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According to representatives with the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance nearly 100 new jobs will be up for grabs as businesses move in to call Lubbock home.
The process to get them here is not always easy but always well worth it, says Marc Farmer with LEDA.
"Really, most of these companies want to feel wanted," says Farmer. "How hard do you go after them, and try to get 'em to locate to your city when they come to on-site visits, showing them property, introducing them to anything from city manager to city major.
Farmer says Amarillo, Midland and Abilene are regular direct competitors for business. But one aspect of Lubbock gives us an edge.
"Each one of the companies wanted a university presence," says Farmer.
One of these companies is Cymbet, partnering with technology group X-Fab to make what's known as EnerChip, solid-state batteries that are a greener alternative to traditional batteries. Staff there say pledges made by the state and our community quickly made California a runner-up.
"Rick Perry's office and the Texas banks provided low-cost loans that really enabled us to do this," says CEO Bill Priesmeyer. "It's a marriage made in heaven for us because of the quality of the X-Fab staff and their capabilities."
B&J Welding Supply and Mo-Jack were named as the other two business ventures. Farmer says different skill sets will be needed to fill openings in the diverse industries.
"Some accounting, a lot of it is sales management of people, that would be on B&J and on Jack in the Box," says Farmer. "When you look at Cymbet, the skill set, I mean its high-tech manufacturing, looking for people with a higher degree"
Priesmeyer reports employment at Cymbet is on the rise and so, at least for them, the future could mean growth at X-Fab and more technology jobs in demand.
These ventures will bring $24.5 million in capital investment to Lubbock. Cymbet's partnership with X-Fab makes the Hub City the world's highest-volume solid-state battery manufacturing facility.
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