In deciding to close its plant in Fountain Inn, South Carolina, Caterpillar announced its facility in Seguin will absorb an additional assembly line.
Not known yet is whether the Seguin plant will see the 580 jobs being lost in South Carolina through the consolidation.
"They're evaluating the number of employees," said Terry Trevino, executive director of the Seguin Economic Development Corporation.
Trevino said Caterpillar may decide to hire additional workers or have its 1,462 employees in Seguin take up the new C7 engine assembly line.
She said the Caterpillar plant in Seguin began operation in 2010 building C9 through C18 liter diesel engines.
A corporate spokeswoman for Caterpillar said in an effort to improve efficiency and better serve its customers, "The company determined to better utilize its current manufacturing footprint."
Trevino said even if Caterpillar does not expand its Seguin workforce, "It just adds more to the company and its viability in the community."
She said as one of Seguin's major employers, Caterpillar has lived up to its promises of higher-paying jobs and building a 1-million-square foot plant.
Trevino said beyond that, "They've already built an additional 500,000 square feet. So they're growing and growing by leaps and bounds."
Claudia Alvarado, who recently opened a small restaurant across from the plant, said she's seen the proof.
Alvarado said Caterpillar workers are now regular customers.
"They call in their orders, so I have their food ready, tables set, when they walk in. Then, it's back to work," she said.
Trevino said Caterpillar and other local manufacturers have resulted in Seguin's unemployment rate of 4.8 percent, well below the state average of 5.5 percent.
For a list of recent stories Jessie Degollado has done, click here.