Terrell Economic Development Corporation

What Terrell Economic Development Corporation does

Terrell Economic Development Corporation is a non-profit, municipally-funded Type A Economic Development Corporation established in 1990 under Texas Local Government Code Section 501.073. It is governed by a board of directors with a President (Carlton Tidwell, appointed March 2024), four staff members, and operates from P.O. Box 97 in Terrell, Texas. The EDC's mandate is business recruitment, retention, expansion, and workforce development for the City of Terrell and Kaufman County, delivered free of charge to qualifying businesses.

Its core "product" is not a technology platform but a package of place-based economic development services: site selection assistance, incentive packaging (Opportunity Zone, tax abatement, Freeport Exemption, 4,500-acre TIRZ), shovel-ready business park infrastructure (150-acre Airport Business Park and 600+-acre Mike Cronin Business Park), and coordinated permitting. The EDC operates two EDC-owned business parks and partners with developers, including Hines on the 700-acre Northspur master-planned community (groundbreaking May 2024). It has no proprietary technology, SaaS offering, or AI/ML capabilities per the company disclosure.

The EDC is funded exclusively through a voter-approved 0.5% Type A Economic Development Sales Tax (passed May 1990, deposits beginning December 1990), which generates approximately $550,000 per year for roads, water/sewer lines, grants, and low-interest loans. Expenditures are tied to new jobs created and total project investment. Primary customers are manufacturing, distribution/logistics, and retail operators relocating to the DFW periphery, plus franchisees and existing employers seeking workforce support; the EDC targets these customers through trade shows (ICSC, MD&M West/Plastec West/WestPack/ATX D&W), site-selector outreach, and a developer-facing self-serve portal.

Name

Terrell Economic Development Corporation

Legal name

Terrell Economic Development Corporation

Website

https://terrelltexasedc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Terrell Economic Development Corporation is a non-profit Type A EDC serving Terrell, Texas and Kaufman County. It recruits manufacturers, distributors, and retailers through site selection assistance, incentive packaging (including a 4,500-acre TIF district), EDC-owned business parks, and workforce development partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of General Economic Programs (92611), Administration of Economic Programs (9261), Administration of General Economic Programs (926110)

SIC

Non-Operating Establishments (9995), Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIACAN

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Local/Municipal Government Administration

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Business recruitment assistance
• Site selection consulting
• Workforce development programs
• Business incentive programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Tulsa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Economic Development Sales Tax Revenue: The EDC is funded through a voter-approved 0.5% sales tax increase (Type A Economic Development Sales Tax) passed in May 1990. This generates approximately $550,000 annually for construction of roads, water and sewer lines, grants, and low-interest loans. The fund expenditures are based on new jobs created and total project investments.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Terrell Economic Development Corporation is a non-profit, publicly funded economic development organization that recruits new businesses and supports expansions of existing businesses in Terrell, Texas. It provides site selection assistance, business incentive packaging, workforce development coordination, and the development of business-park real estate such as the Airport Business Park and Mike Cronin Business Park. Services are delivered free of charge to qualifying companies relocating to or expanding within the community.

Product overview

Terrell Economic Development Corporation (Terrell EDC) is an economic development organization that provides economic development services including business recruitment, site selection assistance, workforce development partnerships, incentives and grants, business park development, and commercial real estate opportunities. It does not offer a technology product, software platform, or SaaS offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Recruitment and Expansion Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Kaufman County ranked as fastest-growing county in Texas and second-fastest in the nation with 6% population increase (2023-2024)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.

