PARIS, Texas (KXII) – The funds help with road improvements and job opportunities.
Keeping up with growth. “We have been challenged with budget constraints because of all the projects and success we’ve had so [we] really needed to go to look at outside funding to help support our efforts,” said the director of the Paris Economic Development Corporation, Maureen Hammond.
So the city of Paris turned to federal resources which came with stiff competition and some setbacks, but it paid off. “We were awarded $1.3 million in funding from the US Department of Commerce through the Economic Development Administration,” said Hammond. This is over 70% of the city’s annual revenue. The funds are going toward road improvements, creating more safe routes at the Northwest Industrial Park.
This is expected to drive new businesses to the industrial park which is currently home to four companies and 250 jobs. Hammond said this grant is contributing to significant changes. “The project allowed for a deceleration lane off of loop 286 to 34th street, and then it improved and widened 34th street and then allowed for an extension from J. Eagan here from 30th all the way to 34th and so not only did it improve transportation infrastructure, it also has a safety component, because now all of our businesses have two entry and exit points out of the industrial park.”
This project also helped secure a new wheel manufacturing company moving to the community that’ll create 40 new jobs. “The investment will be about 30 million new investment to our community and over the next 10 years, that will generate about 110 million in jobs, payroll, direct indirect jobs and secondary impacts to other businesses,” said Hammond. Paris will welcome this project at the beginning of 2025.
Infrastructure improvements will continue to pave the way for what’s expected to be a bright future for the city.
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