Waller County Economic Development Partnership (WCEDP) Executive Director, Vince Yokom, and Elin Energy, LLC CEO, Ercan Kalafat, were on hand as Governor Greg Abbott announced November 1st that Texas once again is named the top state for business climate in the US.

"Today, we celebrate another victory for Texas—this time with Texas listed as the No. 1 business climate in the United States of America," said Governor Abbott. "This is the first time we've won this award from Site Selection [magazine] since 2011. All of this is a testament to the exceptional economic development professionals and chambers of commerce in Texas. Texas is America's economic juggernaut, and we are now the eighth-largest economy in the entire world. We cut red tape, we have lower taxes, and we have the best workforce in the United States. Most importantly, the Texas economy is great for all Texans. Texas is the modern embodiment of the American dream—the land of freedom for entrepreneurs. Thank you to the hardworking people of Texas for making this award possible."

In October, the WCEDP announced that Elin Energy chose Waller County as the site for their new advanced manufacturing facility to produce solar panels here in the US. Already recognized as one of the largest in Europe, Elin brings years of experience in developing the next generation of solar technology. Started in 1981, Elin Energy is a leader in advanced energy solutions and will have the capacity to manufacture 2,000 MW annually in their new US facility.

Ercan remarked, “It was really an honor to be in Austin for this great announcement. It was the very supportive environment of Texas that was a major part of our decision to move here. We looked at other states, but it was obvious that Texas was the best fit.”

“This is a great project for Texas and Waller County. We worked closely with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Tourism to attract Elin. It’s exciting to have a project that contributes to the success of Texas as the top site for business climate,” said Yokom.