City of Abilene Mayor Hurt Recognizes the DCOA with Official Proclamation Declaring May 20-24, 2024, Economic Development Week
Abilene, Texas — Mayor Hurt and the City Council of Abilene will officially proclaim May 20-24, 2024, as Economic Development Week, in honor of the International Economic Development Council’s annual celebration of the dedicated work of economic developers and their impacts on their communities in May.
The Development Corporation of Abilene (DCOA) is the economic development driver of the Abilene community. The DCOA team attracts and retains high-quality jobs, develops Abilene’s vibrant community, and diversifies Abilene’s tax base. The DCOA reinvests money back into the community – multiplying one dollar into many. On average, for every $1 invested by the DCOA into company expansions, the company is investing $47 back into the Abilene community – generating new dollars and jobs in Abilene, Texas.
“I would like to express my gratitude to Mayor Hurt and the City Council of Abilene, and the DCOA Board of Directors for their continued support of the DCOA’s mission. Economic Development Week provides a valuable opportunity to reflect on our collective achievements,” said Misty Mayo, President and CEO of the DCOA. “The DCOA remains steadfast in our commitment to shaping Abilene’s future by attracting and sustaining industries that support job creation, foster strong business, and ensure a prosperous Abilene community. Through the DCOA’s long-term partnerships with companies, we have brought tremendous opportunity to the Abilene community.”
Since its establishment in 1989, the DCOA team has secured more than $3.4 billion in capital investment, created over 8,700 jobs, and retained more than 9,900 jobs for the Abilene community. Since 2019, the DCOA has played a key role in the creation or retention of 1 of every 3 Abilene jobs.
“This year has been marked by significant accomplishments for both the DCOA and Abilene. It is an honor for the City Council to sign this official proclamation in recognition of economic development week,” said Mayor Weldon Hurt.
The DCOA has garnered numerous international and national accolades, most notably the International Economic Development Organization of the Year by the International Economic Development Council.
“I firmly believe that our greatest achievements lie ahead. Serving as this year’s Board Chair of the DCOA has been an honor and a privilege. Misty and the DCOA team demonstrate unwavering dedication in recruiting, retaining, and expanding industries, while creating the Abilene of the future,” said DCOA Board Chair Shea Hall.
About the Development Corporation of Abilene (DCOA)
Recognized as the Economic Development Organization of the Year by the International Economic Development Council, the DCOA is the economic development driver of Abilene with the goal to build the future Abilene by attracting and sustaining industries that support job creation, foster strong business, and ensure a prosperous community. The DCOA is focused on the future success of the community and leverages the DevelopAbilene brand to market Abilene as the premier location for business expansion. Learn more about the DCOA and DevelopAbilene at www.developabilene.com.
About Abilene
Abilene, Texas, is located in Taylor County, Texas. Directly on I-20, just two and half hours from the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area. The city has a population of 127,129 people and is a regional hub representing a civilian labor force of more than 145,000 people. In addition to powerful professionals, the community has a robust infrastructure and a strategic location in the south-central United States that secures Abilene as the premier location for global manufacturers.
About the International Economic Development Council (IEDC)
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization serving economic developers. With thousands of members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. Economic developers typically work for cities, counties, states, public-private partnerships, and chambers of commerce to promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities by creating, retaining, and expanding high-quality jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth, and provide a stable tax base. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC’s members are engaged in the full range of economic development work to develop vibrant communities.
Contact: Ashley Whitmer
Phone: 325-280-0876
Email: ashley.whitmer@abilenedcoa.com
