The EDC is proud to sponsor the 2nd Annual Career and Training Expo. Mount Pleasant’s award-winning Industrial Technology Training Center represents a multimillion-dollar partnership between the MPEDC, Northeast Texas Community College & Mount Pleasant High School to train the region’s existing and future workforce.
Mount Pleasant, Texas- Mount Pleasant Economic Development Corporation (MPEDC) is pleased to announce the sale of its first speculative building to RoadClippers, Inc (d.b.a. Diamond C Trailers). The 40,000 square foot, concrete tilt up shell is under finish-out construction at 450 Commerce Drive and is located on a 6.2 acre tract within the 200-acre Mount Pleasant Business Park along Interstate 30.
Diamond C Trailers has grown employment by nearly 300% since 2017, rapidly scaling from approximately 200 employees to about 720 team-members currently. The company expects to reach 900 employees by the end of 2022. Additionally, the company has made tens of millions of dollars in private investment in the community since 2018 through mergers and acquisitions and substantial facility and equipment expansions at four different sites in Mount Pleasant and one outside city limits.
“MPEDC is elated to be working with Diamond C, a family-owned, homegrown, and nationally respected firm,” said Nathan Tafoya, Executive Director of MPEDC. “This was a win-win for the company and the community.”
Mr. Tafoya credited his predecessor, Charlie Smith, with his vision and implementation of a quality built speculative building.
“It is important to note that the speculative building did exactly what speculative buildings are supposed to do . . . reduce the time, cost, and risk to an industry firm considering relocating to, or expanding in, our community,” said Mr. Tafoya. “In fact, a major decision factor in Diamond C’s purchase was the need to quickly locate a facility large enough to house a 2-story industrial laser being delivered from Europe, as well as locate a building that could facilitate current and future operations with adequate infrastructure already in place.”
On December 8, 2021, the MPEDC met at a special called board meeting and approved the sale and assistance package to the company. Final approvals were made by City Council on January 4, 2022.
Diamond C purchased the speculative building for $1.8 million. In addition to more than $6 million in private investment in 2022 alone, the company will conservatively create 40 jobs at this facility within 12 months with an average wage of $20/hour. The purchased facility will house Diamond C Trailers’ Technology Advancement Center. Diamond C expects to expand the facility within the next 36 months, doubling its size to approximately 80,000 square feet.
To assist Diamond C’s hyper growth, including other multimillion dollar investments and significant job creation in the City of Mount Pleasant, MPEDC will provide $900,000 cash in the form of a forgivable loan with clawbacks. The forgivable loan is tied to a strict performance agreement.
“We are thankful for the partnership of the MPEDC and for the availability of this spec building, just in time for our laser delivery which is the beginning of a big step forward in technology for the growth and success of our team-members, customers, and community. The team at this facility will utilize high-tech, automated metal cutting and forming machines along with robotic weld cells and automated material handling to manufacture small parts and assemblies to support our trailer manufacturing teams at other facilities with ultra-high quality parts, just in time. We are thankful for the many incredible team-members and leaders that are making this progress possible! It will be a positive force for good in Mt. Pleasant and beyond,” said Jeffery Crabb, CEO of Diamond C Trailers.
Diamond C was founded on the principles of #DoWork and #LoveStrong, extraordinary trailers, and extraordinary people.
For more information contact:
Nathan Tafoya, CEcD, EDP
MPEDC Executive Director
903.717.7241
Congratulations to the People of Mount Pleasant! MPEDC staff & board members attended the Pilgrim’s Community Center groundbreaking at Oaklawn Park yesterday. The center will cost $2.8 million and is on target to open in late 2023! Special thanks to the City & Pilgrim’s for demonstrating what a public-private partnership looks like!
Background:
At the July 6th City Council meeting, MPEDC received the final approvals needed to award a $25,000 Workforce Development Grant it co-developed with NTCC for its CDL training academy.
In late 2020, Northeast Texas Community College (NTCC) launched its Professional Driving Academy, an educational training program intended to funnel students towards CDL licensing.In 2021, NTCC reached an important milestone and became a certified testing/driving site for CDL licensing. Students in the region can now drive to Mount Pleasant to take their driving tests on a physical course.
The Mount Pleasant Industrial Development Corporation (also IDC or MPEDC) staff and board have created and approved a workforce development grant. The grant will be specific to the Professional Driving Academy and will be geared towards training community members for the logistics industry.
