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Chamber briefs San Angelo development board on recruitment leads, data-center and battery-storage projects
Summary
San Angelo Chamber officials reported 17 qualified recruitment leads and highlighted major prospects including a data center awaiting ERCOT power allocation and a battery energy storage project with roughly $160 million in capital investment; staff also presented a quarterly economic review showing steady labor markets and rising sales tax.
Chamber officials updated the City of San Angelo Development Corporation on local recruitment efforts and economic indicators at the July 8 meeting.
Michael Looney, vice president of economic development with the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce, told the board the Chamber is tracking 17 qualified business recruitment leads (the goal is 18) and flagged several priorities: ATI Group’s 25-acre industrial-park purchase for spec buildings; Project Heavy Metal, a targeted solar-panel recycling user; Project Falcon, an emergent data center awaiting ERCOT power allocations (final allocations expected by Aug. 10); and Project Zeppelin (Peregrine Energy), a battery energy storage project Looney estimated at approximately $160,000,000 in capital expenditure.
"These are approximately 160,000,000 CapEx total investment value," Looney said of the Zeppelin/Peregrine projects and added the related county project is expected to begin construction next year.
Looney also described a strong business-retention and expansion (BRE) effort (38 BRE visits year to date) and workforce partnerships with Texas Workforce and Howard College to fill technical roles.
Steve Vilenius, president and CEO of the San Angelo Chamber, presented a separate overview of plans to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem through the I&E (innovation and entrepreneurship) network, a speaker series, and longer-term initiatives such as engaging an angel investor network to support startups. "If you've ever dealt with somebody who has what they think is the next cool idea, they can be reluctant to share that idea...Trust is a big part of that ecosystem," Vilenius said.
Andrew Killingsworth, associate director of business recruitment and retention with the Chamber, presented a quarterly economic review showing steady labor markets, flat manufacturing employment in recent quarters but year-to-date gains since SARMA's creation, rising home prices (still below state and national levels) and sales-tax resilience. "San Angelo has a credible story built on labor stability, relative affordability, and steady local spending," Killingsworth said.
Board members asked for additional details about project timelines and workforce impacts. Several public commenters also weighed in on entrepreneurship and recruitment approaches.
Next steps: Chamber staff will continue recruitment outreach, monitor ERCOT allocations for Project Falcon, and report progress to the board during future meetings.
