Area Development
A manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines, Caterpillar Inc., opened its 600,000 square foot expanded hydraulic excavator manufacturing plant in Victoria, Texas.

One incentive that helped spark expansion came from a $1.175 million investment from the Texas Enterprise Fund. Caterpillar created 225 jobs, will generate $200 million in capital investment with the new facility, and plans to continue hiring in Victoria, Gov. Rick Perry's Office said.

Caterpillar's latest expansion at 203 Holt Road near US 59T Business triples the company's current domestic production capacity for hydraulic excavators, and doubles the number of Caterpillar employees in the U.S. making excavators.

"This new facility in Victoria will help us better serve our customers in North America, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to meet some of our newest employees and to see first-hand a factory that I am sure will be among the very best we have anywhere in the world," Caterpillar Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Doug Oberhelman said.

"Based on our comprehensive review of possible locations, Victoria's proximity

to our supply base, access to ports and other transportation, as well as the positive

business climate in Texas made this the ideal site for this project," said Gary Stampanato, Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for excavators, when plans for the plant were announced. "Caterpillar is committed to maintaining its global leadership position in the excavator industry, and this new facility in Texas will play an important role in our long-term plans to provide customers in every

"Caterpillar is no stranger to the way we do business here in Texas, and they've made it clear, through commitment after commitment, they like what they see," Perry said. "We happily return that sentiment and remain committed to our successful formula of low taxes, predictable regulations, fair courts and skilled workforce that has made Texas' jobs climate second to none."

In 2008, the company received an $8.5 million investment through the TEF to bring an $111 million engine manufacturing facility to Seguin, Texas, creating more than 1,400 jobs. With approximately 3,000 Texans employed by the firm, Caterpillar also has operating locations in Amarillo, Channelview, Coppell, Dallas, Denison, De Soto, El Paso, Fort Worth, Garland, Houston, Laredo, Mabank, McAllen, McKinney, Midland, Sherman, Waco and Waskom.