Center is located in the heart of the Haynesville Shale, one of the top natural gas producing fields in the United States. Given our advantageous location in the Haynesville, there is a high amount of natural gas drilling activity in our area. Center has developed into a hub for energy industry service companies. Entities such as National OilWell Varco, Tenaska/TPF Gas Services, Bell Supply, MicroSeismic, McJunkin Redman, Tiger Safety, Fastenal, Exterran, CEN-TEX Tanks, Dragon Products and others have been a presence in Center.
The City encourages large natural gas users to look at Center as a place to do business. A company could negotiate a direct purchase contract and purchase locally produced and processed natural gas and reduce their cost for this commodity instead of purchasing it on the open market. The City possesses a stable and abundant supply of water and there are large tracts of land that are available for development.
The local workforce also displays a specialization in the energy industry as evidenced in a high Location Quotient.
Further, Panola College offers a Petroleum Technology Certificate at the Shelby Regional Training Center in Center.
Location Quotient Data
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics - Shelby County
Mining, Oil & Gas Extraction
2008 - 0.68
2009 - 1.03
2010 - 1.17
2011 - 1.32
2012 - 1.66
2013 - 1.91
2014 - 2.86
2015 - 2.49