ODC to Discuss Purchases

An item tabled at last month's meeting is scheduled to be up for discussion again when the Odessa Development Corp. board meets Thursday.

National Oilwell Varco and Sitewest Development Corp. are looking to purchase and improve 13.6 acres in the Odessa Industrial Development Corp. North Industrial Park. If approved, the ODC would pay a $450,000 incentive grant for the project.

The company plans to add 28 jobs to its existing base of 80 employees during the next five years, according to the board packet for the ODC meeting. It says it will spend at least $4.5 million in building the project. The contract requires the company make "commercially reasonable" efforts to hire local contractors and employees.

A spokesman for National Oilwell, who refused to identify himself, declined to comment.

Also on the agenda is a 600-acre land purchase for $250,000. Gary Vest, economic development director for the Odessa Chamber of Commerce, said the ODC would purchase land in Penwell as part of Summit Power's proposed $2.8 billion coal gasification plant.

The site was once reserved for the U.S. Department of Energy-backed FutureGen near-zero emissions coal power plant.

Vest said the ODC has an option to purchase the land in place that will expire at the end of the month.

He said he would continue to seek an extension to that agreement leading up to the ODC meeting.

The meeting is set for 3 p.m. in Odessa City Hall's third floor conference room.