Pampa, Texas is positioning itself at the center of America's next energy and data boom by leveraging its natural assets to attract modern industries. The city, long known for agriculture, oil, and gas, is now emerging as an unexpected growth story by capitalizing on abundant wind, sunshine, land, and existing midstream energy infrastructure.
Mayor Mike Borger explained during an interview on The Building Texas Show that Pampa is uniquely suited for data-center development due to grid resilience, renewable energy generation, and proximity to critical gas pipeline networks. He addressed misconceptions about water usage and infrastructure strain, noting that modern facilities use cooling technologies designed to respect regional constraints. This convergence of forces is reshaping the city's economic future, positioning Pampa on the leading edge of national trends in power generation and digital infrastructure.
Beyond industry attraction, Pampa is investing in its people through a $130 million school improvement initiative that includes new facilities and career-technology education. This investment aims to keep graduates in the community with access to high-paying, future-ready careers, reversing decades of out-migration that has challenged the city's long-term stability. Quality of life remains another pillar of the city's strategy, with regional events, festivals, and historic music venues tied to Woody Guthrie drawing visitors from across the Panhandle and beyond.
The city's role as a regional hub—what Borger calls the "Pampaplex"—supports retail, tourism, and civic life for a population far larger than its borders suggest. Borger emphasized that alignment and optimism across city, county, economic development, and chamber organizations have been just as critical as capital investment in driving momentum. The full interview with Mayor Mike Borger is available now on YouTube as part of The Building Texas Show.
This transformation demonstrates how legacy towns can evolve, attract modern industry, and create new opportunities without losing their identity. The episode underscores a broader theme that the future of Texas is not limited to its largest metros, with communities like Pampa showing how strategic positioning can lead to sustainable growth in both energy and technology sectors.
