Millions of dollars invested in River Bend
By KATHRYN MARTINEZ news1@kilgorenewsherald.com

This map shows the completed project, including the industrial park, business center and wildlife refuge. Each phase will take several years to complete at a cost of over $36 million.

Gregg County officials and hundreds of residents and business leaders celebrated the grand opening of the 175-Acre River Bend Industrial Park, which will attract medium and light duty industrial business.

Sen. Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler) said River Bend Business and Industrial Park is a place that will give excellent jobs to East Texans.

"We cannot feed our families working on Wal-Mart," Eltife said. "We need Wal-Mart, but this community also needs jobs with which to feed and educate their families."

More than $12 million in private and commercial investments have made its way into phase one of River Bend, a 175- acre medium to light-duty business park, with lots ranging in size from one to 30 acres.

Another $12 million of investments is expected during Phase II development of River Bend Business Center, a 500- acre tract slated for business, retail, restaurants and hotels.

Randy Brogoitti, one of the developers with MB Properties, outlined the different phases of the River Bend Project for investors and potential investors of the multi-million dollar industrial park.

Yet another $12 million is expected to sustain a wildlife and wetlands conservation.

"One of the greatest things about this park is that is was built by the private sector and not the government," Eltife said. "The best thing that can happen out here is to keep the government out of the way."

Some 400 more acres is still in the planning phase, but Julie Brogoitti-Woods, project spokesperson, said the last portion is to be zoned for industry.

Brogoitti-Woods is one of many involved in the threefamily venture, involving her own family - the Brogoitti, as well as the Mobbs and Smith families.

Phase I is located in the Sabine Independent School District, Phase II and Phase III are located in Kilgore ISD; and all three phases are located within the Kilgore College and Gregg County taxing districts.

Texas State Representative Tommy Merritt spoke about the opportunities this development will bring to East Texas

Bill Stoudt, Gregg County judge, expressed much excitement about the development and the regional opportunities the park is destined to provide.

"When you are a county judge, all you think about is people investing in your county. The unique aspect of this park is location; it is located between two great cities, Kilgore and Longview," Stoudt said. "It is important that people begin to think on a regional basis; if you cannot locate your business in Kilgore or Longview maybe you can locate between the two, or at least within our region."

Stoudt said the effort and hard work put into this project is a model of how to get things done.

"This project has come to fruition with can-do spirit and the type of entrepreneurship Gregg County is famous for. We work hard in this county and that is how you get things done," Stoudt said. "These people have devised a plan; and, they are working their plan. I see great things for Gregg County."

Mickey Smith, former Gregg County Judge and Kilgore mayor, said the project is moving forward and he looks forward to harvesting methane gas, from the landfill leasing space on adjacent property, to power a portion of the park. This green effort is in the research phase with two unnamed companies.

"We're getting there," Smith said. "We should be at full maturity in another 20 years."

Smith said by 2028 the park could capture as much as 4.5 million cubic feet per day and continue at that rate for 75 to 100 years.