KEDC News & Press

Kilgore College to host HR course

janarussell — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:15:35 -0600

Kilgore College will offer a six-week overview of human resource topics for managers who supervise or interact with employees.

The SHRM Essentials® of HR Management Certificate is an 18-hour course that will meet on Tuesdays, Feb. 14 through March 27. Textbook, reference resources and web-based study materials are included for the tuition price of $475. Seating is limited and the registration deadline is Feb. 6.

HAVING A BALL;Two-Step beats $50,000 goal

janarussell — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:32:33 -0600

With about 325 in attendance, the Two-Step's live and silent auctions alone brought in $20,000 – the high-ticket item of the night, a chartered jet to New Orleans including the bidders' choice of dinner, sold for $5,000. Donor Dean Carter of Fortune Resources on the spot relisted the item, and the second competing also won a trip for an additional $5,000.

Proceeds from the annual event benefit the Boys & Girls Club - Kilgore Unit and Kilgore Habitat for Humanity. Four years in, the event has grown from 12 tables to 15 tables to more than 30, DeCeault said. "I think it's fabulous. I think that the community has just done a wonderful job of supporting two very worthwhile organizations. I'm very, very grateful – we're a blessed community because everybody comes together for things like this. It's wonderful."

AEP SWEPCO Signs Wind Power Purchase Agreements for 359 Megawatts

janarussell — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:47:56 -0600

(SWEPCO) has signed long-term power purchase agreements for a total of 358.65 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy from wind projects in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Together with a 49.2-MW agreement signed by the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority, SWEPCO and its affiliates have exceeded the 400-MW renewable energy commitment. The agreements will more than quadruple SWEPCO's wind energy portfolio.

"Through the Louisiana Public Service Commission's recent Renewable Energy Pilot Program and our ongoing efforts to expand our renewable energy portfolio, we were in a good position to pursue additional renewable resources at a good price for customers. I'm pleased that we could secure these agreements in a fairly short time frame to put more wind power to work for our customers," said Venita McCellon-Allen, SWEPCO president and chief operating officer.

KEDC renews efforts to diversify industry while aiding existing clients

janarussell — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:07:03 -0600

Kilgore Economic Development Corporation accomplished its goals in 2011, Executive Director Amanda Nobles says, and 2012 is on track for continued growth, retention and expansion of existing companies and ongoing diversification of local industry.

In its year-end report, KEDC reported working with companies with a combined job base of 1,031. That base grew by 150 jobs as those companies' combined private investment for the year exceeded $29 million. In order to entice that $29 million, KEDC spent slightly over $1.5 million in incentives.

With groundwork laid, city ponders next move for TIRZ

janarussell — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 10:48:11 -0600

The Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone project took significant strides forward in 2011, and early in the New Year the Kilgore City Council is poised to make a pivotal decision on the future of the development.

Bill Woodall, Kilgore News Herald publisher and chairman of the TIRZ board, said he is optimistic about the project's future. "It's taking property that was unproductive and making it productive," he said. "We're taking unproductive property and with the help of the Merritt-Wilcox companies we're creating jobs, adding a taxable asset to the tax roll."