S.E.E.D.
Sweetwater Enterprise for Economic Development Inc.
The Sweetwater Enterprise for Economic Development Incorporated
(S.E.E.D.) mission is to facilitate a transitional move to this
forward-thinking area. S.E.E.D. is prepared for the challenge
of maintaining consistent economic growth, including the creation
and retention of jobs in Sweetwater. As a 4A organization, S.E.E.D.
is focused on providing businesses the best opportunity for growth,
thereby ensuring consistent economic growth for this area.
Board
Members
President:
John Jay
The Roscoe State Bank
P.O. Box 609
Roscoe, TX 79545
325.766.3311
jwjay@roscoestatebank.com
Arthur Maberry
P.O. Box 47
Sweetwater, TX 79556
325.235.4378
art@brooksmaberry.com
Bill Johnson
Texas National Bank
P.O. Box 510
Sweetwater, TX 79556
325.235.4997
bjohnson@tnbnetbank.com
Kyle Lawrence
Lawrence Management
P.O. Box 8
Sweetwater, TX 79556
325.236.6351 x 120
kylel@lawbros.com
Pat Gerald
P.O. Box 206
Sweetwater, TX 79556
325.236.6128
pngerald@aol.com
Administration
Ken Becker
Executive Director
ken@sweetwatertexas.net
Kirstin Smith
Assistant Marketing/Administrative Director
kirstin@sweetwatertexas.net
SEED
P.O. Box 785
Sweetwater, TX 79556
877.301.SEED
325.235.0555
fax: 325.235.1026
Successes
Texas TST Inc.
• California Company http://www.tst-inc.com/open.htm
• Placed them in an available building and they refurbished
and expanded.
• Created 50 jobs and moved in 2-3 jobs
• Manufactures secondary aluminum for automotive and aerospace
industries
• SEED Inc. offset the cost of startup by making a loan
that will be forgiven over a five year period if employment targets
are met.
Ludlum
Measurements Inc.
Needing to expand their operations, primarily for homeland security,
LMI sought out SEED Inc. to help finance the expansion.
• SEED Inc. coordinated an effort that included the three
banks and the Sweetwater Industrial Foundation to loan LMI $750,000.
SEED Inc. guaranteed the loan which allowed LMI to borrow at the
prime rate.
• SEED also provided a grant of $5,000 per job up to 100
jobs over a 15 year period. In just over two years, LMI had created
100 jobs and SEED provided $500,000 in incentives that were applied
toward the construction of a new addition to the LMI operations.
Lonestar
Trucking
Lonestar, seeking to take advantage of new opportunities, sought
financing for a down payment on new tractor-trailer rigs. SEED
provided a loan for this down payment which allowed Lonestar to
hire new employees and provide better service to the local wallboard
plants.