The Paris Economic Development Corporation (PEDC) was honored to attend the Governor’s Cup Ceremony in Austin, Texas, on March 1, along with local businesses Huhtamaki and Universal Fabricating.
The Governor’s Cup is an award presented by Site Selection Magazine annually since 1978. It acknowledges the top-performing state in attracting job-creating business relocations and expansions. This year, Texas received the award for the 12th consecutive year, surpassing all other states with 20 overall wins.
Governor Greg Abbott commended Texas’ achievement, emphasizing the state’s pro-business environment and strategic investments in infrastructure, education, and workforce development as catalysts for economic growth. With a record-breaking 1,254 total projects, Texas outpaced all other states, demonstrating its commitment to fostering business success and job creation.
The PEDC, Huhtamaki, and Universal Fabricating were invited to the ceremony, representing Paris’ progress in business expansions and growth over the last year.
“Texas moves at the speed of business,” declared Governor Abbott. “I congratulate the exceptional economic development teams at the local, regional, and state level who have worked so diligently to attract and retain these growing businesses and the jobs they create… working together, we continue to build a bigger, better Texas for decades to come.”
At the press conference held at the Governor’s Mansion in Austin, Governor Abbott was joined by Site Selection magazine Editor in Chief Mark Arend, Secretary of State Jane Nelson, members of the Texas Legislature, and leaders from various sectors across the state.
Reflecting on the recognition, Jacob Neufeld of Universal Fabricating expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the ceremony. He highlighted the exceptional job growth in Texas and attributed Universal Fabricating’s success to visionary leadership, strategic planning, and the support of PEDC. “We just hit our one-year milestone and have expanded our team from 15 employees to nearly 100. This success is attributed to the visionary leadership of Neil Harms, President of Universal Fabricating, and strategic planning that led to our Sumner, Texas, facility,” said Jacob. “The PEDC’s guidance also played a crucial role in our rapid growth and helped us get all the necessary information and resources to make the right decisions quickly.
Similarly, Adam Routon, Plant Manager of Huhtamaki, whose recent expansion in Paris, Texas, was recognized, expressed excitement for the company’s growth.
“The growth and jobs would not have been realized without the work and dedication of the PEDC.,” stated Adam. “Additionally, support at the state level demonstrates Texas’s business-friendly environment.”
“The recognition of Paris Economic Development Corporation’s contributions underscores our commitment to fostering economic development and forward progress in Lamar County,” said Maureen Hammond, Executive Director of the PEDC. “The PEDC remains dedicated to supporting businesses and driving growth in the region, ensuring a brighter future for all stakeholders. We are privileged to have Adam Routon as our leader at the Paris plant of Huhtamaki, as well as Neil Harms and Jacob Neufeld as leaders of Universal Fabricating in Lamar County. These achievements are a direct result of the steadfast commitment and dedication of local leadership to our community.”
Since 2020, The Paris Economic Development Corporation has supported 1300 jobs, representing $62.9 million in estimated annual payroll and $424.5 million in capital investment. To learn more about the PEDC please visit www.selectparistexas.com.
