The High Ground’s Economic Boom
Published Sep 16, 2008
Levelland’s Dave Quinn promotes all of The High Ground.
Fueled by growth in the energy and dairy industries, The High Ground’s economy is hot. Dave Quinn, director of economic development for the city of Levelland and chairman of The High Ground organization, offers his perspective on economic trends in the region.
Q What distinguishes The High Ground for companies thinking about relocating from another part of the country?
A It’s our central location and the fact that we have a lot of land available. We’re not crowded like some of the major metropolitan areas. Right now there’s a lot of synergy for companies in energy, petroleum and renewable fuels.
We take an aggressive approach to building business, and we work with companies to ensure their success.
Q What types of businesses are a good fit for The High Ground?
A We have lower utility rates than a lot of the areas of Texas and the country, so if you’re a big energy consumer, The High Ground is great. Aviation, the petroleum industry, heavy manufacturing – those things that take a lot of space have good reason to come here. Biolife sciences also are well suited for our region.
Q What kind of growth are you seeing in The High Ground due to the boom in the oil and dairy industries?
A We’re seeing a lot of manufacturing companies fill the need for tanks, trailers, pumps and anything else related to the petroleum industry. We’re seeing a lot of growth from all aspects of the oil industry – production, well servicing
and exploration.
As dairies have clustered here, we’re seeing more cheese and value-added agricultural products. Service companies like veterinarians and chemical suppliers are coming, too. People are finding they can locate here and not only service the dairies located in The High Ground, but they’re a day’s drive from other regions that are heavy with dairies.
Q What attracted you and your family here?
A We’re so passionate about living here because of the attitude of the people. We stick together. We have a “can-do” attitude. We find ways to make things happen so we can move forward and help our communities grow.
People are able to come here and connect. We’re all looking for somewhere to belong, and when you come into Levelland or any of The High Ground communities, you can find that connection through church, service organizations or volunteer organizations. You start to see the impact one person can have not only on your community but also on the county, the region and beyond.
Q What are the advantages to working in The High Ground region?
A The cost of living is lower here, and there’s something to be said about the quality of life. If I make a dollar in a major metroplex, what’s it worth if I have to spend an hour driving to and from work? My friends call at 6:30 in the evening, and we’re finishing up dinner and heading out the door with the kids to play baseball while they’re still stuck in traffic. I can get to my kids’ school programs because I’m five minutes away and then get back to work. It’s those special moments you wouldn’t be able to have in a larger metro area.
For young professionals, there’s a lot of opportunity here to move very quickly to the next step. They can move up a lot quicker than in a metro area with tons of competition and a lot of people vying for the same job.
Q How promising does the future look for The High Ground’s economy?
A There could not be a better time for The High Ground, from the south where you have petroleum and heavy manufacturing to the north where you’ve got aviation, wind energy and ethanol. These industries are only going to see growth. Energy consumption is up worldwide, so there’s a lot of opportunity on the horizon for individuals and companies to come into that market. Agriculture is very important and will continue to be, with ethanol eating up a lot of the cornstalks.
From an economic standpoint, the synergy continues to build like a huge snowball that keeps turning over. Things are really good in The High Ground.
Story by Jessica Mozo
Photo by Brian McCord
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