Town of Paradise | 11
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Paradise has taken even more steps to cre-
ate an environment for business to thrive.
Industrial sites have been established at
Octagon pond as well as a site known as
Paradise Business Park, but Cumby notes
there are yet sixty more acres the commu-
nity can develop in the future. That land
may indeed be necessary because Cumby
anticipates occupancy rates in existing
sites to be filled as early as the next 18
months.
“We’ve been talking to several major
oil companies, particularly inHouston and
Norway ... and we’ve heard some inter-
esting proposals that may lead to substan-
tial development or maybe the creation of
a major safety training facility here, and
more ... we’re confident that we’ll see fur-
ther growth.” Cumby acknowledges that
the region’s oil & gas deposits are crucial
economic drivers. As energy industry has
grown, Paradise has experienced success
in attracting dynamic companies such as
Score Group and Weatherford Interna-
tional, both are international manufactur-
ers and suppliers of products and services
crucial to the industry.
Cumby says having successful compa-
nies like Score and Weatherford sends an
important message to other companies,
that they too may find a happy home in
Paradise. At the same, town leaders con-
tinue to market the community, field calls
and visits with companies far and wide
to promote all that Paradise has to offer.
Cumby expresses optimism that Paradise
will continue to prosper, and he says that
the economic benefits gained from indus-
trial development have already contribut-
ed to the town’s ability to provide greater
recreational opportunities and increased
public services for resident. More will
come in following the strategic plan. As
Cumby says, “We’re much different than
what we were a few years ago recreation-
al facilities, schools, affordable housing,
highways, the whole picture has changed
... we’ve got programs in place that think
of everyone, programs for seniors, pro-
grams for youth, programs for children,
programs to improve commercial devel-
opment ... we’re trying to ensure that Par-
adise can be a paradise for everyone.”
