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Charles and Jody Allen, Owners of Knives of America

Charles & Jody Allen

  • Owners - Knives of Alaska
  • "Denison has much to offer its residents and visitors - from its wonderful public parks and covered pool to a nationally recognized hospital and exemplary public school system. All these things and more combine to make Denison a stand-out town with stand-out people who celebrate the art of living. Being able to enjoy the community and feel safe at the same time is definitely a winning combination."

Patrick Melvin with Hey Sugar Candy and Ice Cream Store

  • Facade Grant Recipient
  • "We had been looking all over Texas and Oklahoma, but when I came to this part, I said, “this is it!” Denison Development [Alliance] was there to help us and then the Chamber of Commerce helped us. We had people here that said “What can we do to help you?” And it's just been fantastic. You want to come to the right place, come to Denison, anywhere around here, because the people are good and all the people that have a business in downtown work really well. You want to come somewhere? Come to Denison!"

Bob Landon with Landon Winery

  • Destination Creation Grant, Facade Grant and Fire Suppression Grant Recipient
  • "We opened our winery here and for places like us that produce alcohol, [the Destination Creation Grant] was very beneficial for us. The DDA was very helpful in supporting us - we had to put in a sprinkler system that was a very expensive and there was a grant to help offset some of that and also the Façade Grant for the front of the building. We redid the front of the building and put in new windows and put in an awning and made it look really nice. All of that really does help. When a business is looking at going to a new city, yes, they look at the economics of the location and the demographics of the people that live there and the income, but [it] also helps when the city is also supporting the business financially. It helps make the decision to come here easier."

Mike Roberts with The Horse’s Axe

  • Destination Creation Grant, Facade Grant, Fire Suppression Grant, and Alley Access Grant Recipient
  • "We chose Denison because the city was so easy to work with and they kept communicating with us. We felt like they wanted us here and the grants really helped us get [The Horse’s Axe] built out. We did the Destination Creation Grant, which at the end of it all gave us an operating income to get started. We also did the Façade Grant, which replaced all the windows and doors in the building. We got the Fire Suppression Grant, which helped us with fire suppression and then we also did an Alley Access Grant which got us our back doors. I would highly recommend that if you're looking for a city to go to, to start your business, check out Denison, Texas."

Nitia Musico with Monsters on Main

  • E-Commerce Grant and Facade Grant Recipient
  • "Monsters on Main…came about after a Destination bootcamp, which was funded by Denison Development Alliance. That along with the E-Commerce Grant, helped me transition fully into Monsters on Main. The E-Commerce Grant allowed us to set up the website. We decided to use Shopify so it integrated in-store purchases with all our online purchases. The grant allowed us to do more social media and help with advertising. It also allowed us to set up a shipping station. So that was an amazing help... When we purchased the building, it was orange. So we now have a nice blue building [due to the Façade Grant]. Our windows leaked a lot, so the Facade Grant allowed us to replace our windows. But the most important thing for me, of course, was the signage. I'm lucky enough to have one of the biggest signs downtown. So I love the fact that my monsters are on display on the sign."

Brian Aspell

  • VP of Manufacturing - Champion Cooler Corporation
  • "It is with much pride that Champion Cooler Corporation has been a part of Denison since 1954 making us the oldest industry in Denison. Thanks to assistance from Denison Development we've been able to make several expansions and are now the national leader in the production of evaporative coolers. Being located on U.S. Highway 75, which is considered one of the nation's premier north/south trucking routes connecting Texas to the markets nationwide, has been one of the keys to our long-term success."
Cruz Acosta, President of Texoma Industrial

Cruz Acosta

  • President - Texoma Industrial
  • "Partnering with the Denison Development Alliance offered us the opportunity to consolidate our operations into a spacious facility. Texoma Industrial is extremely appreciative of the support and professionalism showed by the DDA staff and board as we have grown and diversified within our industry. The new facility will accommodate Texoma Industrial's growing operations in the coming years."

Elsie Russell of 2 Chicks Home and Market

  • E-Commerce Grant Recipient
  • "In the Fall of 2019, we were part of a fire that happened downtown and had to relocate and had to pivot; and, unfortunately, in February 2020, COVID forced us to lock the front door. Then came along the DDA [E-commerce] grant opportunity and it was a game changer for us. We didn’t have anybody walking in our brick and mortar, so we really needed to go e-commerce. We did classes online, Zoom video classes, curbside pickup and virtual shopping. We were able to put a lot of our products on e-commerce, especially our creative lines, so folks could continue to shop. It added an additional stream of revenue that we really needed at the time and that we still benefit from today. If you have an opportunity to check out the E-Commerce Grant, you won’t be disappointed. I promise!"
Eric Rothert, CEO of Dialog Direct

Eric Rothert

  • Chief Executive Officer - Dialog Direct
  • "As an outsource customer service provider, our core business focuses on delivering the ideal customer experience through customer service advisors who are knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. It all starts with people. It is important for Dialog Direct to be able to have access to a labor market with the best candidates and this is a major consideration when choosing a new site. The fact that the high school graduation rate is 96%, makes it much more desirable than many major cities. The community understands the importance of business development and the Denison Development Alliance helped us every step of the way in becoming a proud part of the Denison community."
Kellie M. Metzdorf, Vice President, Client Advocacy - CIGNA

Kellie M. Metzdorf

  • Vice President, Client Advocacy - CIGNA
  • "The incentives and level of support provided by the Denison Development Alliance were instrumental in CIGNA's decision to consolidate multiple area operational facilities into one state-of-the-art Service Center in the summer of 2007. With a workforce of 800+ in the Denison Service Center, providing call and claim service to 1.5 million medical customers and 3.4 million dental customers, staffing stability and minimal employee turnover are critical. The quality, work ethic, and level of professional commitment found in the available workforce in the Denison area truly differentiate the business culture and have a positive impact on organizational success."

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