What Marshall Economic Development Corporation does

Marshall Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is a Type A 501(c)(3) non-profit economic development corporation established on April 25, 1991 by Resolution of the City Commission of Marshall, Texas, under the Development Act of 1979. It operates as the city's principal economic development instrument for Marshall and Harrison County, funded primarily through a dedicated 1/2-cent sales tax. The organization employs roughly 11 staff led by Executive Director Rush Harris CEcD and Vice President of Economic Development Dr. Felecia Herndon, with a volunteer Board of Directors currently chaired by Colin Brady.

MEDC's core products and services center on (1) site selection assistance backed by 403+ acres of shovel-ready industrial land including Marshall Business Park, Gateway Park, and the Defense Property, (2) the WE Align (Workforce and Education Alignment Group) initiative launched in 2021 that convenes employers with four higher-education partners and Workforce Solutions East Texas, (3) a Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) program providing direct support to incumbent firms, and (4) incentive facilitation drawing on Type A EDC funds, Texas Workforce Commission grants, revolving loan funds, and local tax abatements. Underlying technology is non-proprietary — the organization runs a website (marshalledc.org), a Report Maker tool for generating prospect packages, and standard social/email channels; there is no AI, no software product, and no platform architecture.

The business model is non-commercial: MEDC does not sell services to customers. Revenue is derived from a dedicated local sales tax and the organization contracts with prospect and incumbent businesses as a free public-sector intermediary. Major employers served or recruited include Prysmian Group (400 employees), Republic Elite (505), Eastman Chemical (1,490 at Longview), Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center, and newer entrants Peregrine Energy Solutions ($400M battery storage facility), Academy Sports + Outdoors ($9M retail redevelopment), and Lyte Fiber (regional headquarters). Recent strategic activity in Q1 2026 alone has brought three significant capital projects into the pipeline.

Name

Marshall Economic Development Corporation

Legal name

Marshall Economic Development Corporation

Website

https://marshalledc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Marshall Economic Development Corporation is a Type A 501(c)(3) non-profit, founded 1991 and funded by a 1/2-cent sales tax, that recruits, retains, and expands businesses in Marshall and Harrison County, Texas through site selection, workforce coordination, and incentive facilitation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of General Economic Programs (92611), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615), Administration of General Economic Programs (926110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ), Local Education Authorities & Municipal Education Offices (EDADABAD)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Site selection assistance
• Business recruitment support
• Workforce development programs
• Business incentives facilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Marshall

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Type A Economic Development Corporation Funding: Marshall EDC is a Type A 501(c)(3) non-profit economic development corporation established in 1991 by the City of Marshall. Funded primarily through a dedicated 1/2 cent sales tax for economic development purposes. Works to promote industrial and manufacturing businesses, support business expansion, and eliminate unemployment through primary job creation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Marshall Economic Development Corporation provides free economic development services to businesses seeking to relocate to or expand within Marshall, Texas and Harrison County. Offerings include site selection assistance across available industrial parks and properties, workforce development and training coordination, facilitation of local and state incentives (tax abatements, grants, forgivable loans), permit and regulatory coordination, and the WE Align initiative connecting educators with employers to align workforce supply with industry demand.

Product overview

Marshall Economic Development Corporation operates as a Type A economic development organization serving Marshall, Texas and Harrison County. The organization offers a portfolio of economic development services centered around its primary website platform, which provides site selection assistance, workforce development programs (including the WE Align initiative), business retention and expansion support, and community economic data. Key offerings include the Report Maker tool for customized report generation, the WE Align workforce-education alignment program, annual Career Expo events, and comprehensive site selection services with available industrial properties. The organization focuses on attracting new businesses, supporting existing employers, and strengthening the workforce through partnerships with local educational institutions including Texas State Technical College, East Texas Baptist University, Wiley University, and Panola College.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WE Align: Workforce and Education Alignment Group - a community-driven initiative launched in 2021 to bridge the gap between education and industry in Marshall, Texas.

