Abilene goes to the dogs—wins Texas’ top award

​​​ABILENE – The Texas Economic Development Council is giving the city its top annual honor—the Community Economic Development Award. 

​The city was competing in the top category, those locales with populations of 100,000 or more.​

The award recognizes exceptional contributions to the economic vitality of the city and state.

Abilene’s nomination was for its efforts to bring Prairie Dog Pet Products to town.

The company is finishing construction on a building at Five Points Business Park. 

The Development Corporation of Abilene (DCOA), which helped recruit the pet food maker to the city, owns the building. The company is expected to be fully operational in early 2017.

"This $30 million, 215-employee project involved all our partners, including the Abilene Industrial Foundation, Abilene Chamber of Commerce, Workforce Solutions and the City of Abilene," said Kent Sharp, CEO of the DCOA.

The specific economic development project entries were judged on: innovation, how other cities could use the same approach, the commitment of the city, leverage, achievement of objectives of the project and other benefits.