JUDGE: Dramatic economic development in our county
As we begin to come out of the pandemic, I am pleased to report that our economics are really improving. Things slowed during the worst of the pandemic, but our local economy is growing, businesses are expanding, our unemployment rate is low and there are lots of available jobs in the county.
Milam County is now the home of the largest bitcoin mining operations in North America. There are two companies at the former Alcoa facility, Bitdeer and Whinstone Data Center.
Both operations are planning to double in size within the next few months. Whinstone Data Center will construct four huge new buildings, which will house thousands of ant miners and Bitdeer has plans to renovate all of the 16 former potlines for ant miners.
Whinstone Data Center plans to add an additional 200 employees and Bitdeer has plans to add many new employees as well. These are good jobs and there is training available for the work. Contact Texas Workforce Solutions in Rockdale for an update for available jobs.
Charlotte Pipe and Foundry has begun a $21,750,000 expansion of its Cameron facility. Charlotte Pipe has been a trusted manufacturer of plumbing systems since 1901 and is the nation’s top maker of cast iron and plastic pipe and fittings. Charlotte Pipe is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., and has seven plant locations across the United States and is distributed around the world. Charlotte Pipe has been an excellent employer in the county and is hiring.
MRI Builders has begun work on a new subdivision in Thorndale. These nice new homes are estimated to start in the $250,000 range and MRI has plans to build 88 new homes. The homes will have Thorndale water and sewage and some could be ready for occupancy around January 2022. There are future plans for a second subdivision on FM 486 north, just outside of Thorndale as well.
We now have five large solar farms coming to Milam County. The estimated total investment of these operations, excluding the value of the land is in excess of $1.6 billion dollars.
Construction on the first facility is expected to begin in the summer of 2022 and the combined construction for these facilities will last for many years, producing hundreds of installation/construction jobs.
The solar companies have agreed to hire locally for most of the work. Once in operation the farms will provide millions in tax revenue to the local school districts and the county.
The unemployment rate in Milam County is now at 6.2 percent, which is the lowest it has been since the pandemic started, back in March 2020. It is under the state average of 6.5 percent and there are a lot of good jobs available.
There are many local jobs available in the county and our local Texas Workforce Solutions is simply the best for workplace assistance.
We have been through a lot, the worst is hopefully over. Our local economy is growing in leaps and bounds and jobs are available. Things are truly looking up and the County is moving foward!