Abilene: a magnet for new businesses

ABILENE – Slide Fire Solutions and Tucker Energy Services are the two newest companies moving to Abilene with funding from the Development Corporation of Abilene (DCOA).

The DCOA has authorized $365,381 for improvements to a nearly 40,000-sf warehouse space, plus another 5,000 sf of office space at 4109 Vine St., for which Slide Fire Solutions signed a five-year lease.

The company’s new Abilene division is expected to hire 26 people with a projected annual payroll of nearly $1.5 million. It also will make $15 million capital equipment investment through the end of 2014. Slide Fire Solutions makes aftermarket products for firearms enthusiasts.

Tucker Energy Services is buying 13 acres for the first phase of its project — the land is valued at $15,000 an acre. The company offers wire line, cementing, perforating, coiled tubing, logging and hydraulic fracturing services.

The first phase incentive package of $585,000 consists of a job creation — 11 positions — incentive payment of $303,000 and a capital investment incentive payment of $282,000 for the construction of a 6,000-sf shop and office at Five Points Business Park and other equipment purchases paid over three years.

Should business expand, Tucker will go into its second phase, creating a superbase that would include fracking services and a sand/chemical warehouse, adding 132 jobs, most of which would pay more than $50,000 per year. For the second phase, DCOA board members authorized $5 million for the purchase of up to 25 acres in the industrial park.

In return for 132 jobs added in the second phase and the company’s $51.6 million total investment, DCOA would establish an infrastructure reserve fund with a preliminary estimate of $5 million.