Last Updated on September 15, 2015 – 10:18 AM CDT
Above: A&A Electric Motor Service will receive a $9,000 grant from the Dumas Economic Development Corporation to buy equipment that will let them perform work they are currently outsourcing. The DEDC estimates the grant will help the business increase its economic impact in Dumas by $2.5 million over the next 10 years.
Sometimes we do get by with a little help from our friends. A 10-year-old Dumas business will receive a $9,000 grant from the Dumas Economic Development Corporation to assist with an expansion that is expected to have a $2.5 million impact on the local economy over the next 10 years in addition to the $3 million it already contributes.
A&A Electric Motor Service registered for Business Growth & Development assistance, and the DEDC Board of Directors on Monday approved it. The company focuses on armature winding electric motor repair and machine work for motors. According to information from the DEDC, the business has clients in the oil and gas industry and serves farmers who use electric motors.
The grant from DEDC will allow A& A Electric’s owner, Andy Veliz, to buy equipment to perform millwork and machining. The business has been outsourcing work they believe can be done in-house once the equipment is in place. Any money left over would be used to buy a forklift for the business, the DEDC said.
In order to receive the grant, Veliz will be required to enroll in the DEDC’s Business Growth & Development program and will be paired with a business facilitator who will help coach and assist the business over the next two years. Veliz also must provide receipt of purchase for the equipment to receive the funds.
During Monday’s board meeting, DEDC Executive Director also said he’s working with a company that’s moving toward a $4.5 million expansion in Dumas, which would add up to 30 jobs, in addition to a site manager, and assistant manager and two office employees. The economic impact from the expansion could exceed $40 million over the next 10 years, Running said.
The nature of business recruitment often requires keeping dealings with those businesses confidential, Running said. Once word is out that the DEDC is working with a company, other cities begin working to recruit them, and the company is inundated with calls from people looking for employment. Even Realtors begin calling, looking to interest the company in various properties when a property might already have been located.
“Sometimes we have to keep the negotiations quiet as we work on them to ensure we maintain our lead in recruiting them to Dumas,” Running said.