Kaufman, TX- Beyond Forney other cities in Kaufman County are experiencing rapid growth. In an exclusive InForney interview Kaufman EDC Executive Director Stewart McGregor talks about present opportunities and developments, and the organization’s vision for the future of Kaufman.
Kaufman, TX- Beyond Forney other cities in Kaufman County are experiencing rapid growth. In an exclusive InForney interview Kaufman EDC Executive Director Stewart McGregor talks about present opportunities and developments, and the organization’s vision for the future of Kaufman.
What is the Kaufman EDC? The Kaufman Economic Development Corporation was formed by voters in the City of Kaufman in 1994. KEDC is funded via a dedicated ¼ cent of the local sales tax. Our mission is to support new and expanded business along with primary job creation throughout the City of Kaufman. KEDC seeks to expand local commercial and industrial tax/job base, and raise the standard of living for area residents. The KEDC also works to create balance in Kaufman's tax base by enhancing the commercial and industrial presence in order to relieve a portion of the tax liability away from residential homeowners.
Stewart, thanks for chatting with us. What are some of the most exciting developments happening right now in Kaufman's economic landscape?
Kaufman is a city on the rise. The growth that’s hit our neighbors to the west is now trickling into our community. For years, the King’s Fort development has steadily grown with the arrival of Walmart, restaurants and Bloomfield Homes. We plan on this year having several exciting announcements and groundbreakings for this area, including a new Hampton Inn hotel set to begin construction later this year.
We’ve also witnessed a significant renaissance of our Downtown Square. In the last 3 years, around 6 new destination businesses (retail/restaurant/arts & entertainment) have located either on or around the Square. This has created more foot traffic and nighttime business. In 2022, the KEDC created a targeted matching grant program aimed at destination businesses and it’s been a very successful program. We look forward to working with more destination type businesses to locate in downtown to continue this momentum and make Downtown Kaufman a place families from the region want to visit on a regular basis.
Other emerging developments currently include light industrial opportunities. We recently broke ground on land off the SH 34 Bypass near Rand Road for a $61 million cold storage facility. This building will hold refrigerated and frozen food products to distribute to grocers and other facilities throughout the region. This facility will open early next year, bringing 70 jobs and will generate only 1 ½ trucks per hour, so it will add significant tax values without creating strain on local infrastructure. To put it into perspective, $61 million is roughly the same value as 200 single family homes each valued at $300,000, so this is a huge deal for our community! It’s the single largest industrial capital investment in City of Kaufman history.
Kaufman has seen some positive growth recently. What are some of the key factors driving that growth?
Kaufman’s population is currently around 9,000. We currently have over 3,000 housing units planned or under development coming to our City. Therefore, the City’s population will roughly double over the next 7-10 years. Our growth has been influenced by our quality public schools, proximity to the metroplex and reasonable cost of living. People can live in Kaufman and maintain a smaller town lifestyle while being close to the world class amenities and jobs that the greater Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex provides.
What are some of the KEDC's top priorities for attracting new businesses to Kaufman?
Since starting with the EDC 3 years ago, the KEDC and City have been unified in an approach that prioritizes balanced and sustainable growth within our retail and industrial sectors. We want to recruit business and industry that fits our community’s character and overall market demand while retaining the small town charm we all enjoy.
Recruiting new primary job creators (those exporting a product/service) has been a major priority. We want to ensure this is a community that not only is a great place to live but also to work and by providing employment opportunities for area residents. By having industry and primary employers in our City, it creates a daytime population that’s attractive for retail recruitment and provides funds for our local school district and other taxing entities so they’re able to meet the needs of residents.
We regularly hear from residents on requested retail, restaurants and dreams for new downtown businesses. We attend trade shows and maintain aggressive recruitment of these various concepts. Factors they consider when looking to invest in a location include housing growth, daytime employment population and distance from other existing locations. Therefore, it’s almost always a numbers game where all the stats, costs and data points have to align with their needs in order for them to select a site.
How does the KEDC work to support existing businesses in Kaufman and help them thrive?
The KEDC partners with the Kaufman Chamber of Commerce in working with existing businesses and training providers (school district & community college). Part of our mission is to ensure existing businesses can continue to prosper in our community. We meet with primary employers on a regular basis and host industry roundtables to keep our ear to the ground on how the business climate is doing in town. We recently supported and celebrated the expansion of Galleher Industries in our City. This company manufactures lumber and metal products mostly for the trucking industry. They recently added a lumber finger jointing line which is the only line in the State of Texas and second in the nation along with a new 24,000 sf building on their campus. This investment of over $1 million brought more than 10 new primary jobs to the community.
