What We DO
Supporting Business Growth in Lubbock
LEDA provides a broad range of programs and services designed to support companies considering relocation, expansion, or investment in the Lubbock market. From research and workforce information to site selection, incentives, and connections with community partners, our team helps businesses navigate the resources they need to make informed decisions.
Our services are provided at no cost and handled confidentially. Whether a company is exploring Lubbock for the first time or looking to expand its existing operations, LEDA works alongside businesses and community partners throughout the process.
Business Recruitment, Retention & Expansion
Research & Market Intelligence
LEDA provides the data and analysis businesses need to evaluate opportunities in Lubbock and the surrounding region. Our team gathers and analyzes market and demographic information, provides current economic and regional data, conducts labor market analyses and workforce assessments, and can provide utility rate quotes and load calculations.
Sites, Connections & Navigation
Finding the right location and navigating the process of establishing or expanding a business can be complex. LEDA assists companies in identifying available sites and buildings while connecting them with community officials, business leaders, brokers, vendors, and other partners. We also provide guidance with local planning and permitting agencies, coordinate meetings with community allies, and host site visits and regional familiarization tours.
Incentives & Economic Analysis
LEDA can help companies identify and evaluate available state and local incentive programs. Our team assists with compiling incentive opportunities, developing incentive packages, and providing economic impact analyses to help businesses understand the potential impact of their investment.
Foreign Trade Zone Assistance
For companies that may benefit from Foreign Trade Zone designation, LEDA provides support throughout the process. Services can include cost-savings analysis, connections with customs brokers and the U.S. Department of Commerce, security analysis of potential FTZ sites, activation checklists, and liaison assistance throughout activation.
After You Choose Lubbock
LEDA’s support doesn’t end once a company decides to expand or relocate to Lubbock. Our team can continue assisting businesses by coordinating press releases and events, including grand openings and ribbon-cutting ceremonies, as well as helping implement employee recruitment and training programs.
Grants, Resources & Opportunities
Navigating available grants and funding opportunities can be challenging. The Lubbock Economic Development Alliance has compiled resources to help individuals, businesses, and organizations identify opportunities available in Lubbock and understand where to find additional information. If you have any questions or are in need of additional direction, please contact our team.
Non-profit Organizations & Small Businesses
The Lubbock County offices distribute ARPA funds. The guidelines are available here. You can find a direct link to the application here. For more information or assistance, please call (806) 749-4500.
Commercial Revitalization Grant Program
If a business owner and/or property owner is interested in making updates to a building on commercial 34th Street, North University and/or the East side of Lubbock, contact Jorge Quirino, Director of Downtown and Special Projects, for more information related to these grants.
Commercial Revitalization Grant Program Overview MLI with Maps
Downtown Grant Program
If a business owner and/or property owner is interested in making updates to a downtown Lubbock building, contact Jorge Quirino, Director of Downtown and Special Projects, before construction for more information related to these grants.
Red Raider 100
About Red Raider 100
Red Raider 100 launched in 2025, but the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance has been researching and developing this program since 2022. Inspired by other programs across the country, LEDA wants to recognize the success of businesses led, owned, or founded by Texas Tech alumni. Red Raider 100 not only honors these former students and all they are contributing to innovation, job creation, and economic growth around the globe, but also provides an opportunity for these alumni to see how much the university and Lubbock have changed since their time on campus
Economic Development 101
What Is Economic Development?
Economic development is the process of creating greater wealth within a community by bringing new dollars into the local economy. While attracting outside investment is an important part of economic development, communities also benefit from supporting existing businesses, encouraging entrepreneurship, and creating opportunities for long-term growth.
Primary Jobs
Primary jobs produce goods or services for customers predominantly outside the community. When businesses bring revenue into Lubbock from outside markets, those dollars enter the local economy and circulate through employee wages, supplier purchases, and other local spending.
Attracting New Business
Economic development organizations help companies evaluate a community by providing information, resources, and connections throughout the site-selection process. This can include demographic and economic data, quality-of-life information, infrastructure details, business assistance programs, real estate opportunities, taxes, and regulations.
LEDA also works to market Lubbock to targeted industries that align with the community’s strengths and opportunities. This outreach can include recruitment trips, advertising, site-selection conferences, trade shows, multimedia presentations, public relations, and digital marketing.
Retaining & Expanding Existing Businesses
Economic development isn’t only about bringing new companies to a community. Supporting businesses that are already here is an important part of creating a strong business environment. Factors such as workforce availability, infrastructure, incentives, access to markets, quality of life, cost of doing business, taxes and regulations, universities, international travel, and existing industries can all contribute to a company’s decision to remain and expand in a community.
What Influences a Company’s Location Decision?
Companies consider a wide range of factors when evaluating potential locations. These can include the availability and cost of skilled labor, highway access, energy availability and costs, telecommunications, tax exemptions, construction and occupancy costs, state and local incentives, proximity to major markets, and available land. According to Area Development Magazine’s Corporate Survey 2010 of corporate decision makers, the top 10 site selection criteria are:
- Availability of skilled labor
- Labor costs
- Highway accessibility
- Energy availability and costs
- Availability of telecommunications services
- Tax exemptions
- Occupancy or construction costs
- State and local incentives
- Proximity to major markets
- Availability of land
Economic development does not just involve attracting “outside” dollars. Most communities also include small business development and business creation in their definition of local economic development.
What People Are Saying
The work that LEDA is doing in conjunction with TTU and SPC to develop workforce pays off when people choose Lubbock.
Dan Pope
Former Mayor of Lubbock
We are centered primarily around workforce to ensure we have a future trained workforce available for our businesses.
John Osborn
John Osborne
Pres. & CEO LEDA
Lubbock is that city where people are friendly. We’ve been named the friendliest city in the past.