La Feria business to create 150 jobs

La Feria business to create 150 jobs
Sunday, December 06, 2009 6:52 PM
(Source: Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, Texas))By Allen Essex, Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, Texas


Dec. 6--LA FERIA -- A new Allied Waste Services Co. corporate office building and waste transfer station will bring 150 jobs to the city, company spokesman Brad Dugas said.

During a late Tuesday City Commission meeting, Dugas said construction of the facilities at 1800 Solis Road will take place during 2010 and 2011 and it will go into operation in late 2011.

Commissioners voted to approve a specific use permit for the facility after Dugas assured them that his company will build the facility and hire the number of people it is committed to employ under a grant program through the Texas Capital Fund.

Mayor Steve Brewer said the agreement with Allied to bring in 150 jobs and the opening of a new sewage treatment plant this week are very positive developments for the city.

Thirty-five acres of land will be purchased for the Allied project, City Manager Sunny Philip said.

La Feria will invest $600,000 to extend water and sewer lines and widen the road to the plant, Philip said.

That amount will be a 100 percent grant from the Texas Capital Fund, he said. The local matching amount will be Allied's investment of $10 million to $12 million, he said.

Allied will initially hire 120 workers and must hire 30 more people within three years after the plant goes into operation, the city manager said.

Dugas said his company is committed to completing the project and going into operation. If hiring goals are not met, his company must pay penalties under its agreement with the city and state, he said.

Dugas said the corporate offices in La Feria will oversee the company's business for the entire Rio Grande Valley.

Allied Waste and Browning-Ferris Industries are subsidiaries of Republic Services, Dugas said.

Philip said city officials celebrated the opening of a new sewage treatment facility and wildlife and nature park on Monday.

Texas Parks & Wildlife officials told city leaders that a nature park will be completed in four to five years at the site and will draw eco-tourists to La Feria, he said.

The new plant will be able to provide treated water for any future golf course or cooling water for any electric power plant that may be developed in the city, Philip said.