Continuing to be a resource available to the public during any stage of an individual’s business pursuit, Taylor McAlpine with Leading EDG has been helping Levelland’s entrepreneurs grow.
An Amarillo based business (Leading EDG), the company offers a network of resources with the goal of developing entrepreneurs and strengthening small businesses.
The team at Leading EDG utilize a network of strategic alliances that include experts in financial management, sales training, business coaching, intellectual property, social media and more.
Working with the City of Levelland for the better part of three years, McAlpine has continued to assist business owners in any stage of their business venture.
For a majority of clients with Leading EDG, most businesses are true startups and firstgeneration business owners who are considering the idea.
While the decision to move forward is solely on the business owner, McAlpine wants to ensure that his client has all the necessary information provided to the client to make the best decision moving forward. That could range from fact finding and market research.
An EDC cannot provide the services by law that McAlpine and his employer can provide as a private contractor. From the Leading EDG side of things, McAlpine can be the “boots on the ground” for clients within Levelland or any area he has clients.
For clients, that means McAlpine can spend time with clients, have one-on-one conversations, hear the clients professional and private goals and craft a plan to address all those factors.
Closing out the year, McAlpine has been working with clients and gauging the necessary steps that were a result of the severe storm in May.
“Luckily for a majority of my clients nothing was severe,” said McAlpine. “We all know that there was a devastating impact to the community, but the clients I worked with were able to navigate it and move forward.” From there, McAlpine feels that there has been healthy activity in economic growth and interest in Levelland given its size.
Another highlight for McAlpine has been working closely with the Levelland Economic Development Cooperation (LEDC) and LEDC Director Justin Balderas. McAlpine has had the opportunity to speak to business students at South Plains College every semester. He also had the same opportunity to speak to students at Levelland High School this year as well.
“It is great supporting student entrepreneurship and letting them know them know what we do and then going through an exercise to let them know what putting together a business plan or a business concept might look like,” explained McAlpine. “At Levelland High school we were able to show how entrepreneurship on a community level can provide an economic opportunity for everyone.”
Looking toward a new year, situational factors such as the election cycle and new interest rates were the focus for a lot of entrepreneurs, according to McAlpine.
“Regardless of people voting one way or another, the thing that matters is that the election cycle is completed,” explained McAlpine. “They (business owners) just needed certainty on how to progress. Everyone wants to keep growing, but it comes down to knowing whose rules and guidelines it will be under.”
Referencing recent interest changes. During their Dec. meeting, the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) cut interest rates by 0.25% to a range of 4.25%-4.50% to gradually normalize policy as inflationary pressures stabilize.
The Fed’s rate cut continued its trajectory of lower policy rates, but its new projections indicate a more patient approach to easing policy going forward. The Fed’s median projections call for 0.50% of rate cuts in 2025, which generally aligns with interest rate market pricing.
With the goal of economic growth in mind, McAlpine hopes those factors will trickle down to the local level and provide more possibilities for the area.
For those clients that are already out of the startup phase, some tailored questions for those clients in that phase of business can focus on what they need to do for profit maximization or if there is there anything that can be done for shareholders.
Regardless of where a business owner is such as retirement, expanding, looking at another business venture, McAlpine explained that there are resources that his company can offer to those individuals who are in any part of their business venture.
For all clients, their business partnership with McAlpine and Leading EDG are always confidential and proprietary.
The only criteria for the EDG are that an individual owns, operates, or are interested in starting a business within Levelland.
For client relationships, they can vary depending on the amount of involvement.
The main focus for Leading EDG and McAlpine is to promote the growth of the EDC they are serving.
Being able to take an overall look at what Levelland has to offer, McAlpine touched on several key areas where there could be potential.
“I think an opportunity that Levelland needs to continue exploring is the great asset of South Plains College which is right here in our backyard,” said McAlpine. “So, what does that continued integration and engagement of campus to community look like?”
McAlpine added that could include employment, entrepreneurial ideas and from there serving the customer base.
“I have heard from multiple clients wishing more college students knew they were there,” explained McAlpine. “There’s an awareness gap. So, helping create more experiences for the student base to actually experience what Levelland has to offer in its fullness would be great.”
In the long term, McAlpine feels there are a lot of factors that give Levelland the ability to be resilient. Those include having an established town, the business park, SPC, Covenant, a healthy downtown and the oil and agricultural industry.
“As West Texas and Lubbock grow, Levelland will continue to benefit from that,” added McAlpine. “If there are project that do not fit there but will fit out here then that is another opportunity.”
With opportunity for economic growth, one area that has surprised McAlpine is the lack of a “watering hole” for community gathering. With more than 12,000 residents, McAlpine explained it could be as simple as a business serving food, drink and entertainment. Also, it could be a location for sports fans to gather and watch their teams they support.
While most conversation about business is centered around “bringing” it to a specific area, McAlpine explained that an individual can always grow something where they are.
“I think there is a space for it and it can be an original idea or concept,” said McAlpine. “With South Plains here, I think leaning into their music program would be a great opportunity as well.”