The City of Levelland partnered with Hockley County to provide the matching funds for the project. “The Texas Capital Fund is a great tool to ensure economic growth in every region of our state,” Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples said. “This award will give a boost to Levelland and is an example of good business and great partnerships at work in Texas.” The project cost is estimated at roughly $450,000.

“We are extremely pleased Levelland was awarded the sidewalk grant. I think we all could agree this improvement has been a long time coming and long over due. Our downtown area is the heart of Levelland and this sidewalk enhancement will make the courthouse square more eye appealing but most importantly safe, per Zetta Henson, Levelland Main Street Coordinator. In particular, we want to thank the merchants around the square that wrote letters to support this endeavor! Strong community base support is key in securing grants and Levelland Main Street Merchants definitely played a key part in securing this. In addition, special thanks go to the partnerships with the county and the city. We are thrilled that the sidewalks are being upgraded and will only compliment our plans to give a familiar landmark, the gazebo, a much-needed facelift too.

This economic development project will provide infrastructure activities in the form of the replacement of sidewalks, driveways, curb and gutter, American With Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant ramps and rails improvements. This award and project will address the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) national objective of aiding in the elimination of slum and /or blight conditions in the city’s designated Main Street area. This is the second such award granted to the City of Levelland by the Texas Department of Agriculture.

An official check presentation ceremony is currently being planned for some time in June.

The award amount of $50,000 will be administered by the Levelland Development Foundation to oversee the 'South Plains Rural Enterprise Facilitation Project'. Services will be delivered by WesTex Allied Communities. A press conference has been scheduled for March 4, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.

South Plains Rural Enterprise Faciliation will provide a person-centered approach to community and economic development following the Sirolli method of Enterprise Facilitation.

Laura Hardin, Mastor Enterprise Facilitator, will work with a community based board to provide free, confidential, business management and networking advice to aspiring entrepreneurs and existing businesses in Levelland and Hockley County.

This is an exiciting partnership allowing Levelland and Hockley County to take advatange of its most prized natural resource the intectual power of its people. This is yet another example of the power of partnerships and the progress that can be made when the community works together towards a common goal.
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More than $3.3 million in new housing was built between Jan. 1 and Dec. 1 of this year - the most ever recorded in the city of 13,000 residents 30 miles west of Lubbock. The current construction boom in Levelland is vastly different from the construction that was taking place in the city even just five years ago.

In 2002, there were seven new houses built in the city, with a total value of $503,000. That same year, two new businesses opened in Levelland.

Fast forward to 2006. Twenty-nine homes worth $2.4 million were built in town, along with 12 new businesses.

And as of Dec. 1 this year, 21 new homes worth more than $3.3 million and seven new businesses opened in Levelland.

"Now we're getting interest from outside developers who have noticed the growth potential," said Dave Quinn, Levelland's director of economic development.

The city also saw its first $1 million home built this year on Levelland's growing east side.

"That's a big deal for us here in Levelland," Quinn said.

And the residential growth is likely to continue into 2008.

The city recently installed water and sewer systems, along with new streets, in a vacant area adjacent to the Holly Heights subdivision. Doing so clears the way for the construction of 36 more homes in the city.

A 64-unit apartment complex also is under construction, marking the first time a new apartment complex has been built in town in more than two decades.

And it's not just housing being built.

Between 2005 and 2007, 34 new businesses opened in Levelland. The prior three-year period, from 2002 through 2004, saw only 15 new businesses built.

"It has been a nice two or three years for us," Quinn said.

The city's growth momentum began about three years ago when Wal-Mart opened a store on the eastern edge of Levelland, Quinn said.

Shorty after the Wal-Mart opened, a new strip mall adjacent to the Wal-Mart opened with a handful of retail stores.

Then, Sundown State Bank opened a new branch in Levelland 18 months ago, and Aim Bank is in the process of moving into a new building on College Avenue.

Dollar General also opened a new store there in 2007.

This year also saw the opening of two new hotels in Levelland, a Holiday Inn Express and Best Western, which combined added about 110 rooms to the city.

Manufacturing growth also has picked up recently in Levelland, which has added valuable jobs to the local economy.

The Levelland/Hockley County Ethanol Plant broke ground in 2006 and should be operational by February 2008. The $65 million facility has attracted roughly 350 temporary workers to the area and upon completion will employ about 35 permanent employees.

"An economy is like a three-legged stool and you need all three legs to be strong," Quinn said.

The three legs, Quinn explained, are retail/commercial growth, residential growth and industrial growth - all of which have been expanding in Levelland.

As a result of all the growth, the city's sales tax revenue has jumped from $450,000 in fiscal year 2005 to $554,000 in fiscal year 2007.

The city is on pace to exceed $600,000 in sales tax revenue for fiscal year 2008, which would mark a new high for Levelland.

To comment on this story:

henri.brickey@lubbockonline.com 766-8754

james.gallagher@lubbockonline.com 766-8706

This story first appeared on our Web site at 4:24 p.m. Thursday.

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Fifteen musicians held 15 five-stringed instruments much tinier than guitars. THey plucked at the strings with racing fingertips, entranced. (Story from Lubbock Avalanche-Journal) Read the Article...