Products and services

• Site Selection Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 360,000+ workforce within 45-minute drive
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Academy Sports + OutdoorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 March 2026Premier sporting goods retailer investing $9 million to reconstruct and rehabilitate 2400 E End Blvd property (former Gibson's department store, vacant 3+ decades). Opening expected late 2026.
• Lyte FibercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2026Fiber internet provider establishing regional headquarters in Marshall with multi-million dollar infrastructure investment. Strengthens connectivity for residents, businesses, healthcare, and education.
• Peregrine Energy SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 January 2026Independent power producer building $400 million battery energy storage facility on 42 acres in Harrison County. Rocky Mountain Energy Development affiliate. Operations start 2028. MED assisted Harrison County with project.
• Texas State Technical College (TSTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey workforce partner providing customized training for industry needs. TSTC offers programs including software development, computer networking, and cyber security at its Marshall campus. MEDC partnered with TSTC for $420,000 dual-credit program in Marshall ISD manufacturing and technology pathway.
• East Texas Baptist University (ETBU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCornerstone educational hub and economic driver for Marshall. MEDC presented $1,000 contribution to support AI skills development training at ETBU. ETBU participated in MASH BASH 2025 with highest number of donors (179 donations).
• Wiley UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistorically Black university contributing to workforce development. Tashia Bradley represents Wiley on WE Align Council.
• Panola CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity college supporting workforce development. Laura Wood represents Panola on WE Align Council. Contributes to CTE and dual-credit pathways.
• Workforce Solutions East TexascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerServes Harrison County and 13 other East Texas counties as one of 28 local Workforce Solutions Boards. Primary source of local workforce policy. Co-sponsors Career Expo with MEDC and administers state grants.
• Texas Workforce CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency providing workforce development services. Awarded $150,000 high-demand job training grant for Marshall ISD manufacturing and technology program administered through Workforce Solutions East Texas.
• UT Tyler-Longview Small Business Development CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides professional business advisors to help start, grow, or fix small businesses. Located at 110 South Bolivar, Suite 102, Marshall, TX.
• Small Business AdministrationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency supporting small business development. SBA offices located at 1001 Synergy Blvd, Kilgore, TX serving the region.
• Cradle of EntrepreneurshipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated on TSTC campus in 19,200 sq ft building. Provides dual natural gas generators, data room services, fiber optic connectivity, and professional environment for entrepreneurs. Contact: Fabio Angell.
• City of MarshallcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary municipal partner for economic development. MEDC was established by City Commission in 1991. Collaborates on infrastructure, incentives, and business recruitment.
• Harrison CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty partner for economic development projects. Collaborated with MEDC on Peregrine Energy Solutions $400 million battery storage facility and other initiatives.
• Greater Marshall Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey community partner collaborating on economic development initiatives, Career Expo, and workforce programs.
• Republic ElitecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor manufacturer with 505 employees producing cabinetry. WE Align partner and significant contributor to Marshall's manufacturing sector and workforce.
• Prysmian GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal cable manufacturer with largest North American plant in Marshall (400 employees). Key manufacturing partner for WE Align workforce initiatives.
• Eastman Chemical CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor employer with 1,490 employees at Longview facility. Amy Hooper, Director of Chemical Manufacturing, serves on MEDC Board. WE Align partner.
• Thumper FabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUTV accessories manufacturer founded 2019. WE Align partner and Career Expo exhibitor showcasing manufacturing career opportunities.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of TexascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of BCBS of TX's largest service centers in Marshall with hundreds of employees. Renee Oswalt represents BCBS on WE Align Council.
• CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor healthcare provider and employer. WE Align partner contributing to workforce development discussions.
• 1st National Bank of Hughes SpringsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional bank participating in WE Align initiative. Orlando Valle is Regional VP and serves as MEDC Board Secretary/Treasurer.
• George Washington Carver Community Center (GWCCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization supporting minority-owned businesses. Has provided space for 10 minority-owned businesses since 2020. WE Align partner supporting diversity initiatives.
• Longview EDCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighboring economic development organization collaborating on regional workforce and economic initiatives.
• University of Texas Tyler Soules College of BusinessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceived $5,000 grant from MEDC to advance local entrepreneurship education and outreach.
• Texas Economic Development CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level EDC organization. President/CEO Carlton Schwab provided keynote at MED Annual Meeting and training session on Texas EDC tools and benefits.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kilgore Economic Development Corporation: East Texas Type A EDC serving Kilgore. Comparable scale, sales-tax funding structure, and industrial recruitment focus in the same regional labor shed as Marshall.
• Nacogdoches Economic Development Corporation: East Texas Type A EDC serving Nacogdoches. Similar rural-East-Texas economic development profile, with comparable workforce, education-partner, and industrial-recruitment challenges.
• Lufkin Economic Development: East Texas Type A EDC serving Lufkin and Angelina County. Directly comparable in scale, sales-tax funding, rural-East-Texas industrial recruitment, and workforce development model.
• Longview Economic Development Corporation: Neighboring East Texas Type A EDC serving Longview and Gregg County. Identical funding model (sales tax), similar focus on industrial/manufacturing recruitment, and an existing MEDC collaboration partner - directly comparable in geography and program.
• Tyler Economic Development Council: Direct regional peer Type A EDC serving Tyler, TX and Smith County. Comparable in mission, scale, and funding model. MEDC's VP Dr. Felecia Herndon previously served as COO here, making it the closest institutional comparable.
• Paris Economic Development Corporation: Northeast Texas Type A EDC serving Paris and Lamar County. Comparable rural Texas EDC with same sales-tax funding model, industrial recruitment focus, and similar workforce-development challenges.

Regional players

• Shreveport-Bossier Economic Development: Regional EDC serving Shreveport-Bossier, LA - the closest major metro to Marshall (45 minutes). Comparable in pursuit of industrial and logistics investment along the I-20 corridor and competes for similar projects in the same labor region.
• Greater Texoma Economic Development Coalition: Regional economic development organization serving the Texoma region spanning the Texas-Oklahoma border. Comparable multi-county rural economic development mission and industrial recruitment focus.

Broad incumbents

• International Economic Development Council (IEDC): The leading global industry association for economic developers - the parent professional body that confers the CEcD credential held by MEDC's Executive Director Rush Harris. The industry-wide peer standard-bearer.
• Texas Economic Development Council: State-level industry association for Texas EDCs. MEDC's Chairman and CEO Carlton Schwab provided keynote at MEDC's Annual Meeting, demonstrating peer-to-peer relationship. Serves as the umbrella organization and policy body for the broader Texas EDC ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@marshalledc/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/MarshallEDC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marshall-economic-development-corporation
• Instagraminstagram.com/marshalltxedc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Marshall Economic Development Corporation