Target Industries
The industries listed below aren’t just aspirational. They already have a home in the Texas First RDC region.
Each of our member communities brings unique strengths to the table. Together, they form a regional network where companies in core industries can grow faster, operate more efficiently, and find lasting success. The Texas First RDC advantage includes:
- Multi-community supply chain support
- Shared workforce and training pipelines
- Utility-scale sites with strong infrastructure
- Local incentives to reduce costs
- Fast-track permitting and business-first policies
Here’s where each sector is already thriving:
Advanced Manufacturing
The Texas First Regional Development Corporation supports advanced manufacturing across multiple communities, with a focus on high-performance equipment, industrial products, and precision components.
- Kilgore: Advanced manufacturing, metal fabrication, machinery and equipment manufacturing
- Mount Pleasant: Advanced manufacturing, circular economy applications
- Longview: Equipment manufacturing, metal fabrication
- Henderson: Machinery and equipment manufacturing, metal fabrication
Training programs, utility-ready industrial parks, and shared access to workforce development centers help advanced manufacturers scale efficiently.
Aviation and Aerospace
The region has growing momentum in aviation and aerospace, with assets that serve both civilian and defense-related operations.
- Kilgore: Advanced manufacturing, metal fabrication, machinery and equipment manufacturing
- Longview: Aviation, aerospace, and aerospace-related manufacturing
- Mount Pleasant: Defense and aerospace
- Texarkana: Aviation and aerospace presence (airport, workforce, access)
Regional airports, access to federal and defense contracting resources, and space for aviation-related suppliers create a strong ecosystem for growth.
Plastics and Chemicals
The Texas First RDC includes legacy industrial bases with the utilities and logistics necessary for plastics and chemical production.
- Kilgore: Plastics manufacturing
- Longview: Petrochemicals and plastics
- Marshall: Chemical and plastics manufacturing
- Henderson: Plastics and rubber production
Sites with significant utility capacity, rail and highway access, and experience with process-heavy industry streamline project timelines.
Metal Fabrication and Machining
With a deep industrial history, a steady pipeline of skilled workers, and suppliers across the region, the Texas First RDC is a strong match for metalworking and machining.
- Henderson: Metal fabrication, machinery, equipment
- Kilgore: Metal fabrication, machining
- Longview: Metal fabrication, machining
- Marshall: Machining
Career and technical education programs throughout the region focus on welding, machining, and mechanical trades.
Logistics and Distribution
Positioned near I-20 and I-30 and linked by rail, the Texas First Regional Development Corporation offers immediate access to regional and national markets.
- Kilgore: Warehouse and distribution
- Mount Pleasant: Supply chain and logistics
- Longview: Warehouse and distribution
Inland access to the Port of Shreveport-Bossier, along with easy access to multiple deep-water ports, third-party logistics providers, and speculative buildings across the region accelerate logistics expansion.
Technology Infrastructure
The region’s combination of stable infrastructure, affordable power, and large industrial sites makes it ideal for technology industry operations.
- Longview: Semiconductor-related infrastructure
- Mount Pleasant: Technology industry ready sites
Sites with robust electrical capacity, dark fiber access, and incentive-ready zoning options are available in multiple communities.
Defense and Firearms Manufacturing
The Texas First RDC understands the infrastructure and discretion required by regulated industries. Local leadership works to support compliance, security, and workforce alignment.
- Longview: Firearms manufacturing
- Mount Pleasant: Defense and aerospace
- Kilgore: Defense and aerospace
State and federal programs assist companies engaged in defense contracting and firearms manufacturing, with community support for long-term growth.
Agribusiness and Food Production
The Texas First RDC includes large-scale food production, agribusiness operations, and related logistics companies.
- Mount Pleasant: Agribusiness, food production
- Henderson: Leather, wood products, and ag-linked materials
Proximity to farms, access to cold storage, and affordable transportation options support food logistics and production businesses.
Circular Economy and Sustainability
Mount Pleasant is leading the way in sustainable production, with a focus on recycled inputs, sustainable sourcing, and closed-loop systems.
- Mount Pleasant: Circular economy and sustainable production
Local programs and partnerships support companies focused on environmental innovation and sustainable supply chains.
