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Tractor Supply to double Waco, Texas, distribution center(Waco Tribune-Herald (TX) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Feb. 7--Texas has more Tractor Supply stores than any other state, which is one reason the Tennessee-based company is spending $10 million to double the size of its Waco distribution center. Waco's center at Interstate 35 and State Highway 6 will become the second-largest in the Tractor Supply network with the addition of 347,000 square feet by September. "Only the one in Pendleton, Ind., will be larger," said Bill Orellana, project manager for the Waco addition. Tractor Supply, which sells products popular with farmers and ranchers, operates five distribution centers companywide. Darren Dunn, general manager of the local distribution center, said he will hire at least 44 people to work in the expanded facility. That will push employment there to nearly 190. "They are an excellent company that offers good pay and good benefits," McLennan County Commissioner Wendall Crunk said. He joined about 20 city, county and Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce officials at Wednesday's groundbreaking. "They're doubling in size after four years. I hope they double again in four years." Tractor Supply opened its new 305,000-square-foot distribution center in 2003. It fronts Interstate 35 on land just south of two new hospitals Hillcrest Health System is building at I-35 and Highway 6. Bob Moore Construction of Arlington will erect the 347,000-square-foot addition at the rear of the present building. Tractor Supply received a pledge of up to $965,000 from the Waco- McLennan County Economic Development Corp. as an incentive to build its new center in Waco. It has received a promise of an additional $150,000 for its expansion. Tractor Supply officials say the company's investment in the new center and the addition exceeds $20 million. Because it is receiving money from the city-county incentive fund, Tractor Supply must pay an average of $12 an hour. It also must provide health insurance, said Melett Harrison, administrator for economic development in the city manager's office. "The philosophy is that the city and county want to be funding jobs that make a difference in this community, that make a difference to the families in this community," Harrison said. Mayor Virginia DuPuy lauded Tractor Supply for its ambitious plans that will allow it to serve more stores from its Waco center. "I think we're off to a pretty good start to 2008," said Jim Vaughan, president of the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce. On Jan. 28, Caterpillar announced it would build a 500,000-square- foot distribution center that would employ up to 180. Tractor Supply has had a distribution center in Waco for 10 years and relocated to its present site in 2003. It now serves 135 stores in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. The expansion will allow it to serve more than 200 stores and the additional states of Louisiana, New Mexico and Mississippi, Dunn said. Discussing Tractor Supply's rapid growth, logistics director Larry Corrigan said the company had 463 stores and enjoyed $1.4 billion in sales in 2003, when Waco's new distribution center was built. "In 2008," said Corrigan, "we project $3 billion in sales and up to 100 new store openings, giving us 850 stores by the end of the year." The company has 102 stores in Texas. To see more of the Waco Tribune-Herald, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.wacotrib.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Waco Tribune-Herald, Texas Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |