Silsbee EDC - The Creation

Economic Development is the process by which local and state economies grow in value and in quality as a result of private and public sector investments by making development resources more competitive and by strengthening the public policy climate governing business and economic behavior within a geographic area.

Creating the Silsbee Economic Development Corporation

The Silsbee Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) was formed in August 1994 as a Section 4A corporation under the Industrial Development Act of 1979. Silsbee voters elected a one-half cent sales tax to fund the corporation on Saturday, August 13, 1994. The one-half cent increase brought the sales tax rate to 8.25 %, the same as Beaumont and other area cities.

The original purpose of the SECD was to improve the City's water and sewer infrastructure and those systems associated with it. However, the additional sales tax revenue could be used only for improvements directly related to encouraging new companies to begin operations in the City. At that time, The Tyson Corporation was considering building a new processing plant in Silsbee. Tyson chose another location. Therefore, the funds could not be used for water/sewer infrastructure improvement. In 1997, the Texas Legislature amended the Act to allow 4A corporations to fund 4B projects like water/sewer projects, if approved by the voters. Voters approved a proposal to use 70% of SEDC revenue for a major water/sewer project in January 1998.