Relocating Your Business to Texas? Lessons from SCP Polymers

Why Relocating a Small Business to Texas Makes Sense

When small to medium-sized business (SMB) owners think about Texas, big metros like Dallas, Houston, and Austin often come to mind. But thriving businesses are finding success in smaller markets across the state, where lower costs, strong infrastructure, and motivated workforces create powerful advantages.

On the Gone to Texas Podcast, host Super Dave Quinn sat down with Josh Hanna, President and General Manager of SCP Polymers, to discuss how his company has grown in Jacksonville, Texas. His story shows why relocating a business to Texas is more than a move—it’s an opportunity for long-term success.

Jacksonville, Texas as a Model for SMB Relocation Success

In 2017, Josh left his role at Huntsman in Houston to expand the family business into East Texas. When MICO Plastics in Jacksonville came up for sale, the opportunity mirrored the company’s Mississippi operations: a small-town location with highway access and a skilled workforce.

Today, SCP Polymers produces a wide range of custom injection-molded parts. In Mississippi, they serve furniture and home goods markets; in Texas, half of their business supports the U.S. military, while the other half serves commercial customers like conveyor system manufacturers and milk crate distributors.

Josh sums it up simply: “No two days are the same for us.”

Texas Business Incentives for SMBs and #TexasEDConnection Support

Relocating or expanding a business is rarely done alone. In Jacksonville, JEDCO (Jacksonville Economic Development Corporation) has been a vital partner, funding facility improvements and supporting SCP Polymers’ ongoing expansion.

This is where the TexasEDConnection plays a role, too. By connecting SMB owners with local economic developers, business leaders gain access to:

• Local, state, and federal incentive programs

• Guidance on site selection and workforce training

• Partnerships that accelerate business growth

For SMBs exploring Texas business incentives, organizations like JEDCO and #TexasEDConnection bridge the gap between opportunity and execution.

Building a Skilled Workforce When Moving a Small Business to Texas

One of the top concerns for business owners considering relocation is workforce availability. Jacksonville, with a population of about 20,000, has exceeded expectations for SCP Polymers.

Since acquiring MICO, the company has doubled its staff from 20 to 40 employees. Workers are eager to learn, advance, and build long-term careers. SCP partners with trade associations that offer intensive injection molding training, allowing employees to progress from operators to process engineers.

Josh highlights the value of this approach: “We’ve had really good luck with people in their 20s and 30s working harder than anyone I know, wanting to build a career, support a family, and buy their own house.”

How Community Partnerships Accelerate Business Relocation to Texas

Beyond workforce and incentives, Jacksonville’s business community is collaborative. Despite multiple injection molders in town, companies often support one another. Competitors lend parts, share resources, and collaborate at JEDCO meetings.

Josh credits this small-town spirit for keeping Jacksonville competitive with larger Texas markets. And as SCP Polymers grows, the community’s support has been instrumental in helping them expand into new facilities and plan for future hiring.

Key Takeaways from the Gone to Texas Podcast with Josh Hanna

Josh Hanna’s experience offers valuable insights for SMB owners exploring relocation or expansion in Texas:

1. Don’t overlook small towns. Lower costs and motivated workforces often make them more competitive than big metros.

2. Leverage incentives. From facility upgrades to expansion assistance, local EDCs and #TexasEDConnection provide essential support.

3. Invest in your people. Workforce training and internal promotion create loyalty and long-term value.

4. Balance fuels innovation. Hobbies like Josh’s sprint car racing even led to investments in 3D printing—now a customer prototyping tool.

Final Thought and Podcast Link

From chemistry labs to sprint cars, Josh Hanna’s story shows how relocating a business to Texas can deliver both personal and professional rewards. Jacksonville, Texas demonstrates how smaller markets can offer SMBs the right mix of affordability, workforce, and community support.

Watch the full conversation with Josh Hanna on the Gone to Texas Podcast here:

EP 35 - How Family, Plastics, and Local Partnerships Power Business Growth in Jacksonville, Texas 

If you’re considering moving your small business to Texas, don’t navigate it alone. The Texas Economic Development Connection exists to connect you with the right partners and communities faster. Visit Texas Economic Development Connection and start building your future in the Lone Star State.