Cities don’t lose economic opportunities because they aren’t trying. They lose them because they aren’t prepared.
In 2025, the Paris Economic Development Corporation (PEDC) made a deliberate choice to focus on readiness—the unglamorous, behind-the-scenes work that determines whether a community can compete when opportunity appears. Economic development is not a quick win. It is a long game, and the PEDC remained committed to doing the steady work that produces lasting results.
Throughout the year, PEDC focused on the fundamentals that matter most: preparing sites, aligning workforce efforts, engaging industry, and strengthening regional partnerships. The payoff was not a single headline moment, but consistent progress that positions Paris for future growth.
One of the most significant milestones in 2025 was the Paris Economic Development Corporation’s acquisition of a 102-acre industrial site along South Loop 286, along with continued efforts to improve the readiness of PEDC-controlled development sites. This investment expanded PEDC’s portfolio of industrial land and strengthened its ability to respond efficiently to prospective projects. Communities that delay site preparation often lose opportunities to those that are ready. PEDC chose to prepare in advance.
That preparation led to real activity. PEDC hosted multiple site visits from companies in advanced manufacturing, logistics, food distribution, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and large-scale commercial and retail development. These visits gave prospective employers the opportunity to see Paris firsthand and evaluate infrastructure, workforce resources, and local partnerships. These are factors that increasingly drive location decisions.
Momentum was visible on the ground throughout the year. In January, PEDC’s board and members of City Council toured Amazon’s new last-mile delivery facility, providing local leadership with additional perspective on the scale and operations of modern distribution facilities. Later in the year, PEDC celebrated the groundbreaking of Happy Trailers, reinforcing Paris’s position as a strong location for business growth. The year also marked the grand opening of Lionshead Specialty Tire & Wheel, strengthening the local trailer manufacturing sector as the company ramped up operations with 18 full-time employees.
Another milestone was the opening of the new TxDOT Paris District Headquarters in PEDC’s Gene Stallings Business Park. This investment carries regional significance, and PEDC recognized the TxDOT Paris District as the 2025 Industry of the Year for its economic impact and leadership.
Workforce development remained central throughout the year, because no amount of infrastructure matters if employers cannot find skilled people to hire. In February 2025, Universal Fabricating USA was named Small Employer of the Year by Workforce Solutions Northeast Texas. Since acquiring an existing manufacturing facility in Lamar County in 2023, the company has created more than 100 jobs and is projected to generate approximately $300 million in economic impact over the next decade.
Building the future workforce was equally important. PEDC hosted Industry Connect Day with East Texas A&M University’s College of Science and Engineering, welcoming students and faculty for direct engagement with employers from TxDOT, Huhtamaki, Campbell’s, Drake Construction, and Harrison,
Walker & Harper. These conversations matter, and they help students understand real career pathways and help employers shape the workforce they will need.
PEDC also connected with students through Paris Junior College panels and North Lamar Career Day, reinforcing that meaningful career opportunities exist locally and that preparation starts early.
Industry collaboration advanced through an Industry Roundtable focused on workforce challenges and the potential benefits of a Foreign Trade Zone designation. To move this effort forward, PEDC engaged a consultant to guide the designation process. This was a strategic step to enhance Paris’ competitiveness in an increasingly global economy.
Workforce investment expanded further through partnerships with Rural Development Partners and Delco Trailers. In 2025, the first recipients of a workforce training initiative funded through RDP’s Community Investment Program were announced. This effort builds on a 2022 investment of $180,000, which was made possible through RDP and Delco Trailers via the New Markets Tax Credit program, to support workforce development initiatives in Lamar County. These investments translate directly into training, skills, and access to quality jobs for local residents.
Beyond local efforts, PEDC remained engaged at the regional and state level. The organization participated in Lamar County Days, hosted the Governor’s Economic Development Team, and attended the Governor’s Cup Awards Ceremony alongside industry partners. The PEDC also participated in the Texas Economic Development Council’s CEDA Success Stories panel in recognition for receiving the 2024 CEDA Award tied to the Huhtamaki Retention and Expansion project.
Much of economic development happens out of public view, and that work continued as well. PEDC conducted business retention and expansion visits, supported governance and planning efforts, and advanced several active projects, including five promising prospects.
Economic development is rarely flashy, but it is always intentional. In 2025, PEDC’s board and staff demonstrated discipline, collaboration, and a commitment to doing the fundamentals well. The groundwork laid this year will shape Paris’s economic future long after the headlines fade.
Looking ahead to 2026, PEDC remains focused on execution. Priorities include advancing the Foreign Trade Zone designation, expanding development-ready sites, supporting existing employers through attraction, retention and expansion efforts, encouraging entrepreneurship and strengthening the talent pipeline through deeper coordination with education and workforce partners.
The year ahead will require adaptability. Market conditions continue to shift, and competition for jobs and investment remains intense. Paris enters 2026 with clear expectations, steady leadership, and a continued commitment to collaboration —and that combination matters.
Every community wants growth. The ones that achieve it are the ones willing to prepare for it.
Maureen Hammond, CEcD
PHOTOS: TXDot Industry of the Year Award: (pictured L to R: Mark Homer – PEDC Board Member ; Chase Coleman – PEDC Secretary/Treasurer; David Escobedo – TXDot Maintenance Section Supervisor; Zachary Smith – TXDOT Assistant Area Engineer; Kristen Prater – TXDot Public Information Officer; James Atkins – TXDot Director of Construction; Dan Perry – TXDot Director of Transportation Planning and Development; Maureen Hammond-PEDC Executive Director; Josh Bray -PEDC Chairman; Curtis Fendley – PEDC Vice Chairman; Marshall Dougherty – PEDC Board Member
Happy Trailers Groundbreaking (pictured L to R): Justin Stansell – Stansell Construction; Maureen Hammond-PEDC Executive Director; Erik Roddy – Market President at Farmer’s Bank and Trust; Mihir Pankaj- Mayor; Erik Simien – District Deputy Director for Pat Fallon; Ronnie Enns – CEO Happy Trailers; Poncho Froese – Director of Operations Happy Trailers; Johnny Loewen – COO Happy Trailers; Abe Enns – Happy Trailers.
LionsHead Ribbon Cutting (picture L to R: Josh Bray -PEDC Chairman; Maureen Hammond-PEDC Executive Director; Mihir Pankaj- Mayor; Joe Tinervia – National Property Development Manager; Tim Miller- President of Lionshead; Erik Simien – District Deputy Director for Pat Fallon; Betty Russo-PCED Regional Representive; Reece DeWoody – District Director for Senator Bryan Hughes; Lionshead National Team Members.