MPIDC believes the grant will benefit both constituents and regional industry in addition to promoting NTCC as a quality institution. The grant will be made to NTCC and available to the community in the form of scholarships and financial assistance. The grant will only be available to constituents of Mount Pleasant and Titus County. MPIDC has a rich history of partnering with NTCC to meet industry needs. With all of Mount Pleasant’s local industry logistic activity and a national distribution center in a neighboring county, MPIDC believes this workforce development grant is a pragmatic, relatively simple, and next logical step towards increasing the skill set of our existing workforce for both current and future industry. The grant also supports one of NTCC’s newest and industry-relevant programs.
The Mount Pleasant City Council appointed a new member, Mike Price, to the Mount Pleasant Economic Development Corporation Board during the December 7, 2021, City Council meeting. Members of the Board are appointed by the City Council and serve a term of two years. Council may, at their pleasure, reappoint Board Members for successive terms.
Mike Price is a former Titus County Commissioner and retired business owner, LMP Concrete. We anticipate that his community engagement and business expertise will be a great asset to our decision-making process. We are pleased to have Mr. Price as a part of our Board.
WASHINGTON, DC (December 15, 2021) – Nathan Tafoya, CEcD, EDP, Executive Director, Mount Pleasant Economic Development Corporation, successfully achieved the Entrepreneurship Development Professional (EDP) credential from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). To achieve this rigorous designation, candidates must have had two years of full-time experience in economic development, have completed the necessary education requirements, and have passed the certification examination.
Tafoya was among the first cohort to complete the exam and do so in an entirely virtual environment. By achieving this credential, Tafoya demonstrated to their peers and community leaders that they have the skills and expertise to engage, elevate, and advance their community through entrepreneurship-led economic development.
“We know that entrepreneurs and small businesses are facing new obstacles and strongly believe that through earning the EDP credential, economic developers and those who support entrepreneurs and small businesses will be able to offer their communities the necessary skills and strategies for the future,” said 2021 IEDC Board Chair and Invest Buffalo President & CEO Tom Kucharski, CEcD. “These individuals are the future of their communities, and I’m certain this credential has prepared them for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.”
“These professionals are extremely well-equipped to advance their communities thanks to IEDC’s new EDP credential. Their hard work and dedication demonstrated by their completion of the program set the stage for future success in the post-pandemic economy and beyond,” added IEDC President and CEO Jeff Finkle.
“Entrepreneurship and economic development are inextricably linked,” said Penny Lewandowski, Principal at Changes At the Edges and proponent of the EDP credential. “This program has equipped these individuals with new ways to think about economic development – especially how a grow-from-within strategy can lead to thriving and sustainable economies.”
Millions of jobs and small businesses have been affected by COVID-19 and the subsequent economic crisis, and professionals like these will be crucial to addressing this struggle. The EDP credential and new EDP courses would not be possible without support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the Economic Development Administration, and partnership with the University of Missouri-Kansas City SourceLink.
The EDP credential is the second certification offered by IEDC, the first being the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) certification. The CecD credential is a comprehensive designation, testing applicants in general proficiency regarding economic development. IEDC has certified over 1,100 CEcD practitioners.
“Entrepreneur-focused economic development is one of the most powerful ways to spur economic growth. We are thrilled to support this important initiative, and cannot wait to see how these newly-credentialed professionals use their skills to advance their communities,” said Philip Gaskin, Vice President of Entrepreneurship at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.
“I’m proud to represent my community & the state with this certification! I appreciate the International Economic Development Council & I’m proud to hold both of the certifications they offer. The entrepreneurial ecosystem is about to get interesting in Mount Pleasant, Texas,” said Mr. Tafoya.
About the International Economic Development Council
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is the world’s largest membership organization for economic development professionals. Economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life in their communities by creating, retaining, and expanding jobs that facilitate growth and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, our members represent the entire range of economic development. Learn more at iedconline.org.
For more information contact:
Nathan Tafoya, CEcD, EDP
MPEDC Executive Director
903.717.7241
Address- Temporary Office Location
302 North Jefferson Avenue, Suite 140 • Mount Pleasant, Texas 75455
Phone
Office: 903.572.6602 • Fax: 903.572.0631
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