NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas — New Braunfels has emerged as a top contender to host a major manufacturing facility for Lefko Plastics, competing against a location in Mexico.
The city is actively working to enhance its appeal by offering a substantial incentive package, which local leaders believe could significantly benefit the community.
Jonathan Packer, CEO of the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce, outlined the potential impact of the facility, stating, “We’re essentially talking about 150 direct jobs with an average salary in the 60s and, you know, maybe 100 indirect jobs as a result of this.”
The proposed incentive plan is structured in three phases, offering Lefko Plastics $950,000. Each phase is designed to encourage the company to commit to a 10-year contract in the area. Packer emphasized the importance of aligning employment opportunities with the community’s needs, saying, “You want to make sure that every sector of your existing population has strong employment opportunities with salary opportunities that match the skill set.”
Adrian Lopez, CEO of Workforce Solutions Alamo, highlighted the region’s robust manufacturing sector, noting that the San Antonio area, including New Braunfels, added 24,000 manufacturing jobs last year. Lopez expressed optimism about the area’s potential to attract more companies, stating, “The more manufacturers that you have available, the more job opportunities, more opportunity for economic mobility.”
While the chamber’s deal with Lefko is still under negotiation, Packer indicated that funding for the incentives would likely come from state sources. Lopez added, “We’re pursuing, you know, a couple of state incentive programs as well, and you know that the local incentive would be funded by the Economic Development Corporation.”
The city is currently evaluating multiple potential locations for the facility, though none have been disclosed publicly. There is no set timeline for when a final decision might be reached.
