HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-09-27 Euless ArticlesBUSINESS
SEPTEMBER 16, 2016 4:01 PM
Falcon Steel begins new chapter after
$30 million investment
Falcon Steel provides fabricated products for utility poles, transmission
towers and other industries from facilities in Haltom City, Euless and
Kaufman. Falcon Steel
Jim Taylor
BY STEVE KASKOVICH
skaskovich@star-telegram.com
Two years ago, it looked like Falcon Steel might face the fate of many other old-line U.S.
manufacturers when it filed for bankruptcy.
Instead, the 53-year-old fabricator, based in Haltom City near the border with Fort
Worth, is ready for a new start 17 months after exiting bankruptcy, thanks to a $30
million recapitalization that will pay for new equipment and help the company win
more business, said CEO Jim Taylor.
If projections pan out, the company will add 60-75 employees over the next 12 to 14
months, adding to its workforce of about 300 at facilities in Haltom City, Euless and
Kaufman, Taylor said in an interview.
“As we win jobs, we look for fitters and welders,” said Taylor, a turnaround expert who
came in as a restructuring consultant and took over as CEO two years ago. “We will put
on a second shift and expand as soon as we fill up the first shift.”
The company makes lattice towers, poles and substation structures for electric utilities
such as Oncor and Centerpoint. It also supplies metal structures to hold highway signs
throughout the state, and other pieces such as sculptures at Grapevine Mills mall and
stairways at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
The financial injection came from two investment firms in Dallas — ReignRock Capital
Partners and Inverdale Capital Management — plus a line of credit from Chase Bank. In
a nice twist, the money bought out 24 shareholders, mostly managers at the company,
who were able to make it through a bankruptcy reorganization that gave the company
time to find new investors to pay off creditors.
Renamed Falcon Steel America, Taylor plans to capitalize on its position as a U.S.
manufacturer. “When on-time delivery is critical, geographic and cultural proximity are
major benefits,” he said in a statement. “American-made products also stand for quality
— which is exactly what our reputation is built on.”
Steve Kaskovich: 817-390-7773, @stevekasko
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/business/article102292712.html#storylink=cpy
Best Places to Live 2016
2016 TIME INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
18. Euless, Tex.
Sept. 17, 2016
Sept. 17, 2016
AT A GLANCE
Population 57,457
Median Home Price $200,000
Property Tax $4,036
Unemployment rate 4.1%
Commute time 24 minutes
Tucked in between Dallas and Fort Worth, Euless prides itself on being a mid-size city with a
small-town spirit. The community rallies around Trinity High School’s football team, and for
good reason: The Trojans won the 2015 district championship, boast a 14-year record of 165-
25, and were even featured in a Gatorade commercial. The high school also earns points for
being the most diverse public high school in Texas—a fitting accolade given Euless’ significant
Asian and Hispanic communities. Students at Trinity High can also take specialized classes in
robotics, cosmetology, and pre-med at the Buinger Career and Technical Education Academy,
which opened in 2014.
The Euless Public Library offers a number of specialized programs, including STEM learning
courses for kids, movie matinees, and free counseling sessions for small business owners
through the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE). For the outdoor minded, Euless has
an 18-hole world-class golf course, an aquatic park, and over 300 acres of parkland. Although
there aren’t many major employers within the town itself, its proximity to Dallas (a 30-minute
drive) offers a lot of jobs. Indeed, Euless’ unemployment rate is only 4.1%. All of this comes
with affordable real estate: the typical home here sells for $200,000.
http://time.com/money/4468986/euless-texas/
50. Scottsdale, Ariz.
49. West Chester, Ohio
48. Edmond, Okla.
47. Ames, Iowa
46. Fremont, Calif.
45. Central Pasco, Fla.
44. Spring, Texas
43. Lee’s Summit, Mo.
42. Matoaca, Va.
41. Levittown, Pa.
40. Greenwich, Conn.
39. Huntington, N.Y.
38. Hamden, Conn.
37. Cary, N.C.
36. Wellington, Fla.
35. Sioux Falls, S.D.
34. Oyster Bay, N.Y.
33. Koolaupoko, Hawaii
32. Novi, Mich.
31. Newton, Mass.
30. Fishers, Ind.
29. Overland Park, Kan.
28. Hunter Mill, Va.
27. Hoffman Estates, Ill.
26. Cherry Hill, N.J.
25. Broomfield, Colo.
24. Appleton, Wisc.
23. Franklin, N.J.
22. Ashburn, Va.
21. San Ramon, Calif.
20. Irvine, Calif.
19. Edison, N.J.
18. Euless, Tex.
17. Eastvale, Calif.
16. Nashua, N.H.
15. West Hartford, Conn.
14. Sammamish, Wash.
13. Centennial, Colo.
12. Pflugerville, Tex.
11. Woodbury, Minn.
10. Naperville, Ill.
9. Beaverton, Ore.
8. Weston, Fla.
7. Clarkstown, N.Y.
6. Highlands Ranch, Colo.
5. Parsippany-Troy Hills, N.J.
4. West Des Moines, Iowa
3. Plano, Texas
2. Eden Prairie, Minn.
1. Columbia, Md.
HURST-EULESS-BEDFORD NEWS
SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 9:20 AM
H-E-B happenings: Pet fair, community
meeting and Cuban expert
ANNUAL PET FAIR, FUNDRAISER
IS SATURDAY AT TRINITY HIGH
Need a new pet or just want to get your
little guy checked out?
Then the Trinity High School GAP Club’s
Fall Pet Fair is the place to be on Saturday.
The fair is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Trinity
High School, 500 N. Industrial Blvd.,
Euless.
The annual fair is the largest event and
fundraiser for the Euless Animal Shelter
and will offer low-cost vaccinations and
microchipping for pets until 1 p.m., along
with professional dog photos, dog bathing
and nail trimming.
Did we mention the garage sale?
Local vendors will be selling crafts and all-things canine and the shelter will have pets available
for adoption.
Visit www.trinitygaprescue.org to check what pets are available.
OUTREACH MEETING FOR BEDFORD RESIDENTS IS THURSDAY
Bedford residents wanting to know more about their city can attend Thursday’s Residential
Outreach Meeting at 7 p.m. at the former library building across from City Hall, at 1805 L. Don
Dodson Drive.
Registration for the free event is at 6:30 p.m. and for a quick check-in bring your printed
Eventbrite ticket (available at eventbrite.com and which can be accessed through Bedford’s
Facebook page).
Max Faulkner mfaulkner@star-telegram.com
Sponsored by the Bedford Community Affairs Commission, the meeting will feature Eric
Valdez, community services manager; Don Henderson, parks superintendent; Jim Griffin,
mayor; and Jeff Gibson, police chief.
The winner of the first Katie Savage Resident of the Year award will also be announced.
Questions? Email Joy Brandon at bonjourjoy@aol.com.
CUBAN EXPERT SPEAKS AT TCC NORTHEAST CAMPUS MONDAY
As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, Carlos Alzugary, a former Cuban ambassador and
diplomat and current educator, will speak at Northeast Campus of Tarrant County College in
Hurst.
Alzugary will speak on “Changing Relations with Cuba” at 12:30 p.m. Monday in the Student
Union Building at TCC’s Northeast Campus, 828 W. Harwood Drive, Hurst.
Alzugary, a native of Havana, is a regular speaker and an expert on international affairs
involving the U.S. and Cuba and beyond.
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/hurst-euless-
bedford_news/article103393592.html#storylink=cpy