• FranNet Dallas/Fort WorthsecondaryGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 August 2024Franchise consulting firm that partnered with EDC to present franchise ownership seminar on August 13, 2024 at LYRIC Art Cafe.
• City of TerrellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing municipal services, development approvals, and coordination for economic development projects. The city and EDC work together on infrastructure improvements, permitting, and business incentives.
• Kaufman CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty government partner working with the EDC on regional economic development initiatives. Kaufman County is the fastest-growing county in Texas.
• Terrell Chamber of Commerce / CVBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for business networking, community events, and joint promotion of Terrell as a business destination. The chamber and EDC coordinate on business recruitment and retention.
• Parks and Downtown Improvement Corporation (PADIC)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormed in 2019, PADIC works to improve Terrell's quality of life and recommend capital improvements, focusing on parks and downtown development.
• Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner offering dual-credit programs, workforce training, and career pathways for Terrell ISD students. EDC donated $1 million to help relocate TVCC Health Science Center to Terrell. TVCC offers programs in welding, nursing, business management, and more.
• Terrell Independent School District (TISD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner providing Career and Technical Education programs with 11 workforce pathways. TISD covers tuition, books, fees, and transportation for dual-credit students.
• Workforce Solutions for North Central TexascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional workforce development board covering 14 counties. EDC President Carlton Tidwell serves as Board Chair, helping align training and employment solutions.
• Small Business Development Center at Trinity Valley Community CollegesecondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides small business counseling, training, and support services. Partnered with EDC to host franchise ownership seminars.
• OncorsecondaryOthersElectric utility provider for Terrell area. Key partner for infrastructure serving business parks and industrial facilities.
• Atmos EnergysecondaryOthersNatural gas provider for Terrell area. Supplies energy infrastructure to Airport Business Park and other developments.
• Trinity Valley Electric CooperativesecondaryOthersElectric cooperative providing power to portions of Terrell and surrounding area.
• Civic SolcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStrategic planning consulting firm engaged to develop comprehensive Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan for Terrell. Conducted stakeholder roundtable discussions and created 'blueprint for tomorrow' strategic plan.
• Apex Aero CentersecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFull-service Fixed Base Operator (FBO) at Terrell Municipal Airport. Provides fuel, hangar space, pilot services, and supports business aviation needs.
• Platinum ChevroletsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal car dealership serving as industry mentor for TISD automotive pathway students. Three TISD graduates are now employed at the dealership.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Tyler Economic Development Council: East Texas EDC of comparable scale, serving a different regional market but with similar industry targeting, incentive programs, and workforce development partnerships.
• Longview Economic Development Corporation: East Texas EDC focused on manufacturing and logistics recruitment with parallel sales-tax funding and business park operations, though operating in a different geographic territory.

Direct peers

• McKinney Economic Development Corporation: Texas Type A EDC in the DFW region, competing for similar corporate relocation and expansion projects on the I-20/I-75 corridor with overlapping target industries.
• Lubbock Economic Development Alliance: Texas Type A/B EDC operating in a mid-sized regional market with similar sales-tax funding, business park ownership, and workforce development focus. Directly comparable mission and operating model.
• Amarillo Economic Development Corporation: Texas Type A EDC of similar size and budget profile, focused on manufacturing and logistics recruitment with sales-tax funding and business park development.
• Waco Economic Development Corporation: Mid-sized Texas EDC pursuing similar manufacturing/distribution/logistics targets with equivalent revenue scale and incentive toolset including TIF districts.

Broad incumbents

• Plano Economic Development: Well-resourced DFW-area EDC that competes for corporate HQ and major employer relocations, with a larger budget and broader target industry mix than Terrell.
• Frisco Economic Development Corporation: Larger, better-funded DFW-area EDC frequently competing for the same corporate recruitment projects as Terrell but with substantially larger budget and brand recognition.

Others

• Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC): Industry association that provides the Economic Excellence Recognition and Workforce Excellence Award (which Terrell has won), serving as a peer benchmark and network for Texas EDCs.
• Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas: Regional workforce development board where Terrell EDC's President serves as Board Chair; closely aligned partner in training, labor supply, and employer matching that anchors Terrell's workforce pipeline.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/terrelltexasedc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-playhouse-theatre

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 Terrell Economic Development Corporation