Janeth M

Executive Director Wins 40 Under 40 Award in Economic Development

March 18, 2021 by Janeth M

Nathan Tafoya Wins 40 Under 40 Award in Economic Development

Mount Pleasant, TEXAS – Nathan Tafoya, Executive Director, Mount Pleasant Economic Development Corporation has been announced as a recipient of the 2021 Economic Development 40 Under 40 Award, the biennial award recognizing rising stars under 40 years old in the economic development industry.

The awards program is hosted by Development Counsellors International (DCI), a New York-based integrated marketing firm that works with economic development and travel organizations around the globe, and Jorgenson Consulting, a leading national executive search firm serving organizations in non-profit, economic, and community development industries. An independent selection committee of six economic development professionals and site selection consultants evaluated a record-number of 200-plus nominees.

“This past year has demonstrated the importance of economic development in building and sustaining resilient communities,” said Julie Curtin, president of DCI’s economic development practice. “I’m especially impressed by the diverse perspectives and skillsets of this year’s winners as they lead communities to prioritize new ways of thinking, building inclusive and equitable economies, and bringing an attitude of fresh new ideas to the challenges in the industry. The economic development future is bright with these young leaders.”

“We are lucky to have Nathan and his family here in our community. This award indicates others in his field recognize his considerable talents,” said Erman Hensel, EDC Board President. “Nathan is creative and unorthodox. He has a knack for seeing the obscure and is a tenacious change agent. Our Board thinks very highly of him and we appreciate his efforts to attract and retain businesses and investment in Mount Pleasant.”

Nathan holds an MBA and earned his Certified Economic Developer accreditation in 2019 from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). In 2020, he taught classes and spoke as a panelist for both the IEDC and Texas Economic Development Council, respectively. He and his wife, Bonnie, have four children. Nathan’s family relocated to Mount Pleasant, TX in June 2018.

“The economic development industry is in good hands with these rising leaders,” said Todd Jorgenson, managing director and principal of Jorgenson Consulting, Inc. “The communities they represent—from Tuxpan, Mexico to Covington, Kentucky to Québec, Canada—are fortunate to have the smart, innovative ideas of this year’s winners.”

DCI and Jorgenson officially announced the winners last night (March 16, 2021) at a virtual awards reception held in conjunction with the International Economic Development Council Leadership Summit.

For more information on the 40 Under 40 awards program and this year’s winners, visit econdev40under40.com.

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About MPEDC

The City of Mount Pleasant, Texas Industrial Development Corporation, dba Mount Pleasant Economic Development Corporation’s (MPEDC) Mission is to promote economic development in the City of Mount Pleasant and Titus County by supporting initiatives designed to increase jobs and private investment primarily in the manufacturing sector through real property development, workforce education and infrastructure extension. The organization is organized under the Texas Municipal Code as a Type A Economic Development Corporation.

MPEDC exists to promote Mount Pleasant as a premier location for business, targeting key industries that provide high wage jobs and future sustainability for the community. MPEDC is the primary point of contact for existing businesses and prospective businesses, site selectors, developers, and community stakeholders to obtain technical expertise and support services necessary to properly evaluate business opportunities in the city.

About DCI

Considered the leader in marketing places, Development Counsellors International (DCI) specializes in economic development and tourism marketing. The agency has designed integrated marketing campaigns for more than 500 cities, regions, states and countries since it was established in New York City in 1960. Services include public relations, branding, research, websites, paid media, and talent attraction. www.aboutdci.com

About Jorgenson Consulting

Founded in 1992, Jorgenson Consulting has worked diligently over the past 29 years to establish itself as a premier national executive search firm. With a focus on the fields of non-profit, economic and community development, we partner with our clients to help them identify and secure the highest caliber of executive talent. Our goal is to develop a thorough understanding of our clients and leverage that knowledge with our own expertise and resources to source executive talent that can truly serve the organization by yielding economic benefits while also contributing to a community’s competitive advantage. www.jci-inc.net

State of the Economy Luncheon

March 4, 2021 by Janeth M

Click below to view the recording of this event:

Click presentation below to view/download:

MPEDC Receives 2020 Commitment to Community Award

March 4, 2021 by Janeth M

March 3, 2021– Mount Pleasant Economic Corporation received the 2020 Commitment to Community Award during the Annual State of the Economy. This award recognizes MPEDC’s support to small businesses and the utility support program.

