Community Profile

Community Profile data is collected throughout the year by Kilgore Economic Development staff. The information is used to provide a complete economic, demographic, and cultural overview of the Kilgore area for new and expanding primary employers.

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Demograpics

Demographics charts detailing the following in the Kilgore labor market:

Median Age
Population
Total Households
Total Housing Units

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Major Employers

Company Name	Category	Employment
Halliburton Services	Oilfield Services	705
Kilgore Independent School District	Primary & Secondary Public Education	600
General Dynamics SATCOM Technologies	Satellite and Communications	550
Kilgore College	Higher Education Institute	320
Region VII Education Service Center	Regional Public Education Service Provider	290
Martin Midstream Partners, LP	Mkt. & Transporting of Petroleum/Chemicals Corporate Headquarters	241
Closure Systems International, Inc., a member of the Reynolds Packaging Group	Plastic Closures	227
Cudd Pressure Control	Oilfield Services	225
Exterran	Compression Services	197
Orgill, Inc.	Warehouse Distribution	185
Caterpillar	Mining Equipment	184
Pak-Sher Company	Plastic Bags	160
City of Kilgore	Municipal Government	160
BJ Services	Oilfield Services	155
Yamaha/Skeeter Products, Inc.	Recreational	197
Triumph Group, Inc.	Machined Aircraft Parts, Misc. Trans. Equip.	122
Weatherford International	Oil & Gas Services	112
Baker Petrolite	Specialty Polymers	105
Ana-Lab Corp.	Analytical Services	99
Allied Waste Services	Solid Waste Management	92
Permian Tank	Steel and fiberglass oil storage tanks, gunbarrels, heater treaters, separators	85
Frank's Casing Crew & Rental Tools, Inc.	Oilfield Services	83
Surface Equipment Corporation	Design and Fabrication of Pressure Vessels	70
Progressive Waste Solutions	District Headquarters, Waste Collection, Transportation and Disposal	63

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Economic Incentives

KEDC utilizes a number of economic incentives. Funds for direct economic incentives are collected from a dedicated sales tax. The KEDC board of directors oversees the use of these funds and will work with primary employers who are choosing to locate or expand in Kilgore, Texas.

Direct incentives are based on project investment, number of jobs and payroll. Any proposal for incentives from KEDC is contingent upon the company qualifying for assistance under KEDC’s guidelines for credit worthiness. It is understood that the company must provide KEDC and its credit advisers all the necessary information to make this determination.

Please click below to apply for direct incentives.
Application for Incentives

(PDF file)

KEDC provides access to and assists with the following:

Taxation incentives
Financing incentives
Job training incentives
Energy incentives
Access to all incentives available through the State of Texas

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Taxation

With no corporate income tax and no individual income tax, Texas has one of the lowest tax burdens in the country, ranking as a Top 10 Best State in the Tax Foundation's 2013 State Business Tax Climate Index.

The state’s tax structure includes a Franchise Tax, Property Tax and Sales and Use Tax. You may click on the following link for an Overview of the Texas Tax System. . .

Margins Franchise Tax

In 2008, Texas replaced its franchise tax with a margins tax in order to establish a broader, fairer tax assessed at a lower rate. The goal of the reformed tax was to provide a level playing field for all businesses, to have a broad base that includes all business entities that receive liability protection from the state, to be competitive with other states to maintain Texas' reputation for having one of the best business climates in America, and to reflect the realities of a rapidly evolving economy. The reformed margins tax lowered the primary franchise tax rate from 4.5 percent to a tax of 1 percent on gross receipts less compensation or cost of goods sold. (Retailers and wholesalers have a rate of 0.5 percent.) Sole proprietorships and general partnerships are exempt, as are businesses with revenue under $1,000,000. Businesses whose total tax liability is $1,000 or less are also exempt.

Under the reformed tax, businesses are rewarded for making good business choices. Every time a business puts a Texan to work, pays for health insurance or invests in a pension plan, their tax liability decreases. The tax also penalizes bad business practices, such as hiring illegal immigrants.

These fair changes to the business tax code continue to stimulate our state's economy and encourage the entrepreneurial spirit that sets Texas apart.

Franchise tax exemptions, and franchise tax deductions are available for renewable energy equipment and systems. Renewable energy encompasses solar, wind, ethanol, and biodiesel energy. A franchise tax exemption is available to manufacturers, sellers, or installers of solar energy devices. The state also permits a corporate deduction from the state's franchise tax for renewable energy sources. Business owners may deduct the cost of the system from the company's taxable capital or deduct 10 percent from the company's income. Wind energy can qualify under the term "solar energy" for the exemption and deduction.

Property Tax

Texas has no property tax at the state level. Local governments and special taxing districts levy taxes on real and tangible personal property. All property is appraised at full market value and is assessed on 100% of appraised value. The total tax rate is the sum of all taxing units including cities, counties, schools and special districts.

Texas property tax code permits a 100 percent exemption on the appraised value of solar, wind or biomass energy devices installed or constructed for the production and use of energy on-site. See Texas property tax Form 50-123, "Exemption Application for Solar or Wind-Powered Energy Devices" to claim this exemption.

Local governments have the option to exempt goods in transit, or "freeport goods," from ad valorem taxation. Freeport goods are inventories acquired or brought into the state by businesses and held for no more than 175 days before being shipped out of the state.

Kilgore offers a triple Freeport tax exemption from the city of Kilgore, Kilgore College and Kilgore Independent School District, which amounts to 87% of the total taxation.

Local governments can offer to businesses an abatement of local ad valorem taxes on real and personal property for up to ten years.

Kilgore offers two abatement schedules depending on jobs/payroll created and amount invested.

Sales and Use Tax

The state levies a sales and use tax of 6.25 percent on sales of tangible personal property and certain services. Additionally, cities, counties, and transit authorities may add to the rate for a combined state and local rate of 8.25 percent, which is the case in Kilgore.

The Texas Enterprise Zone Program is an economic development tool for local communities to partner with the State of Texas to promote job creation and significant private investment that will assist economically distressed areas of the state. Approved projects are eligible to apply for state sales and use tax refunds on qualified expenditures. The level and amount of refund is related to the capital investment and jobs created at the qualified business site.

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Transportation

Kilgore is located within a transportation nucleus east of Dallas and west of Shreveport. Nestled in the piney woods of East Texas, the community is located just two miles from Interstate 20, linking Kilgore to a major transportation artery where trucks can drive coast to coast without ever seeing a traffic light. US HWY 259 and 59 south to Houston and north to I-30, along with State HWYs 42, 31, and 135, offer other interstate quality roads for easy transportation to additional markets.

The East Texas Regional Airport is within a five minute drive on HWY 349 and holds the distinction of being the first civilian airport in the State and the Southwest to have a 10,000-foot runway. American Eagle offers regular regional jet service to DFW International.

The Port of Shreveport-Bossier is just 69 miles east of Kilgore on the Red River Waterway. The Port has immediate access to barge, motor freight, and air transport providing a robust network of distribution. For example, United Parcel Service (UPS) estimates that next-day motor freight service from Shreveport-Bossier is capable of reaching almost 30 million people in some of America's strongest consumer markets - making it a UPS top five market for next-day distribution.

Also included are transportation mileage charts and maps as well as a list of motor freight carriers:

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Utility & Services

The City of Kilgore supplies and distributes water and sewer services. Options are available for natural gas service, and the regulated electric rates in the Kilgore region are some of the lowest in the nation. Please click the "utilities and services" heading or scroll down for a list of providers and rates.

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