation.

Projects supported by the EDA and TCF grants have greatly enhanced the marketability of TexAmericas Center’s East and Central Campuses to prospective employers. These include the installation of over 9,600 feet of 18” sanitary sewer line; 3,300 feet of 8” sewer main; one sanitary sewer lift station; 4,430 feet of 10” water line; and five fire hydrants. The grants also funded improvements to roads, accessibility, and service connections. Accessibility projects included adding handicapped-accessible ramps to a 12,000 square foot leased space and reconstruction of a parking lot.

On the TAC East Campus, the connection of utilities to the former Area D warehouse complex added 269,800 square feet of move in-ready space to TexAmericas Center’s inventory of buildings. TexAmericas Center converted most of its vacant buildings into repurposed buildings with built-out office space, fire suppression, and 3-phase electricity that complemented existing docks and rail service. Having move-in ready space greatly increased the attractiveness of TexAmericas Center to new employers. Between March and November, 2019 the amount of occupied industrial space on the East Campus grew by over 200,000 square feet. Only 44,300 square feet remain unoccupied in Area D. These investments mean that about 1,500 acres adjacent to Oak Street on the East Campus, are now served by reliable, industrial capacity water, sewer, gas, electricity, and fiber utilities as well as rail and roads. The EDA grant aided in the creation of about 20 jobs at Loc Performance Products, ExpalUSA, and an additional tenant in Area D.

To continue meeting the Texarkana area’s need for job-producing structures, TexAmericas Center’s next step is build-to-suit offerings for lease, purchase, and reverse lease. Also being considered is the redevelopment of Area U which consists of fifteen 11,500 square foot buildings and a 4,000 square foot office building. TexAmericas Center will work with tenants to make additional improvements to the structures and make utilities available as requested.