One CDC project wilts, second one blooms
By BRENDA SOMMER news1@leader-news.com

L-N File Photo About Ready The new Texas Multi-Chem building in the Meisel Industrial Park is just about ready to gear up and open, company officials said. The company, based in Kerrville, handles turf products and chemicals and services athletic and other fields. El Campo is the site of Texas Multi-Chem's first branch office.

Two City Development Corporation of El Campo projects are headed in opposite directions: one about to open a brand-new warehouse/office, the other putting its building up for sale after failing to thrive.

Engineered Particle Systems' building on Stubbs Drive in the Meisel Industrial Park is now on the market, according to Chandra Spenrath, CDC executive director.

"The building is being marketed by Rosann Zalman of Coldwell Banker to be sold," Spenrath said.

EPS President Wayne Rodrigue and Vice President Bill Stanton approached the city in 2003 and received an estimated $55,000 in land to build a facility for their business, one which planned to use recycled tires to make a strengthening compound for paints and epoxies.

The company told city officials it could create 150 to 200 jobs, but because a major buyer for its product was never found, staffing at the building never topped two after the plant became fully operational in January 2005.

In January of this year, Stanton told the CDC the company was pursuing the marine and offshore oil rig markets as potential buyers for its rubberized strengthening product.

Stanton and his wife bought the EPS building from the company and had been leasing it back to Rodrigue.

The building and land belong to the company, which hired Zalman to sell it, Spenrath said.

Things are rosier for a sports field contractor and maintenance business Texas Multi- Chem Limited of Kerrville, which is about ready to open up its office in the Meisel Industrial Park.

"They are doing well," Spenrath said. "The building is up. They should be in the location by October."

The sports field company switched lots in the Meisel Industrial Park on March 5, after buying a 3.8-acre parcel on Stubbs Drive for $28,686 from the CDC in November 2006.

The CDC board agreed to let the company swap for a 3.36- acre lot closer to U.S. 59 so it could have better access to the highway for its trucks.

The company's 6,000- square-foot building serves as a warehouse with offices. Texas Multi-Chem, which handles turf products, service and chemicals, and janitorial chemicals, has 10 full-time and three part-time employees at its Kerrville office.

Its El Campo office is to be headed by El Campo native Nolin Stehling.

Stehling said yesterday the company is definitely "getting closer," and is hoping to get situated in their new facility here by mid-October.

The El Campo facility will initially have two employees, but hopes to grow. If they grow, CDC could give the company job creation incentives, based on jobs created and salaries paid.