Welcome to Fort Bend
WELCOME TO THE FORT BEND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Fort Bend County is quickly becoming the epicenter for growth and development for businesses and communities. With a population closing in on 800,000, Fort Bend County is home to 17 cities, small to large, each with its own unique flavor and outstanding characteristics. Fort Bend County continues to gain recognition for its diversity, outstanding educational institutions, business growth and overall community connectedness.
Since being awarded 5-Star recognition in 2014, the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce has continued to raise the bar on impacting the community, advocating for business excellence and pushing for policies that help our businesses grow. Our local business climate is flourishing from the ground up.
At the Fort Bend Chamber, you will meet premier county business leaders who can provide networks and resources to take your business to the next level. Our success stories always include how involvement in our Chamber provides opportunities to network, further your career and stay up to date on community and industry news and socialize. The Fort Bend Chamber is a catalyst between business and community for achievement.
As the voice of business in Fort Bend County, the Chamber strives to understand the legislative issues important to our members. Visit FortBendChamberVotes.com to access valuable information on legislative issues and connect with elected officials. We have a commitment to our membership to advocate on behalf of business in Fort Bend County on local, state and federal issues. Key to this effort is building and maintaining strong relationships with our local, state and federal elected officials.
For over 40 years, the Fort Bend Chamber has diligently fulfilled its mission as the advocate for business excellence in Fort Bend County. We create, enhance and promote the thriving economic environment in which we work and live. Whether it is through the Education Division, Infrastructure Planning, Governmental Relations, Community Resources, Business and Professional Development, Economic Development, Health Care or Members Services, we bring value to our members.
Graduates of our sought-after Fort Bend Leadership Forum program are serving in leadership positions throughout our community. Its sister program, the Excellence for Nonprofit Leadership builds organizational effectiveness within our philanthropic community. High school students have the unique opportunity to experience how volunteerism and philanthropy coexist to serve the community in our Youth in Philanthropy program. Fort Bend Volunteers provides a county-wide calendar of events and a place for our community to serve. The Chamber Young Professionals Division will ensure that the Chamber is delivering value to the future leaders of Fort Bend County.
Our Diversity Action Team was formed to provide resources to our members on how to ensure their businesses understand the business case for diversity. In such a diverse County, The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce values the importance of equipping our members with knowledge of diversity and inclusion within their organizations.
As a Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce member, this is a just a snapshot of what you have access to, all right here in one of America’s most dynamic and fastest growing counties, where success is just around the Bend.
Keri Curtis Schmidt, CCE, IOM
President | CEO
281-491-0216
keri@fortbendcc.org
Demographics and Population
Taxes
County Tax Rate: 0.46500
Source: Fort Bend Economic Development Council
diversity
Asian 19%
Black or African American 21%
Hispanic 24%
White 36%
Educational Attainment
Less Than 9th Grade: 5.3%
9th to 12th Grade: 5.5%
High School Graduate: 17.5%
Some College, No Degree: 20.0%
Associate Degree: 7.0%
Bachelor’s Degree: 28.2%
Graduate or Professional Degree: 16.4%
Source: U.S. Census
POPULATION
Fort Bend County: 764,828
Texas: 25,146,100
United states: 328,611,976
Median Household income
Fort Bend County: $91,152
Texas: $54,727
United States: $55,322
Major employers
Company / No. of Employees
Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital: 2,637
Fluor Corporation: 2,430
Schlumberger Technology Corp: 2,007
United Parcel Service: 1,200
Oak Bend Medical Center: 1,200
Nalco Company Energy Services Division: 1,100
Memorial Hermann – Sugar Land Hospital: 950
Frito-Lay, Inc: 941
Texana Center: 867
Fiserv Output Solutions: 531
CHI St. Luke’s Sugar Land Hospital: 454
Pentair: 450
Ben E. Keith: 419
Sunoco Logistics Partners: 403
Tramontina: 400
Texas Instruments: 375
NRG: 370
National Oilwell Varco, Inc: 350
Hudson Products: 344
Minute Maid: 338
Yokogawa Corp. of America: 278
EE Reed Construction: 245
AccessHealth: 235
HCSS, Inc: 210
Kelsey-Seybold: 143
Classic Chevrolet: 139
Niagara Bottling: 133
MD Anderson Cancer Center Sugar Land: 125
Things to Do in Fort Bend County
Things to Do in Fort Bend County, TX
Stafford
Stafford is excited to welcome the much-anticipated, expansive, mixed-use development coming to the former Texas Instruments campus.
