Canyon Economic Development Corporation
Contact: Stephanie Tucker
1605 4th Avenue
Canyon, TX 79015
Phone: 806-656-6835
www.canyonedc.com

Another collaborative restoration includes the historic former Randall County Courthouse, a turn-of-the-century Renaissance Revival masterpiece, restored to its emblematic elegance as a civic centerpiece.

However, the true beauty of CEDC initiatives is visible in more than just rejuvenated facades. Canyon is generating real economic growth through evidence-based practices, and through the carefully devised Canyon Strategic Plan. Guided by the Plan as well as the national Main Street’s proven Four-Point Approach, the CEDC has shepherded into existence a new and exciting Downtown Dining District and a popular open-air retail mall, the Shops on Fifth Avenue. Local retail and the Downtown Dining District have improved the residential quality of life even as they have become premier visitor attractions.

More significantly, Canyon’s success is evident in steadily rising tax revenue, up 11% in 2017 alone; direct travel dollars spent in Canyon are also rising, up 13% in 2017 to a total of $124 million. And CEDC cross-sector efforts are ensuring a stronger economy for years into future. The selection of Canyon as the site for the Lone Star milk processing plant is expected to produce a $75 million local economic impact by the year 2026.

Whether in revamping an icon, renovating a historic landmark, or revitalizing a downtown—by sparking growth across sectors and across the city, the CEDC is catalyzing real civic and economic prosperity.

And that’s yet another reason for Tex Randall to stand a little taller today.

• Play, stay, shop, dine, work smarter, live better—all in one great location, where visitor attractions complement resident satisfaction.
• Compelling quality of life: New residents are flocking to Canyon, drawn by excellent schools, low cost of living, great family recreation, and a downtown with real character and nationally recognized quality. Canyon is flourishing naturally, culturally, and economically.
• Proximity and ease of access: Just 18 minutes from downtown Amarillo on I-27, Canyon offers both residents and visitors delightfully dual benefits—uniquely charming Canyon hospitality and low-cost quality combined with the metro opportunities of Amarillo. Omnidirectional interstate and U.S. highway routes converge in Canyon to allow strategic maneuverability in choices that include I-27, U.S. 60, and U.S. 87, with I-40 just 18 miles away. Canyon is highly and flexibly accessible, and traffic counts prove it.
• West Texas A&M University: With an enrollment exceeding 10,000, WTAMU is leading and succeeding as a powerhouse in global wind energy research with newly expanded agricultural and veterinary facilities, and with the new Buffalo Stadium accommodating a maximum capacity of 12,000 and expansion opportunities for up to 14,000 permanent seats. WTAMU brings leading-edge ideas, youthful energy, and a steady flow of engaging events and visitors to Canyon.
• Landmark Recreation: A deeply satisfying recreational resource for Canyon residents, Palo Duro Canyon State Park is also a powerhouse visitor attraction, bringing nearly 400,000 annual visitors to the region to stay, play, and dine. At the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the state’s largest historical museum, approximately 65% of the museum’s roughly 55,000 annual visitors come from outside the state.
• A young labor force well-schooled and highly skilled: A labor shed of approximately 70,000 offers strategic size, while workforce strength is assured by high-performance Canyon schools with a graduation rate of 99%, along with WTAMU and Amarillo College training options.

It goes without saying that Texas has the nation’s number-one business climate—although virtually every leading business publication has said exactly that, dozens of times over the past decade alone. And the Federal Reserve projects that Texas, with its continuing boom in population, will continue to outpace the rest of the nation in economic growth. A right-to-work labor force, plus zero corporate tax and zero personal income tax help make Texas the corporate and industrial favorite.

Texas climate with the Canyon boost: In Canyon, the great Texas business climate is enhanced by dynamic local population growth, especially among younger people, combined with outstanding K-12 education and quality skills training. In addition to these significant assets, Canyon’s foresight and attention to detail mean that every business, large or small, is supported for success.

Turning the corner with Main Street: Now a nationally accredited Main Street location, Canyon deployed the Main Street program’s evidence-based approach as well as the CEDC’s own strategic plan to catalyze downtown growth, and today Canyon’s Downtown Dining District is a regional standout energizing the local economy. Canyon isn’t waiting for good things to happen; powerful planning is setting the right stage and creating the right climate for success across sectors.

Best-of-breed incubation: Retail and small business can leverage critical guidance available through West Texas A&M University’s Small Business Development Center. WTAMU is also home to WTEnterprise Center, a resource for entrepreneurs offering key connections to experts, co-working spaces, and “Hatchworks,” helping to birth business ideas from their very earliest stages.