Putting the spotlight on the state of Texas

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Pit & Quarry’s in-depth, periodic state-by-state coverage continues this month with a series on Texas, the nation’s No. 1 crushed stone-producing state.

P&Q associate editor Joe McCarthy went down to the Lone Star State last year, visiting three operations around the Greater Houston and Austin areas to capture a flavor of the aggregate industry in two key regions. What McCarthy found was an upbeat, prideful bunch of producers that thrives in part because of conditions that generally make doing business in Texas easier than other places.

Texas took off decades ago as an oil and gas state, and while oil and gas production still represents a sizable chunk of the Texas economy, the economy in Texas is vastly more diversified today.

Tech companies are finding a home there, particularly in Austin where the tech industry has reportedly grown by almost 25 percent over the last five years.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, the Lone Star State also produces 10 percent of all goods manufactured in the United States. Plus, Texas is the leading U.S. exporter, accounting for 20 percent of the nation’s exports.

One could argue that Texas’ economy is robust because of its size, which is comparable to France in terms of square miles. But there’s more to Texas’ success than it’s massive geography.

Texas gets business, fostering a welcoming environment that offers a relatively low cost of living and incentives that drive people into the state. It’s undoubtedly the business environment that attracts people to Texas in droves.

More than 1,000 people reportedly move to Texas every day. Some establish businesses there, some bring existing businesses from elsewhere and others arrive seeking an opportunity for a better life. This last group is looking for jobs, and jobs Texas can provide.

All of this growth bodes well for Texas’ aggregate producers, driving demand for construction materials unlike any other state. Texas government officials and the public at-large also recognize the value of investing in their surface transportation infrastructure, providing several key funding sources.