Longview Economic Development Council (LEDCO) Interim Executive Director Susan Mazarakes was among a throng who recently braved the East Texas summer heat for the grand opening ribbon cutting of the 700-acre North Business Park. The park’s construction had been a LEDCO project that commenced in 2003. The council invested a great deal of time, effort, expense and community support in the park’s construction.
The park is strategically located to be easily accessible to US Highway 259 and Interstate 20. Located on Judson Road it is 2.5 miles north of Loop 281.
Mazarakes pointed out the major contributions of local standouts such as past and present LEDCO board members, bond and financial consultant Ed Moore, engineer Stan Hayes and his staff, Alan Woods and Charles Talbert of East Texas Bridge, Dale Dodson and Don Francis of Excel Utility Construction, and the L.L. Mackey family. The business park has a street, L.L. Mackey Boulevard, named after this benefactor. Mazarakes then pointed out how two other of the park’s streets, John C. Murphy Way and J.R. Curtis Circle are named for former Longview mayors. She then turned over the podium to current LEDCO President Bob Metzler, who made sure all present knew how delighted LEDCO is with the success of this building project.
“As you’ve heard, this park did not happen overnight. It took many years and many LEDCO boards to continue the goal of a new business park for Longview,” he said. “We spent a lot of time and effort searching for potential sites that were located in the city limits (or could be annexed) and in one of our school districts. The site also had to have access to transportation–a major road at least and utilities.”
Metzler stated that the park was completed ahead of schedule and under budget. After describing how the park’s construction created 300 local jobs he warned the audience to not expect it to recoup the expense of its construction too soon.
“We do not expect this park to fill up overnight. It will take years to get the type of investment we want that will create opportunities for our citizens in the years ahead,” he said. “This park is an investment in Longview’s future.”
He also revealed how the facility will attract new businesses, create yet more jobs and support existing local industry. He thanked several people including city council members Wayne Frost and Richard Manley for their contributions, as well as City Manager David Willard.
“I’d like to point out that we would not be here today without the complete support of our city council, and it is my pleasure to personally thank our council members present today, Wayne Frost and Richard Manley, Mayor Jay Dean, Judge Bill Stoudt, John Mathis, County Commissioner, precinct 4 and Commissioner Charles Davis, in whose precinct the park is located.
After thanking Longview Mayor Jay Dean and County Judge Bill Stoudt for their efforts on behalf of the park he concluded by pointing out the overall improvement LEDCO has made to the quality of life in Longview over the past decade.
Longview Mayor Jay Dean confidently reminded the audience of the economic conditions at the time when LEDCO embarked on building the park. “The economy was not good when we started this park but now our job is to focus and meet the challenges head on.” According to Dean it is a matter of how do we continue to move forward in hard times. “Longview has been blessed, when other cities are struggling, we continue to weather the storm and that is the way to go.”
Stoudt concluded by commenting on the optimistic spirit of the occasion.
“This is an exciting day for Gregg County. On behalf of the county I welcome everyone,” he said. “Susan Mazarakes has done a great job. She is doing a great job for LEDCO. I am excited and happy also because I get the extra benefit of working with Mayor Jay Dean. I tell you–he is a hoot.”
For more information on the park such as how to set up a business there call LEDCO at (903) 753-7878 or visit www.LongviewUSA.com.
