According to a report from the Greenville Herald-Banner, Governor Rick Perry has just announced that a new business will be taking over an empty Greenville plant, and be receiving some financial funding from the Texas government to help close the deal.Perry announces Fritz Industries Inc. will open a manufacturing and office facility in the former Newell-Rubbermaid Plant in Greenville, creating 250 jobs and $37.5 million in capital investment.
Fritz Industries, Inc. was founded in 1956 by Frederick "Fritz" Weisend as an independent, employee owned company with integrated manufacturing and on-site research and development. Their corporate headquarters and manufacturing facilities are located in Mesquite, Texas and they already have another plant in Greenville. The additional plant reflects the connection between the company and the Greenville community.
“Fritz Industries is an employee-owned, Texas-based company, and we are proud to make this significant investment in the city of Greenville,” Fritz Industries President and CEO Dan Montgomery said. “This Texas Enterprise Fund investment will help build a state-of-the-art facility that is critical to introducing new initiatives in the oilfield industry and will create employment opportunities for Greenville residents.”
The state is providing $800,000 through the Texas Enterprise Fund to close the deal on this expansion and job creation.
“Texas continues to be a national example for creating jobs and opportunity thanks to our low taxes, smart regulations, fair courts and skilled workforce,” Perry said. “This TEF investment in Fritz Industries will create hundreds of jobs in Greenville, pump millions of dollars in capital into the local economy, and further strengthen our state’s economy.”
Fritz Industries manufactures products that are used in cementing and drilling and also produces stimulation fluid crucial to the daily operations of oilfield service companies. Their research and development department is heavily involved in the improvement of productivity in new oil and gas wells and extending the life of existing wells. Positions that will be available at the new facility will include production, supply chain, quality assurance, engineering, maintenance, information technology and human resource fields.
Greenville Mayor Steve Reid claims that the expansion is the result of the efforts of local political and civic leaders.
“I want to personally thank Gov. Perry, Sen. Deuell and Rep. Flynn for their tremendous support for Greenville,” he said. “We worked very hard with the state to make this deal happen. Dan Montgomery and his team at Fritz Industries filled a major void in our tax base and employment base. I also want to commend the Greenville economic development team of: Chairman Larry Green Jr. and board members, CEO Greg Sims and staff, the City Council and city staff, our County Judge John Horn and commissioners, GISD Board President Anne Hayes and Superintendent Don Jeffries and staff, and GEUS Board, Chairman David Dreiling and David McCalla General Manager and staff for their relentless efforts. Congratulations to all involved.”
If you'd like to find out more about Fritz Industries, Inc., then click on this link. Information on job application and a planned opening date have yet to be announced.