When a company investigates an expansion, there are several things to consider such as available workforce, business climate and access to market. The overall idea is that businesses want a high value location — one that stands above the many other options.
In Temple, Texas, opportunity abounds for corporate operations, with a technically skilled labor pool, competitive real estate costs with plenty of space to grow, and access to regional and international airports.
Every stop has been pulled out for companies, because it’s the people and businesses that have brought greatness to the region for decades. And it’s the people and businesses that will continue to find success in the region for years to come.
The Proof is in the Proprietors
Corporations have called Temple home for years. Ten companies are headquartered in the city, including PDI, McLane Group and TTEC, while more than 470 business support establishments in the region employ nearly 9,000 local workers.
As one example, Fikes Wholesale Inc. has marketed and distributed multi-branded petroleum products to retail stations throughout the Southeastern United States for more than 60 years. In 2011, the company completed a new, 19.5-acre headquarters located right off the I-35 corridor at Temple’s Airport Park at Central Pointe—contributing to a cluster of corporations that are projected to add 4% more jobs than the national average by 2022.
Fikes is not the only corporate headquarters at Central Pointe. The Lakes at Central Pointe, a 165-acre Class A technology and office park, is owned by McLane Group, a holding company also headquartered in Temple. In 2013, McLane made an $11 million expansion at both their North and South campuses in Temple, bringing total employment for the supply chain juggernaut to over 1,000.
Corporate businesses find comfort in the auxiliary sectors available throughout the region. Last year, petroleum and convenience retail software provider PDI saw increased demands for distribution brought on by the pandemic. Thanks to quick thinking PDI was able to bolster the digitization of its logistics services.
Benefits of Headquartering in Temple
Many cities claim they have low business costs, but it takes a concerted effort between regional leaders to make this a reality. Both the city of Temple and the state of Texas excel at keeping costs low for companies. Temple offers some of the lowest costs on real estate, land and utilities, and has a cost of living 20.1% below the national average, according to the 2021 BestPlaces Cost of Living Index. Texas also has no corporate income tax and the Texas Enterprise Fund is the largest “deal closing” fund of its kind in the nation. All of this combines to make Temple one of the most business friendly environments in the nation.
Temple is wide open for businesses, with hundreds of acres of available site space for corporations that expand into the city. In addition to the aforementioned Central Pointe office park, Temple EDC added another prime asset to its offerings for businesses last year — a 147 acre site inside Temple’s Industrial Park.
Corporations continue to find top talent from local higher education institutions like the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB) and Temple College of Business and Community Education. Whether a business needs a specialist in supply chain management, international business or something else, Temple’s graduates are equipped with the hands-on training and experience to move products and services to market.
For growing corporations conscious of their bottom lines, Temple offers a low price tag and flourishing economy. Get in touch or read more of the success stories about corporations doing it big in Central Texas.