Company considers high-dollar expansion

Editor’s note: The company referred to in this story has been withheld at the request of the Economic Development Corp., citing mistakenly disclosed confidential information.

A global company could approve an estimated $25 million expansion to its operation in Mexia, creating a substantial number of new career jobs, according to a company official.

The representative advised the Mexia Economic Development Corp. Board of Directors of the company’s proposed plans during its meeting Tuesday, April 1.

“It’s 99 percent certain to be approved,” he said, targeting April 23 to consider final approval of the plans that have been underway since early 2004.

Even though the new plant will be “heavily automated,” the expansion would immediately create up to 14 new career jobs with the promise of up to six more jobs added within a couple of years if the board approves it, the rep said.

MEDC Executive Director Stacey Bush told the board that with the expansion possibly getting underway soon, it was a good time to introduce the proposed project.

“We’ve been working on this for a long time,” she said.

The company representative said the strong support the company gets from the City of Mexia, Limestone County and the community at large is a major reason the company wants to expand. Both the city and the county have approved tax abatements for the company in the past.

“We don’t want to go anywhere,” said the rep, who added that the company had invested considerable time and money in Mexia.

Infrastructure improvements made recently by the city had greatly pleased company officials, he said.

The company is considering three other locations than Mexia for the expansion.

In other action the EDC board approved the formation of an Industrial Park Development Committee to identify and attract future clients for the Mexia Industrial Park. The EDC has spent almost two years getting environmental surveys to prepare the 600 acres of undeveloped land ready for sale to businesses.