Kaufman Just Got Film Friendly. Here's Why That's a Big Deal.

So here's some news worth sharing: Kaufman is officially a Film Friendly Texas Certified Community.

The Texas Film Commission handed us the certificate on September 16, after Governor Abbott announced the designation back in August. It puts us on a list of more than 200 Texas towns that productions look to when they need a place to shoot. And we earned it the real way.

This wasn't a form we filled out. Our folks sat through the Film Commission's certification workshop. We passed actual filming guidelines that spell out how productions and residents work together without stepping on each other. And we sent the state photos of our locations so they go straight into the database scouts dig through when they're hunting for the right backdrop.

What do we get out of it? Access, mostly. When a production is looking for a location or putting out a casting call, the Film Commission can blast that request to certified communities in one email. We're now on that list. That's the difference between hoping someone finds Kaufman and the state handing us to them.

Now the part that actually matters around here: money and jobs. When a crew rolls into town, they don't just film and leave. They book rooms. They eat lunch. They buy lumber and gas and coffee and whatever else a shoot eats through. They hire local hands. Statewide, the Film Commission says media production pumped more than $2.5 billion into local economies and created north of 189,000 jobs between 2007 and 2024. We'd like a piece of that.

And honestly? Kaufman's got the goods. The historic downtown, the wide-open scenery, the kind of small-town character you can't fake on a soundstage. Filmmakers chase that stuff. The designation just tells them we're easy to work with and ready to go on day one.

So that's where we're at. Kaufman's open for business, the welcome mat's out, and we're ready for our close-up.

Come shoot here. We'll make it easy.

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New Zoning Framework Sets the Stage for Industrial Growth in Kaufman

The proposal includes some smart design requirements. Buildings could reach up to 125 feet—though anything taller would need special approval. Areas visible from public streets would need proper screening to maintain the community's appearance. The ordinance even accounts for modern industrial needs like emission towers and outdoor storage, but these would be regulated through specific use permits.

There's flexibility built in for businesses too. Companies could include professional offices and retail operations that support their industrial activities—the kind of ancillary uses that help businesses run efficiently.

The City of Kaufman will review the final draft before their board meeting. It's another step forward in Kaufman's ongoing efforts to attract quality industrial development that benefits the entire community.

Major Announcement: Agile Cold Storage Brings $61 Million Investment to Kaufman

Atlanta-based Agile Cold Storage, LLC will break ground on what's set to become the largest industrial capital investment in Kaufman's history. This isn't just another warehouse project. This is a game-changer for our community, and here's why you should be excited about it.

Groundbreaking happens next week, with the facility targeted to open before year's end. Agile will begin hiring team members this fall, bringing those 70+ jobs online as the facility becomes operational.The food and beverage sector is noticing Kaufman. And with Agile Cold Storage setting up operations here, they'll have even more reason to take a closer look at what our community offers.

Agile is bringing serious firepower to Kaufman: a $61 million investment that will create more than 70 quality jobs by the time the facility opens later this year. The 122,949-square-foot multi-temperature warehouse represents exactly the kind of sophisticated industrial operation that puts cities on the map for future growth.For a company that operates state-of-the-art temperature-controlled warehouses throughout North America, choosing Kaufman wasn't a casual decision. Agile has spent five years building its reputation on combining cutting-edge automation and modern infrastructure with a family-oriented company culture. Their track record speaks for itself—they're known as a superior service provider in the cold storage industry, and now they're planting their Texas flag right here.

The company's approach sets them apart in the cold storage world. They're leveraging automation and technology while maintaining a family-run business philosophy to build a nationwide network of temperature-controlled warehouses ranging from fully automated to conventional operations. It's a combination that delivers efficiency without losing sight of the human element.

Why Kaufman? Why Now?

For more information about Agile Cold Storage, visit 

That's not corporate speak—that's recognition of what makes Kaufman special. The convergence of location, local support, and established food manufacturing relationships created the perfect storm of opportunity. And Agile seized it.

What Makes This Facility Different

Agile Cold Storage operates as a privately held company with backing from ERA Capital Partners and Continental Grain Company—both recognized as experienced, long-term investors in agriculture and related industries. That financial foundation matters because it signals stability and staying power.

What Happens Next

For Kaufman, this moment represents more than just another successful recruitment. It's confirmation that our strategic location, supportive business environment, and growing infrastructure are attracting exactly the caliber of companies we've been positioning ourselves to land.

Welcome to Kaufman, Agile. We're ready to grow together.

agilecoldstorage.com

"Our community welcomes Agile's investment in their state-of-the-art facility that will provide good paying jobs for our citizens. It's major investments like these that provide the revenue our community needs to meet the demands of our significant growth. This development will help make Kaufman an even better place to live, work and do business."

The Bigger Picture

Here's what often gets overlooked in economic development announcements: projects like this create ripple effects. Seventy-plus direct jobs at Agile mean families with paychecks to spend at local businesses. A $61 million facility means expanded tax revenue to support city services and infrastructure. A major cold storage operation means enhanced logistics capabilities that make Kaufman more attractive for other food and beverage companies considering Texas locations.

This is the kind of foundational investment that shapes a community's economic trajectory for decades, not just years.

Who Is Agile Cold Storage?

