With ground broken this month on construction of a plastic pipe manufacturing facility, Snyder’s new industrial park soon will have its first tenant.
WL Plastics, which has a corporate office in Forth Worth and plants in four states and Canada, could begin operations in Snyder by May, said Bill Lavers, executive director of the Development Corp. of Snyder.
“It’s a brand new facility,” said Lavers, explaining that the plant will start with 33 workers in a 47,000 square-foot building.
“They make HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) pipe for oil and natural gas and potable water and sewer applications,” Lavers said.
Snyder Mayor Terry Martin said plans were under way for a second industrial park for Snyder before WL Plastics decided to open a plant in Snyder.
Lavers said WL Plastics will take up about 20 acres on the 74-acre industrial park site, with the land given to the company as an economic incentive.
In addition, “we paid their first year’s payroll of a $1.5 million,” Lavers said, explaining that the money will be paid in thirds, with the final third not paid until the plant employs at least 41 workers.
About $2 million in public funds also has been spent to provide railroad access to the park, Lavers said.
Martin said rail access “is one of the primary reason that WL Plastics located here. They receive the bulk of their material by rail.”
There also was a personal tie to Snyder, with the company’s chief executive officer having a relative who lives in Snyder, said Mike Dahl, director of the company.
The company already has decided to build a plant in West Texas, Dahl said.
“We were going to build somewhere within a 50- to 100-mile radius,” said Dahl, explaining that the company looked at eight different cities before settling on Snyder.
Having land available with rail access was a critical factor, he said.
“Additionally, we just think it’s a terrific location from a workforce standpoint,” Dahl said.
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