YEDC receives needed Industrial Park II grant

The Yoakum Economic Development Corporation has officially received a disaster supplement grant in the amount of $2.5 million for Industrial Park II at the Feb. 20 joint City Council and EDC meeting.

“The EDA grant funds will assist with the construction of approximately 10,000 linear feet of 12-inch water line, 4,000 linear feet of 8-inch sewer force main, 5,000 linear feet of 12-inch gravity sewer line, a sewer lift station, sewer manholes, and fire hydrants,” EDC Executive Director Genora Young said.

There will be 20% match with the total project being $3.1 million. Council and EDC will pay $625,000 for the match. The city will pay the match up front, and the YEDC will pay the city over time.

“The purpose of developing IP2 is to provide expansion opportunities for existing companies and to attract new companies, industries and jobs to the area,” Young said. “Development of IP2 is anticipated to benefit the City of Yoakum, Lavaca County and DeWitt County.”

Council and EDC spent a good portion of the meeting describing how to make the property “shovel ready.”

“When a business or prospect comes to us and is interested in bringing their business to our community and they’re looking at our industrial park, they will ask us if our property is ‘shovel ready,’” Young said. “When they come in, all they need to do is to know that the piece of land is the correct piece of land for them and that they have all the infrastructure in place which can be roads, water, wastewater, or internet and electrical. One of the questions asked (at the meeting) is could the electrical be buried because we don’t want an unsightly park and we don’t want wires hanging over the sky.”

IP2 is located within approximately 62-acres at the corner of US Highway 77 Alternate and FM 3475 in Yoakum.

YEDC also gave an update to the Yoakum Oak Grove Cemetery funding. They will provide $5,000 to the cemetery only after work is done on improving the roof on the pavilion. This project has not been started yet.

YEDC also aims to go to a conference in Las Vegas on May 19 to May 22.

“This will be a good opportunity for EDC to practice promoting and marketing to sight selectors,” Young said. “Businesses like shopping centers and restaurants will attend and it will give us an opportunity to face time with them.”

YEDC and City Council also headed out to the Grand Theater to officially hand out the $75,000 grant for their new building.