Texas
| Program | # of Grants | EDA Funds |
|---|---|---|
| Disaster Relief | 1 | $1,300,000 |
| Economic Adjustment Assistance | 1 | $1,900,000 |
| Partnership Planning | 8 | $681,000 |
| Public Works | 9 | $10,029,274 |
| Technical Assistance | 4 | $410,360 |
| Trade Adjustment Assistance | 2 | $1,897,306 |
| Total | 25 | $16,217,940 |
In February 2013, Cargill Meat Solutions closed their beef processing plant in Plainview, Hale County, Texas. The loss of Cargill was a direct effect of the severe drought that caused a drastic decrease in cattle supply for the region. The closure of the plant resulted in the loss of 2,200 jobs, or 13.8 percent of the workforce in Hale County. To develop a strategic plan that addressed these challenges, community leaders met to prioritize necessary steps to recover from the loss of a major employer.
In October 2013, EDA invested $475,000 to assist South Plains College (SPC) in constructing the 10,000 square foot Plainview Technology Training Center. This new $1 million facility strengthened the college’s capacity to provide workforce training opportunities to the 2,200 workers displaced by the closure of Cargill Meat Solutions. It also created the capacity to offer customized training programs for other employers in the area. The workforce training programs include industrial manufacturing, auto technology, vocational nursing, and welding technology.
To provide additional assistance, in March 2016, EDA invested $1 million in Public Works funds to the City of Plainview to make water infrastructure improvements needed to support the expansion of a regional business park. As a result, the City and Hale County are now able to market its workforce development program with customized training for employers and its business-ready park sites. This will catalyze economic recovery efforts by attracting private investment, diversifying the local economy, and creating jobs for the community.