Development is at an all-time high in Hearne.
Kent Brunette, Economic Director, said overflow traffic from Bryan/College Station helps with exposure, but it isn’t just restaurants and hotels creating revenue in the community.
“There is a big mound of dirt that everybody in Hearne has been talking about. It is the site for a new Tractor Supply. We are very excited about that, but we’re excited about having a new Ace Hardware downtown too,” he said.
Brunette said two other projects, both of which are still in the planning stages, are Union Pacific’s railroad yard and National Gypsum’s new manufacturing plant.
“If Union Pacific brings in 2,000 temporary workers over a three year period, that’s going to fill our hotels, our restaurants, not just Hearne but all over the county,” he said.
Brunette said the potential influx of workers has home owners fixing up and even flipping houses.
Click below to hear comments from Kent Brunette visiting with WTAW’s Chelsea Reber.
Courtesy of Hearne Chamber of Commerce:
According to the Texas Comptroller’s website, Hearne’s sales tax allocations have quadrupled in the past twenty years. Starting at $233,726 in 1995, ten years later these city sales tax allocations had jumped to $581,696.69 in 2005. Another ten years later, these sales tax allocations are weighing-in at a whopping $1,107,965. For two years in a row, Hearne’s sales tax allocations have topped $1 million a year.
Compare Hearne’s $1,107,965 (population 4,459) to Cameron’s $903,860 (population 5,552) to Rockdale’s $778,356 (population 5,579) to Marlin’s $701,146 (population 5,967) in sales tax allocations for 2015.
Hearne’s sales tax allocations are expected to just keep increasing. Consider UP’s planned new Brazos Yard, National Gypsum’s planned new wallboard plant, ever-increasing highway traffic, on-going power plant, coal mine, oil & gas activities.
What’s more, the local truss company is expanding and hiring more workers. Corn Collision is doing the same thing. Twelve new two-bedroom rental housing units are being built on the east side of Hearne. Forty-four extended stay units are nearing completion on FM485. A local RV park is expanding and a new one is taking shape. Houses are selling; individuals are fixing-up houses all over town.
Hill’s Insurance will soon be moving to 601 W Brown Street.
One high visibility local development is catching local residents and highway travelers by surprise. All of the “dirt work” that is getting done on the former Harold and Betty Anderson place between Stoney’s Liquor and Auto Plus on combined TX6/US79 is making way for a large Tractor Supply.
“I am so glad Hearne is getting a Tractor Supply,” said one local resident. “My husband and I will soon be able to buy work boots, work shirts, winter coats, and long-johns in Hearne instead of having to drive out of town.”
“There will soon be a place in Hearne to buy horse feed and my bulk dog food,” said another. “This local availability of different merchandise will attract farmers and ranchers from throughout Robertson and neighboring Milam County.”
“While there may be a little overlap between Ace Hardware’s and Tractor Supply’s offerings,” commented another, “there are lots of differences. Having both in town will give customers opportunities to buy items that were previously unavailable locally.”
Right next door to the Tractor Supply site is the less visible Hearne Oak Tree Inn expansion. From Stoney’s parking lot, take a careful look at the back of the Oak Tree Inn. Find the Templeton Electric and Rocha Plumbing vehicles that are working at the back of Building B.
A new two-story, 24-room wing is being added to the Oak Tree Inn. It will accommodate lots of railroaders in the future. Regular, private-pay hotel guests will soon find more hotel rooms to rent there as well.
A fast food restaurant representative has been looking at TX6 properties. He’s talked with most landowners from FM485 to the railroad overpass near Hearne’s Little League fields. A land purchase contract and a formal announcement are likely forthcoming.
The Hearne Chamber of Commerce’s high-visibility building at 304 South Market Street is for sale. The asking price is $75,000. Totally gutted and remodeled in recent years, it’s got a new HVAC system, new roof, new floors, new ceiling tiles, bathroom fixtures from Crane Plumbing, interior doors from Lifetime Doors, fresh khaki-colored paint, an old downtown streetlight fixture, and two parking spaces out front.
Close to $1.5 million out of a targeted $2 million has been raised to build a new convention, events, meetings, and training centre next to the historic depot. The chamber plans to build a small new office as part of this facility.
Take renewed pride in Hearne! Our economy is growing and it shows!