Industry and Recruitment

The Economic Development Department of the Odessa Chamber of Commerce, the Odessa Industrial Development Corporation and the Odessa Development Corporation, recruit and attract new industry as well as maintain our existing industry base. All three organizations work very closely when dealing with business issues.

Retention: Local businesses and industries are extremely satisfied with Odessa as a base for their operations. In fact, a recent survey showed Odessa as an excellent place to conduct business, with most citing the pro-business attitude by governmental leaders as a major plus.

New Industry: Specific strengths of Odessa include a non-union and skilled labor force, a mid-continent location in the Central Time Zone where government works for business, and an extremely favorable climate.

Incentives: Competition for new jobs is a familiar characteristic for Odessa, where an Enterprise Zone leads the way toward revitalization and reinvestment. Ad valorem tax abatement, state sales tax refund, franchise tax exemptions, total freeport exemption and free land are just a few of the options readily available to industrial company representatives seeking inducements to relocate in Odessa. These, coupled with fully developed industrial parks and the economic development sales tax, give Odessa the edge in competitive incentives.

International Trade: Odessa is strategically located to become a major distribution center for goods going in and out of Mexico. Along with a central U.S. location, Odessa provides direct links to IH-20 and U.S. Highway 385. Situated approximately ten miles east of Odessa and serving the entire Permian Basin is Midland International Airport. Recently, this airport received status as a Border Entry Airport for air passenger travel that will allow private and charter aircraft access to Midland International without first stopping at a border city. This designation will lead to an increase in tourism and international trade, as well as the possibility of more commercial air traffic moving in and out of Mexico.