Disaster Recovery Company Utilizes Experience to Provide Relief for the Housing Shortage
Houston TX – Remote Texas towns are finding themselves struggling to provide the basic infrastructure to accommodate the population explosion of oilfield and related service workers that has occurred within the last couple of years due to increased production from hydraulic fracturing technology. Seeing the strain on local towns in their home state from the influx of people showing up to fill jobs, Cotton Commercial USA, Inc. realized the opportunity in front of them and in 2011, through their history of providing housing following disasters, decided to put that experience to work to bring solutions to the region.
Cotton has been a global leader in disaster recovery for more than 16 years and is no stranger to temporary housing. Following catastrophic events, it is commonly required that housing and infrastructure for their own workforce be established so they can operate in the affected area. And in critical instances, Cotton will provide temporary facility solutions for clients whose businesses are heavily damaged to ensure their continuity of operations. Cotton provided workforce housing and catering services following Hurricanes Katrina in 2005 and Ike in 2008, and for the MC252 Deepwater Horizon Incident – Oil Spill Response Project in 2010. Executive Vice President of Business Development for Cotton’s Logistics division, Forrest Jackson, says, “We already possessed the knowledge and resources, it was just a matter of applying them to a different industry.”
Populations in the resource-rich regions are forecast to grow increasingly over the coming months and years as operations ramp up. Cotton Logistics currently has numerous private “closed” camps under contract throughout Texas and the shale plays. “I am excited to have implemented lessons learned and expertise from the disaster recovery industry now in the oil and gas market. I look forward to growing the Logistics division by continuing to listen to our clients’ demands and tailoring our solutions around their needs”, says CEO Pete Bell. Other opportunities for both quick turnaround and long-term projects are being evaluated in Texas, Montana, North Dakota and abroad.
To showcase some of their own creativity, Cotton broke ground in early 2012 on Phase 1 of the Lodge at Carrizo Springs, a turnkey workforce housing camp located approximately 117 miles Southwest of San Antonio, Texas, in Dimmit County. The Lodge boasts comfortable lodging, dining, and recreational facilities. Similar to an all-inclusive hotel, guests are provided three chef-prepared meals daily, including a boxed lunch, on a rotation of menus. Amenities include an onsite laundry facility, a fitness center and a WiFi-enabled recreation center with flat screen televisions, a theater room, billiards, and games. Attention to detail is evident outside where guests can take advantage of multiple expansive decks for eating and socializing, a covered pavilion, barbeque grills and horseshoe and washer pits.
Recently announcing its readiness for occupancy just this month, Cotton anticipates its 160 beds will fill quickly and is now taking reservations. All services and day-to-day management of the facility will be provided by Cotton Logistics’ in-house team of professionals. Preparations are underway for an official grand opening event, scheduled to take place in August.
About Cotton Commercial USA, Inc.
Cotton Commercial USA, Inc. is a North American based general contractor and global provider of disaster recovery, serving corporate and retail businesses, manufacturing and industrial clients, the healthcare, education, hospitality and entertainment industries, and the public sector since 1996. Consisting of multiple specialized divisions, Cotton has been an instrumental partner in the recovery and restoration efforts stemming from the most damaging catastrophes of the past two decades, including high-impact weather events and other natural disasters, fires, terrorist attacks, vandalism and environmental mishaps. Beyond disasters, Cotton provides comprehensive logistical support solutions, temporary housing and consultation to a host of local and international clients including Fortune 500 companies, oil and gas corporations, private contractors and government agencies.
Cotton’s Logistics Division provides worldwide operational support and infrastructure for the shortages of resources and workforce housing associated with a catastrophic event, a large construction or development project, and for complex work environments.
Cotton is headquartered in Katy, Texas, and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cotton Holdings, Inc.
Contact
Britney Smith
512-801-3533
britneys@cottonteam.com