TARGETED
INDUSTRIES

Representing over 13% of total private employment within Kaufman County, Kaufman provides a competitive location with a rapidly growing labor pool to support the needs of manufacturers. Our strategic location on the eastern edge of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex provides manufacturers with access to a robust supply chain, including rail terminals and airports. In addition to general manufacturing, Kaufman offers a very strong advantage in the following manufacturing sectors:

Metal Fabrication:

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Kaufman is home to two major metal manufacturers while Kaufman County is home to additional small and large metal fabrication companies. MICA Steelworks is a metal fabricator serving the electric transmission industry while Advance Tabco manufactures commercial food-grade tables. This significant presence of the metal industry places our county in the top 15 counties in Texas for concentration of employment in this sector. Furthermore, Kaufman ISD graduates over 70 students each year with their welding certificate.

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Semiconductor Suppliers:
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Located within 45 minutes of the global headquarters of Texas Instruments, Kaufman is a member of the Texoma Tech Hub.  This hub is a collaborative effort with manufacturers, higher education providers, communities, workforce development organizations and others involved in growing the semiconductor industry in North Texas.  Our location within 1 ½ hours of Sherman, TX where TI and GlobalTech Wafers have major campuses and 2 ½ hours of Taylor, TX where Samsung has a major campus. Kaufman provides a competitive location for suppliers needing access to these major manufacturers.

The State of Texas provides additional incentive opportunities to semiconductor manufacturers and their suppliers through the Texas CHIPS office.

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Food & Beverage Processing:

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Kaufman sits at the crossroads of East Texas agriculture and the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth consumer market of over 8 million people, with additional quick access to the greater Texas Triangle and south-central United States. Our community offers convenient access for both suppliers and customers. Within a 100-mile radius, dozens of major food and beverage processing facilities operate, and local cold storage options are available for processors seeking leased space for refrigerated or frozen products.

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Life Sciences:
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Kaufman is located 45 minutes from Pegasus Park, a major hub for life science research and innovation as part of the federal government’s Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) designation. As part of this designation, the Dallas-Fort Worth region has made a concerted effort to grow both the workforce and ecosystem of life science and biotechnology companies throughout the region. Due to this concentrated support at the federal and regional levels, Kaufman is prepared to accommodate an array of life science businesses, including medical device manufacturers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, suppliers to existing regional companies and research/development interests.

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Warehousing & Distribution:
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Kaufman’s location between Interstates 20 and 45 with direct connection to US Highway 175 and State Highway 34, allows convenient logistical access to major markets throughout Texas and the south-central United States.  Further, Kaufman County is the #1 ranked county in the State of Texas for concentration of workforce in the transportation and warehousing industry.  Kaufman County is home to major distribution centers for companies such as Amazon, Walmart, Goodyear and AutoZone.

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Cold Storage:
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In addition, cold storage facilities have clustered in the area, too. Agile Cold Storage recently opened a 123,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility in Kaufman with additional room to grow. They chose Kaufman due to proximity to their customers and distribution network along with the City of Kaufman’s ability to fast track the development process. Given the growing national demand for cold storage space, Kaufman provides a viable location with a built-in workforce base and electric power capacity to meet industry needs.

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The Dallas-Fort Worth area is home to one of the largest pools of tech talent in the nation. This pool supports major employers headquartered in the region spanning fintech, biotech, agtech, semiconductor, and other technology-based companies. Kaufman’s location in the region has the workforce and infrastructure to support the constant innovation within this sector. From long-haul fiber optics by Zayo and proximity to regional assets such as the Dallas Infomart and Telecom Corridor coupled with a deregulated electric market, our community is positioned to support this rapidly evolving industry.

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As the county seat of Kaufman County, Kaufman has long been a healthcare hub for area residents.  Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital has served the healthcare needs of our community for over 40 years with their 81-bed hospital.  Texas Health is one of the largest health systems in the State of Texas with 23 hospitals in their network.  The Kaufman hospital provides an array of general health and emergency services along with some specialty providers.  

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Beyond the hospital, Kaufman contains a variety of physician clinics, urgent care, physical therapy, dental and other healthcare offices.  As one of the fastest growing counties in the nation, healthcare needs will only continue to increase in the area.

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Kaufman’s area growth continues to fuel the need for additional professional services.  Office sector growth continues to expand predominately in the financial, legal, insurance and real estate sectors.  Kaufman’s location just 35 minutes from Downtown Dallas provides convenient access to one of the largest financial services sectors in the country.  The recent developments around the Texas Stock Exchange in Dallas will only further propel the spinoff of professional services throughout the region and our community.

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Back-Office Operations:
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Kaufman is home to KLLM Refrigerated Transport’s dedicated accounts and general counsel office. KLLM is one of the largest temperature-controlled truckload carriers in the United States. This dedicated office in Kaufman is home to over 50 employees supporting key accounts and truck drivers throughout the country.
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Headquarters:
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Kaufman is also home to the corporate headquarters of Trinity Valley Electric Cooperative (TVEC). TVEC serves a rapidly growing base of over 60,000 customers across six counties in North and East Texas. Over 100 of their employees in the administration, finance, engineering, operations and member services departments are based out of their Kaufman headquarters. Their Kaufman campus also supports their lineman training program.

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Kaufman has long been a center for retail trade within the south-central portion of Kaufman County.  Within a 15-minute drive time of Kaufman, there are over 37,000 new or planned homes, fueling additional demand for retail services.   The US Highway 175 corridor is home to larger regional and national brands, while the heart of the community supports local and specialty mom-and-pop businesses.

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Kaufman is home to Walmart and a new Lowe’s Home Improvement store.  These two retailers anchor the Kings Fort development, featuring a variety of national and regional brands, with additional sites available for junior anchor and restaurant pad sites.  Additional sites to support big box retail and restaurants exist around the US Highway 175 corridor along with emerging corridors in town for additional sites.

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The Downtown Kaufman Square has become a destination for new boutique, dining and entertainment concepts.  Since 2022, the Square and surrounding area have attracted 8 new businesses in the retail, dining and arts sectors.  This growth has led to the Downtown Square being a bustling center for activity during the day and night with specialty shops and local food establishments.  Current targeted businesses for the Square include breweries, wineries, distilleries, entertainment and additional specialty retail shops.  

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The Kaufman EDC has supported the location of several businesses around the Square with either a site enhancement matching grant or downtown destination matching grant.  Each of these respective programs provides matching dollars for businesses investing in fixed site improvements to their property.  More information on this program can be found on the Incentives page.

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