KYLE, Texas — More jobs are coming to the City of Kyle!
Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday morning that SmileDirectClub's Access Dental Lab will create a new high-tech manufacturing lab in Kyle, Texas.
Dan Baker, who is the global head of supply chain for Access Dental Lab, said the company will create a total of 850 new jobs in the marketplace.
“Thanks to Governor Abbott’s Texas Enterprise Fund, SmileDirectClub has the great privilege of bringing hundreds of quality jobs to the City of Kyle, Texas," Baker said. "The decision to expand our U.S. manufacturing and distribution supply chain to Texas is owed to the state and community leadership’s support for innovation and their belief in our mission."
The lab will occupy 150,000 square feet in the Hays Logistics Center, which is part of a taxpayer-subsidized park that was built to attract development.
Access Dental Lab is a subsidiary of Access Dental Lab LLC, SmileDirectClub’s manufacturing and distribution affiliate, Gov. Abbott said.
"I am pleased that SmileDirectClub has chosen Kyle as their home base for Access Dental Lab TX, and I look forward to the prosperity and success that their investment will bring to the entire Lone Star State," Gov. Abbott said. "This exciting new expansion will bring even greater economic prosperity for this community, and the job creation and capital investment spurred by this announcement will create even more economic opportunities for Texans."
The City of Kyle approved the deal around noon on Tuesday.
"We feel like SmileDirectClub and the City of Kyle are a match that will get everyone smiling," said City of Kyle Director of Economic Development Diana Blank-Torres. "We have been working diligently through the City of Kyle economic development efforts to really focus on recruiting quality jobs in target industry sectors. This project spans several of those targets as a high-tech, biomedical, manufacturing company. We are extremely excited to welcome Access Dental Lab Texas to the City of Kyle."
To help SmileDirectClub navigate the expansion process, Opportunity Austin and the Greater San Marcos Partnership worked alongside the City of Kyle.
“Opportunity Austin is delighted SmileDirectClub's Access Dental Lab has chosen Kyle for a major expansion,” said Austin Chamber Opportunity Austin Chair Gary Farmer. “With 850 new jobs requiring a broad spectrum of skill levels, our regional workforce will benefit tremendously from these new opportunities. Our regional talent pipeline will surely help SmileDirectClub continue to grow, innovate and prosper in Central Texas.”
If the company is able to meet performance standards, such as the number of jobs and the average salary being above $40,000 a year, the incentive package will save the company an estimated $659,799 from the city and $474,992 from the county over eight years. The City also estimates that through taxes it will be worth $5,234,235 to the City and $1,781,183 to the County. That's more than $7.1 million.
The lab will be the largest private employer in the City of Kyle.
"I am incredibly grateful to the Austin Chamber of Commerce and the Greater San Marcos Partnership for collaborating with us to help attract a large employer to locate their business in Kyle. This project wouldn't have been possible without their support as well as the partnership with the Governor's office and Hays County," Kyle Mayor Travis Mitchell said. "This is the biggest jobs announcement in the history of Kyle, and it didn't come out of nowhere. For several years, our team has been laser-focused on creating an attractive environment for employers, because we know that local primary jobs are essential to improving the quality of life for those who call Kyle home."
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