We also help existing small businesses along certain thoroughfares with façade and property enhancement matching grants. This program encourages investment into predominantly older commercial areas and has helped to spur further revitalization and preservation around town.
What makes Kaufman an attractive location for businesses looking to relocate or expand?
Kaufman’s location 35 minutes southeast of Downtown Dallas provides all the advantages of being part of a major metro area without the headaches and constraints you get closer into the metroplex (traffic, costs, red tape, etc.). Workforce is always a major need when visiting with prospective companies. With Kaufman County being the fastest growing county in the nation, our community taps into over 1 million people within a 35 minute commuting distance, with that number growing by the day. Our connectivity via both US 175 into Dallas or SH 34 to either IH-20 or IH-45 provides great opportunities to ship products in or out quickly.
On the retail front, the growth also influences our ability to recruit retail. There are over 30,000 new homes planned or under construction within a 15 minute drive time of Kaufman. Therefore, this rapidly growing “trade area” as we call it, provides eye popping numbers to retail and restaurant groups seeking new locations.
What are some of the unique assets or advantages that Kaufman offers compared to other communities?
We are only 1 of 254 cities in Texas that has the designation as a “county seat.” Therefore, this brings a degree of prominence as you find many county seat communities being not just the government center of a county, but also a hub for healthcare and retail services. We’ve had the only hospital in the entire county for many years and are proud to provide that critical service. Our strategic location within 20 minutes of Cedar Creek Lake makes us a regular “pass through” for lake traffic providing support as a stopping place for gas, food and groceries contributing to our retail base.
More and more communities around the metroplex are quickly getting “built out” meaning they have no space left for new development. One advantage we have is we’re not fully built out yet. We are still getting to write the story of Kaufman’s future without already having it decided. This presents a tremendous opportunity to capture new industries and primary employment as companies needing land are having to look further and further out from the main city center.
What opportunities do you see for future economic development in Kaufman?
The KEDC is always thinking about what Kaufman will be 20 or 30 years from now. Not just what size we will be as a City, but what companies we could have here, the overall look of developments as they age in the future and sites that could be key redevelopment or revitalization opportunities. In October 2023, the KEDC closed on 105 acres we acquired from Trinity Valley Community College. We owned 40 acres adjacent to this site and were able to assemble a 145 acre site off US Highway 175 next to the County Justice Center that we are actively entitling and marketing for industrial uses. We are already talking to a couple prospective employers that are interested in this site. Therefore, I see our future being an exciting one that will include new job opportunities with companies that will complement the desired quality development we seek to achieve here.
We work with land owners to help project the KEDC’s vision for Kaufman and have found many willing owners that are working by entitling properties to create a vibrant community for many years to come.
How can residents of Kaufman get involved in supporting the KEDC's efforts?
The KEDC is governed by a 5 member Board of Directors that are appointed by the Kaufman City Council. Our meetings are open to the public and occur on the first Tuesday of each month at Kaufman City Hall at 6:00 p.m.
I regularly speak to groups around town including the Kaufman Chamber and Kaufman Lion’s Club about ongoing economic development plans. The Chamber also hosts an annual Economic Summit each August that brings state, regional and local leaders to discuss economic development in Kaufman and the greater region.
One of the best and easiest ways to support the KEDC is to “shop and ship” local! By keeping your purchases in Kaufman, you’re supporting the local sales tax base and ensuring a bright and sustainable future for local business owners and entrepreneurs.
If you’re not a resident of Kaufman, I invite you to come out and visit our community and support our efforts, as well. A lot of exciting things are going on with great businesses to check out, especially several unique places to eat and shop around our Downtown Square.
What's your vision for the future of Kaufman's economy?
I regularly think about what Kaufman will look like when I drive around this City when I’m older. I want to be as proud of this community 20 or 30 years from now with the developments that are built here as I am today. We have great local leadership and a highly collaborative community (something many cities don’t have). Therefore, my vision is to grow in as balanced of a way as possible ensuring we provide great job opportunities for area residents.
This vision also includes a vibrant downtown square with tons of retail, dining and entertainment options (even more than we have now!). I also want us to be known throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth region and State of Texas as small, yet mighty that punches about our weight class. I want Kaufman to be a place that supports quality job opportunities that enhances the lives of not only our residents but those that choose to work in this community, as well.