Saputo Dairy Foods, PJC Partner to Provide Job Training
Saputo Dairy Foods USA LLC (Saputo Dairy Foods) has partnered with Paris Junior College to provide job training using an $86,289 Skills Development Fund grant from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The grant will benefit workers in the Northeast Texas area. This grant will be used to provide customized training to 88 new and incumbent workers for industry-related topics with focused instruction on food processing technology....
EDC Sees Strong Interest in Local Area for Expanding/Relocating Business and Industry
In recent weeks, the local Economic Development Corporation has been busy with prospective manufacturing and business companies inquiring about and visiting Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County. With the approach of spring and the first of the year in the rear view mirror, companies are beginning to explore options for expansion and/or relocation. Roger Feagley, EDC Director, told KSST News he has no set pattern in his approach to...
Hopkins County Bond Rating Upgraded As County’s Financial Position Improves
Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded from A2 to A1 Hopkins County, TX’s General Obligation Limited Tax Bonds. The rating action affects $18.3 million in rated debt. The upgrade reflects the county’s improved financial position and the stable outlook for the county’s financial position based on healthy revenue levels. The rating incorporates the stability of the county’s moderately-sized agricultural tax base, below average wealth...
Local Leaders Optimistic Following Economic Outlook Conference
Having had a day to digest the Tuesday Chamber of Commerce Economic Outlook Conference, both Sulphur Springs City Manager Marc Maxwell and Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom told KSST News the Conference with Dr. Ray Perryman, President and CEO of The Perryman Group, provided powerful optimistic vision for the local area. Roger Feagley also heard optimism in local growth as did Realtor Tim Kelty. Perryman’s organization is an economic...
EDC Presents State of the Economy Report to City Council
With only 3.8 percent unemployment in December, Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County face a good news/bad news situation. Economic Development Director Roger Feagley presented his State of the Economy Report to the Sulphur Springs City Council Tuesday Night. He pointed to the employment rate as an indicator of the stability of jobs in the area. Although the numbers are not exact, Feagley said people whose benefits have expired, who are...
Surprise At New Jail Site, Newsom Talks County News
Workers doing dirt work for the new Hopkins County Jail project north of the current jail unearthed a surprise recently. They found what appears to be a railroad spur that had been buried. County Judge Robert Newsom says it shouldn’t raise any environmental issues. He can’t find any records for the spur. Judge Newsom says County Commissioners will be removing the rails and selling the steel. In some Hopkins County notes, County Judge...
City Council Receives State of the Economy Presentation
A low unemployment rate that beats the state, national and our regional competitors was one bullet presented by Roger Feagley during his State of the Economy presentation to the Sulphur Springs City Council Tuesday night. Feagley said our area better survived the recent economic downturn due to our good mix of primary jobs. He said another factor was owner occupied businesses. Feagley said maybe people should be talking about the...
Commissioners Review Tax Abatement Policy, Approve Agricultural License Agreement
Hopkins County Commissioners Court renewed the county’s tax abatement policy. A resolution approving a 5-year updated mitigation action plan and an order authorizing the sale of fireworks for certain observances were also approved by the Commissioners Court during a special court session held Tuesday. Hopkins County Commissioners Court Tax Abatement Policy Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County Economic Development Executive Director...
Paxton Sues Biden Administration Over Dictating Texas Tax Policy In Federal COVID-19 Relief Law
PRESS RELEASE May 4, 2021 AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against the Biden Administration over a provision in the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act. Though the Act generally assists Texans recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, one provision — the Tax Mandate — specifically demands that Texas not use funds received through the Act to “directly or indirectly” offset tax revenue reduction caused by...
Protecting Yourself Online From Identity Theft
News Release Austin – The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is warning Texans to protect their identities online amid a wave of unemployment insurance fraud applications. While TWCsystems have not been breached or hacked, Texas, like all states, is seeing large numbers of fraudulent applications due to identity theft that occurs outside the system. Identities are being stolen at record rates, some in breaches of health insurance...
