Texas Named As Business Facilities Magazine 2019 State Of The Year
Office of the Governor, Greg Abbott | gov.texas.gov • February 6, 2020
For the fourth time, Texas has been named Businesses Facilities Magazine “State of the Year," which is bestowed upon the best state for capital investment and job creation. From investments by Uber and Apple to major LNG projects, billions of dollars were infused into the Texas economy in 2019, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. Texas previously won the award in 2007, 2012 and 2016. Governor Greg Abbott released the following statement after the Lone Star State’s record-setting achievement:
“Thanks to our unrivaled workforce and our commitment to economic freedom, Texas continues to shine as America’s center for job creation, innovation, and economic development. I thank Business Facilities for this incredible honor, which is a testament to the hard work and dedication of Texans throughout the state, including our local economic development teams. The Texas success story is just beginning. Together, we will continue to cultivate an environment of economic growth and opportunity that creates a brighter future for every Texan.”
Business Facilities
is a national publication that has been the leading location source for corporate site selectors and economic development professionals for more than 50 years.
Executive Director David Cleveland has named Luke Kimbrough as the new Regional Lending Manager for the East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG). In this role, Kimbrough will oversee the day-to-day operations of the East Texas Regional Development Company’s (ETRDC) small business loan programs. He will work closely with the ETRDC Board, manage financial and administrative services, and ensure the program follows all state and federal guidelines. Kimbrough brings with them more than seven years of experience in banking and employee benefits. Before accepting this position, Kimbrough served as CEO of the Banking Center at Citizens Bank in Gladewater. His previous roles include Vice President at First National Bank of Hughes Springs in Liberty City, Benefits Consultant for Colonial Life in Longview, and Branch Manager for Regions Bank in Kilgore. Before his banking career, Mr. Kimbrough served for several years as the Director of Public Information and Regional Services at ETCOG. “It is a great pleasure for me to welcome Luke back to the ETCOG Family! His exceptional work in the banking community for many years position him for even greater success with our ETRDC Business Lending Programs. I am glad he is back and am even more excited to see the steady growth and expansion of one of our most important economic development programs that will undoubtedly occur under his leadership!” said Executive Director David Cleveland. “I am excited to come back to ETCOG and the East Texas Regional Development Company,” said Kimbrough. “Spending the last decade in banking, I have gained much more experience in financial analysis and commercial lending. There is a lot of work ahead to help the businesses and economy of East Texas.” The ETRDC is a nonprofit organization that is certified and regulated by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Its main purpose is to support local economic development by helping small businesses access long-term, fixed-rate financing. ETRDC offers financing through the SBA 504 Loan Program and Chapman Loan Program.
The East Texas Regional Development Company will sponsor an East Texas Lenders Roundtable hosted by UT Tyler-Longview Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Small Business Administration to discuss SBA 7a loans and 504 lending basics. Expert panelists will discuss various loan programs and resources to help businesses increase their portfolios and obtain financing.
The Office of the Governor has announced the launch of a new recovery program, the Texas Travel Industry Recovery Grant Program (TTIR), which will begin accepting applications on July 6, 2022. The purpose of this program is to provide grants to Texas businesses in the tourism, travel, and hospitality industry that were negatively impacted due to COVID-19.
