By james art 
Llocated in America’s heartland, Lubbock, Texas is known for its thriving agriculture, manufacturing and technology sectors. Companies such as Leprino Foods, Tropicale, Plant Agricultural Systems (PLANT-AS) and Dura-Line recognized the region’s importance in manufacturing and its available skilled workforce, choosing to expand in the area. These benefits and more provide endless opportunities for companies to grow in Lubbock.
Leprino Foods, a global leader in mozzarella cheese and other dairy foods, is nearing completion of its 850,000-square-foot facility located in East Lubbock, which will process more than one million pounds of cheese daily. Served by regional dairies in West Texas, approximately 200 trucks per day will be required to service this facility.
Supported by world-class food safety, operations, training and maintenance programs, and monitored and controlled through industry-leading automation and instrumentation, this facility will expand Leprino’s existing network of mozzarella cheese plants worldwide. The finished products will be distributed in the United States and internationally. This investment will generate $10.6 billion over the next ten years for the state of Texas.
Another company that announced an expansion in Lubbock is Tropicale Foods, the No. 1 Hispanic frozen novelty company in the U.S., has added 500 jobs and a $66.8 million capital investment in Lubbock to continue producing its delicious, authentic Mexican frozen treats.
And in the technology sector, leading global pipe manufacturer and distributor FuturePath and cable-in-conduit, Orbia’s Dura-Line business expanded in Lubbock, adding $52 million in capital investment and 141 new jobs. The company delivers infrastructure solutions to transform connectivity in industries including telecommunications, enterprise networks, energy and transportation. The business announced its expansion into the Lubbock Logistics Center II, located in the Lubbock Business Park, where it will manufacture plastic conduit for fiber optic lines.
“We are experiencing unprecedented demand for our products. So expanding to a strategic location with a highly skilled workforce was critical to our business plan. Lubbock excels in both categories,” said Elad Shmulevich, vice president of global operations at Orbia Connectivity Solutions (Dura-Line). Shmulevich continued, “The support we’ve received from the LEDA team and the Lubbock community so far has confirmed that we made the right decision.”
With a vision to modernize the digital infrastructure needed to support global demand for fresh produce, PLANT-AS has announced its expansion into West Texas. The modernization of the region’s agricultural industry with new technologies shows strong parallels with the region’s ever-evolving and diverse economy. The monumental partnership between Lubbock and Amarillo to bring innovative technology to the Texas Panhandle not only connected two centers, but also provided a solid foundation for future industry growth throughout the region. The expansion includes the development of 13.3 million square feet of advanced controlled agriculture (CEA) production facilities on 700 acres where fresh produce will be grown using state-of-the-art hydroponic technology.
The central city continues to develop in its diverse manufacturing sector. For more information on what’s happening in Lubbock, visit lubbockeda.org.