Agile Cold Storage operates as a privately held company with backing from ERA Capital Partners and Continental Grain Company—both recognized as experienced, long-term investors in agriculture and related industries. That financial foundation matters because it signals stability and staying power.The company's approach sets them apart in the cold storage world. They're leveraging automation and technology while maintaining a family-run business philosophy to build a nationwide network of temperature-controlled warehouses ranging from fully automated to conventional operations. It's a combination that delivers efficiency without losing sight of the human element.What Happens NextGroundbreaking happens next week, with the facility targeted to open before year's end. Agile will begin hiring team members this fall, bringing those 70+ jobs online as the facility becomes operational.For Kaufman, this moment represents more than just another successful recruitment. It's confirmation that our strategic location, supportive business environment, and growing infrastructure are attracting exactly the caliber of companies we've been positioning ourselves to land.The food and beverage sector is noticing Kaufman. And with Agile Cold Storage setting up operations here, they'll have even more reason to take a closer look at what our community offers.Welcome to Kaufman, Agile. We're ready to grow together.For more information about Agile Cold Storage, visit agilecoldstorage.com.
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At the San Antonio Stock Show, 2024, Kimberly Beckendorf, Claire Corder, Wesley Henderson and Caden Jones were the Reserve Champion Ag Mechanics Marketplace project.  This is a contest where ag mech projects are built with intent to qualify for the auction and to sell the project and leave it in San Antonio.  That project was a portable and collapsible 5 head lamb and goat show rack.  It sold for $4,200 in the auction.

In 2025, Kimberly and Claire, took a Santa Maria grill, while it did not place as high as the lamb/goat rack, it did qualify for the auction and brought $6,500. The girls did win Showmanship, which really doesn't have anything to do with the project.It has to do with the student's knowledge of the project and their ability to show it and advertise the project to potential buyers.

A few weeks later, Kimberly, along with Eric Krenek and Alonzo Tijerina, won Showmanship at the Houston Livestock Show with their 28' hydraulic tilt bed trailer. This was for all projects, not just trailers. Houston is by far the largest ag mechanics show in the nation. This is a huge accomplishment.

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KAUFMAN, Texas

The Kaufman Economic Development Corporation (KEDC) and Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) Foundation announced the recent sale of approximately 105 acres of land on US Highway 175 near the Kaufman County Courthouse from the TVCC Foundation to the KEDC. The KEDC plans to add this land to an adjacent 40-acre tract for the development of new industry. The acquisition of this property follows concerted efforts to develop a strategic partnership that will support the future growth of the City of Kaufman and TVCC in one of the nation's fastest-growing areas.

"As Kaufman witnesses unprecedented growth, the KEDC Board recognizes the need to accommodate new corporate citizens as people continue to move to our city. We are grateful to Trinity Valley Community College for their partnership and the tremendous impact it will have as we strive to make our community a better place to live, work and do business," said Charles Gillenwater, Kaufman EDC Board President.

"I'm proud of Kaufman's collaborative efforts to create innovative partnerships while preserving our community's core values and character," said Kaufman Mayor Jeff Jordan. "Being able to connect education with industry to benefit our area for decades to come ensures a bright future as we work to grow in a smart and responsible manner."

The KEDC will market this property to recruit high-quality jobs for mid- to large-scale users in targeted industries such as advanced manufacturing, food and beverage processing, metal fabrication, data centers and cold storage. Upon buildout, the 145-acre site is estimated to support the construction of approximately 1.2 million square feet of new industrial space and generate approximately $340 million in private capital investment. The property also sits within an Opportunity Zone tract, providing potential federal tax benefits and state incentive advantages through the Texas Legislature's recently passed Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation (JETI) Act.

In addition to the acquisition of the property, the Kaufman EDC has committed additional funds to assist with renovations of the existing TVCC Kaufman Campus to accommodate workforce and corporate training space that serves employers in TVCC's five-county territory.

"This is about two strong partners coming together to work for the advancement of our Kaufman community economically and through education opportunities that will meet the needs of the future workforce," said TVCC President Dr. Jason Morrison. "Kaufman and TVCC are working together, sharing ideas, and planning for the future of the City of Kaufman."

"TVCC's mission to support the training needs of local industry is key to Kaufman's partnership on this acquisition," said Stewart McGregor, Kaufman EDC Executive Director. "Workforce development is at the heart of economic development and having modern, flexible training space to meet the needs of both current and future employers is a tremendous asset for the KEDC's business recruitment strategy."

The property was originally donated to the TVCC Foundation in 2019 by Mr. Arlton White, a longtime supporter of TVCC. At the time of the donation, Mr. White also gifted the Foundation $250,000 to establish a nursing scholarship in the name of his late wife, Dr. Nancy White, who worked in Dallas as a pediatric cardiologist until she retired in 2005. Dr. White passed away in 2016.

TVCC Foundation's Executive Director Emily Heglund commented, "I would like to emphasize Mr. White's incredible generosity in donating the property to the Foundation. Although we knew the land was a prime piece of real estate, I don't think any of us ever dreamed we would see the payoff that we have on it," she continued. "It's very exciting to think about how this donation will benefit TVCC students for generations to come."

"The future workforce opportunities that TVCC and KEDC will develop have much greater value than just the purchase of land," remarked TVCC Foundation President Mike Hembree. "I look forward to what is to come in Kaufman."

This transaction is the most recent in TVCC's long history of partnering with the City of Kaufman and Kaufman County. Most recently, TVCC partnered with Kaufman and Kemp ISDs to compete for the Regional Texas Workforce Commission's Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) grants. The ISDs were awarded a combined total of more than $300,000 in JET grant funding to provide workforce training to their students.

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