Business wants changes to economic milestone with the PAEDC
Published 3:14 pm Saturday, August 5, 2017
A turnaround inspection and vendor surveillance company will be seeking a modification of an Economic Incentive Milestone with the Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation.
J.Z. Russell is requesting the modification when the PAEDC Board of Directors meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 7 at 501 Procter St. in Port Arthur. The company is located in the Jade Avenue Business Park. Their website describes their business as an inspection and engineering service of petrochemical industries and to power and pipeline industries.
Their performance milestone schedule displays that in Dec. 31, 2014, J.Z. Russell achieved employment of six fulltime permanent employees that are Port Arthur residents as technicians and two fulltime permanent employees that are Port Arthur residents as office staff with an annual payroll of $287,040.
Six additional technicians and one office staff employee were hired with an annual payroll of $252,720 in Dec. 31, 2015. The total payroll for 2014 and 2015 was not less than $826,800.
On Dec. 31, 2016, 12 additional technicians and one office staff employee were hired with an annual payroll of $471,120. The total payroll for 2014-2016 was not less than $1,550,640.
It is expected for Dec. 31, 2017 to hire six additional technicians and one office staff employee with an annual payroll of $252,720. The total payroll for 2014-2017 is $2,274,480.
For years 2018 and 2019 the annual payroll will be $315,900.
For March 2020, plans are to issue a business operational report to the PAEDC to include at least 12 Port Arthur residents hired, trained and ready to be assessed for technician’s certification and two for inspector’s certification. Then the contract can be prepared for closeout for the PAEDC Board and city council approval.
The Board will consider a letter of intent from Motion Industries to support renovation and expansion of their branch facilities in Port Arthur, according to a letter to the PAEDC.
Drago Supply Company was acquired by Motion Industries in 2008 and, as of Sept. 30, 2010, operates as a division of Motion Industries.
Motion Industries intends to consolidate its Groves and Port Arthur branch locations into a single location in Jefferson County.
Their application is for $750,000 in cash assistance to consolidate its current branch at 740 Houston Ave. in Port Arthur.
Grant funds would be used for renovation and expansion of certain office and shop facilities, parking lot, loading docks, security improvements, furniture, and fixtures as necessary to accommodate additional inventory and personnel from their Groves location, and expansion to include a new hose service center.
KLV Ventures, a transportation services provider, is requesting to enter into an Economic Incentive and Loan Agreement with the PAEDC.
The Board will consider entering into a month-to-month rental agreement with Support Operation Services, Inc. for office space on the first floor of 501 Procter St.
The tenant agrees to pay $250 per month for the premises.
Patriot Security of Nederland will give an update on the security system for the PAEDC building.
The Board will listen to a presentation from the Port Arthur Greater Minority Chamber of Commerce about applying for membership and a presentation from Gulf Coast Health Center, Inc. about the PAEDC’s support of the Fifth Annual Healthy Family Festival on Saturday, Aug. 26 at the Bob Bowers Civic Center in Port Arthur.
For last year’s event, 1,400 people attended and there were more than 150 vendors. They were able to raise more than $300,000 including in-kind donations for the center.