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Council nominates Orbis for Texas Enterprise Zone as company ramps hiring at former Rubbermaid site
Summary
Council unanimously approved nominating Orbis Corporation for a Texas Enterprise Zone designation; company reps said they have hired about 100 employees since January and plan further expansion, while staff described the state rebate structure tied to equipment purchases and job creation.
Council approved a resolution nominating Orbis Corporation for a Texas Enterprise Zone designation after staff described the state's rebate program and the company's redevelopment of the former Rubbermaid facility. City staff and a developer representative reviewed the application process and explained that the program rebates a portion of state sales tax paid on qualifying equipment purchases and ties benefits to the number of jobs created; staff described the maximums and the competitive designation process for the governor's office.
Orbis representatives told council the operation is in a ramp‑up phase. "We are a little over 100 employees right now and we've only been operational since January 20," an Orbis representative said. City staff noted the company has complied with previously approved tax abatements and recommended the city nominate the site for the state program. Council approved the nomination unanimously; staff said the designation does not create a new local tax abatement and is a state incentive program administered competitively by the governor's office.