Guest speakers of this event: Judge Brian Lee (Titus County), Ed Thatcher (City of Mount Pleasant), and Nathan Tafoya (Mount Pleasant EDC) provided important local updates.

Lowe’s Distribution Center Hiring

February 12, 2021 by Janeth M

The Mount Vernon, TX Lowe’s Distribution Center, located 10 miles from Mount Pleasant, TX, is creating 315 new jobs, taking the total Full-Time Equivalent employment to 1,300+. The jobs are a night shift addition to increase operational capacity by 28%. The new overnight shift is a 12-hour, 3-day work week of 36 hours, but pays for 40 hours with a minimum wage of $17.32. “We want to be the best night shift in town,” Tracey Reed, Lowe’s DC General Manager, told MPEDC. We are excited for a bright 2021.

Lowe's Distribution Center - Parking Lot

Lowe's Distribution Center - Two Intermodal Supply Trucks

NTCC Offering Professional Driving Academy

January 12, 2021 by Janeth M

That’s a wrap! Super excited to announce Northeast Texas Community College has started a Professional Driving Academy to output a #CDL-holding #workforce. In addition to our jointly-run Industrial Technology Training Center (robotics, plant maintenance, CNC, etc), Northeast Texas Community College is tackling the logistics industry. Thanks team!

As a side note, Mount Pleasant Economic Development Corporation also partnered with NTCC earlier in 2020, providing a separate $50,000 in equipment/training funds to the college to match a generous grant award from the Texas Workforce Commission. Need an industrial training facility? Our community’s facility is award-winning & local manufacturer Priefert Rodeo & Ranch Equipment was awarded $546,000 in April 2019 to train 300 of its 850 employees. We do things big in MP. We do things right. And we do it together. Wanna join us?!

For more information, call 903-434-8330 or email continuinged@ntcc.edu

Federal Resources Available to Small Businesses

December 30, 2020 by Janeth M

Northeast Texas Small Business Development Center Director, Tim Wilson, provides key provisions from the legislation include:

$284 billion for another round of forgivable PPP loans.

PPP borrowers who already received a loan may obtain a second draw if they have 300 or fewer employees, have used or will use the full amount of their first PPP loan, and can show a 25% gross revenue decline in any 2020 quarter compared with the same quarter in 2019.

First time PPP borrowers may obtain a PPP loan under the original terms in the CARES Act.

60% of PPP loans must be used to cover payroll.

One-page borrower certification for PPP loans less than $150,000. The SBA must create the simplified application form within 24 days of the bill’s enactment and may not require additional materials unless necessary to substantiate revenue loss requirements or satisfy relevant statutory or regulatory requirements.

Expands PPP forgiveness to include some worker protection and facility modification expenditures to comply with COVID-19 federal health and safety guidelines.

Income exclusion and expense deductions for payments made on Section 7(a) SBA loans, including PPP.

Borrowers with eligible SBA loans will receive an additional 1112 payments for three months of principal and interest starting in February 2021. The payments are capped at $9,000 per month.

The $10,000 EIDL advance will no longer be deducted from a borrower’s forgiveness amount. The SBA will issue rules to ensure that borrowers are made whole if they received forgiveness and the EIDL advance was deducted from that amount

Expenses paid with forgiven PPP loan proceeds are tax-deductible. This overrides previous IRS guidance disallowing deductions for these eligible expenses.

Click here to check out the latest information on federal resources available to small businesses, including a detailed summary of the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Package.