The Kilgore Economic Development Corporation (KEDC) is marking 35 years of operation, highlighting long-term gains in property values, industrial diversification, and sustained public-private collaboration that have reshaped the East Texas community since 1990.
Since its formation, Kilgore has recorded significant growth across all property sectors. Industrial property values have increased 551 percent, rising from approximately $67 million in 1990 to more than $435 million in 2025. Commercial values grew nearly 497 percent, while residential values increased 301 percent over the same period. Overall, Kilgore’s total property tax base expanded from roughly $374 million to more than $1.8 billion, representing a 386 percent increase.
“That’s a powerful testament to the strength of this community and to decades of collaboration between public and private partners who believed in Kilgore’s potential,” said Lisa Denton, executive director of KEDC. “From a single idea to diversify our economy, we’ve grown into a regional leader — home to world-class companies whose products reach across Texas, the nation, and the globe.”
KEDC was established following voter approval of a half-cent sales tax dedicated to economic development, a funding mechanism that continues to support recruitment, expansion, and business retention efforts. Mayor Ronnie Spradlin, who helped lead the original campaign in the late 1980s, said the results reflect the community’s long-term commitment. “We promised the people that money would go to create jobs and grow businesses in Kilgore,” he said. “This much later, I feel like we fulfilled those promises.”
A cornerstone of KEDC’s strategy has been Synergy Park, the region’s only Class A business park, designed to leverage nearby transportation infrastructure and support both domestic and international investment. According to KEDC Board President Alan Pollard, the organization has helped attract expansion projects that created jobs while diversifying the local economy. “Kilgore consistently punches above its weight class, competing against communities many times our size,” Pollard said.
Recent projects have drawn statewide recognition. In 2025, KEDC earned its third consecutive Business Retention and Expansion International Award of Excellence for supporting KeepRite Refrigeration’s $55 million expansion. The organization also received a Texas Economic Development Council Community Economic Development Award following Camfil USA’s $97 million investment in Synergy Park.
Denton said recent capital investments represent more than physical growth. “These projects represent opportunity: jobs for local residents, stability for families, and a stronger tax base that supports schools, infrastructure, and quality of life,” she said.
As KEDC looks ahead, city leaders said continued collaboration among businesses, local governments, educational institutions, and residents will remain central to Kilgore’s economic strategy. “Together, we’ve all built something truly special,” Denton said, “and together, we’ll keep crafting Kilgore’s next great chapter.”
