This morning the Borger Economic Development Corporation held an appreciation breakfast at Dake’s Restaurant for those in the community that have shown their support for the BEDC throughout the last couple of years, while allowing several of the businesses that have been helped by the BEDC to speak about the current status of their companies.
Dan Redd, CEO of the BEDC, opened by giving a positive update on Sglass, a fiberglass manufacturing company that currently is specializing in the manufacturing ambulance tops.
According to discussions Redd had with Madison Scott of Sglass, the company has received orders for the ambulance tops from across the country, averaging a shipment of about 24 tops a week.
Redd continued by giving an update on F&M Enterprises by talking about their “Easy Drain” product making its appearance in the JC Whitney catalog, along with being well received recently at one of the biggest air shows in the country.
Production of “Easy Drain” is expected to get underway in the next couple of weeks.
Amando Lujan of Tejas Land Management was introduced and gave some background information on what services his company plans to provide.
Only in operation for a couple of months, Tejas Land Management preps areas for control burns and assist communities in clearing areas to help prevent damages to homes and businesses by possible wildfires.
Currently the company employees three people with plans to hopefully expand to around to 10 by the end of the year.
Ben Conner of Conner Industries was introduced and talked about how the BEDC assisted by giving $150,000 in grant money to help in their recent $900,000 expansion as Conner Industries has evolved into doing fabricating and industrial construction in recent years.
Conner spoke how the economy has not affected its business, with the company being able to expand its fabricating capabilities.
The expansion also allowed Conner to expand their facilities available to their employees such as shower and locker room facilities as well as an expanded break room that is able to accommodate for all 60-70 employees for safety and company meetings. Conner also said the expansion is also helping in recruiting qualified employees to a first class facility.
Frank Phillips College President Dr. Herb Swender spoke about how thankful he was to the BEDC in their assistance in the expansion of the welding facility at the college as well as helping in the construction of the Access and Innovation Center.
Alex Rodriguez, of On Time Technology Solutions, talked about how over the past several years how their business has had to move into bigger office space, due to expansion, with their current location being located at 1206 S. Cedar. Rodriguez also talked about the company’s future plans of opening a call center in another location that potentially will employee around 20 people.
On Time Technology Solutions provides outsourced IT services to small companies that do not employee their own IT personnel.
Patrick Nonhof provided a good presentation on the success his company Providence Consulting has enjoyed, including expansion into Austin and Philadelphia, Pa.
Providence Consulting specializes in developing software to help out oil and chemical companies to stay in compliant with OSHA standards.
Employing 34 people, the company has been able to work with companies such as Valero, British Petroleum, and Conoco-Phillips.
Even though the economy has negatively effected many big and small businesses around the country, the businesses that have received help from the BEDC have shown that they can overcome some of the current economy obstacles by providing quality products right here in Borger, as well as to areas outside the city.