Spanning 192 acres, The Grid will integrate 350,000 square feet of destination retail and restaurant concepts; 2,400 residential units; 500,000 square feet of creatively focused office space; multiple hotel brands and concepts; a premier health club; a luxury cinema; a network of pocket parks, jogging and bike trails; and activated public space, together in a walkable urban district.
Missouri City
Missouri City is a vibrant community known for its rich legacy of history, culture and tradition. The 61-year-old “Show Me City” is recognized as a family-friendly community with award winning master-planned subdivisions, pristine parks, and vibrant diversity. A study by Rice University’s Kinder Institute recognizes Missouri City and Fort Bend County as having the most diverse population in the nation. Missouri City is home to such historical treasures as the Freedom Tree, protected on the national registry and recognized as the location where local slaves learned of their freedom in June 1865 — the foundation of Juneteenth celebrations, today. Missouri City is also home to St. John Missionary Baptist Church, a historic landmark which was founded by freed slaves in 1869 and continues to hold services.
The Show Me City has a wide variety of public parks featuring a 95-acre preserve, boating, fishing, walking trails, and, the Edible Arbor Trail. Missouri City also boasts two championship golf courses — El Dorado and La Quinta – at Missouri City’s Quail Valley Golf Course. Home to about 74,000 residents in 2017, Missouri City is situated just minutes from Houston with convenient access to the Galleria, the Port of Houston, the Texas Medical Center and downtown Houston.
Richmond
Visitors to Downtown Richmond will find a hidden gem in the center of bustling Fort Bend County. Boutique clothing and antique stores sit next to a juice bar, art galleries and coffee shops. Live music and a Kombucha brewery infuse an eclectic flavor into this historic tree-lined walkable community, all part of the fabric that is downtown Richmond.
Visitors have the opportunity to browse revered final resting places of Texas heroes, tour the historic Fort Bend Courthouse, or visit museums chocked full of Texas lore. Downtown Richmond is also home to many community events on historic Morton Street and in beautiful Wessendorf Park. Come see what makes Richmond the best hidden gem in Texas.
SUGAR LAND
Sweet memories are made just 20 minutes from downtown Houston.
Sugar Land is one of the Houston area’s most historic cities dating back to the 1800s and was the original location for the oldest business in Texas. Sugar Land serves up big city amenities with small town hospitality. A high concentration of attractions, including renowned museums, a world-class baseball park and one of the nation’s top concert and entertainment venues are all located within a short drive or walk from each other.
For A-list performances, head to the Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land for national headliners like Santana, Christina Aguilera, and Willie Nelson, to out-of-this-world performances from artists like magician David Blaine.
Catch some sun rays and a baseball game at Constellation Field, home to the Sugar Land Skeeters—Sugar Land’s minor-league baseball team and the 2016 Atlantic League Champions. This multipurpose facility hosts a wide-range of sporting and live-entertainment events, including baseball games, cheerleading showcases, festivals and concerts.
In Sugar Land, you can experience a face-to-face encounter with larger-than-life Devil Rex at the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land. Enjoy an outer-space adventure in the Hall of Space Science. Children can also become archaeologists at the museum’s Dig Pit as they search for dinosaurs under the watchful gaze of prehistoric Archelon, the largest sea turtle ever discovered.
Young adventure seekers will love the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center. Located at the historical Imperial Sugar refinery site, children under 12 can experience five hands-on, minds-on exhibits, including Kidtropolis, How Does It Work?, Yalálag, Newton Know-How! and Tot*Spot.
Whether it’s a piece of history, on-trend shopping or hours of family fun, Sugar Land offers something sweet for everyone.
For more activities, events and fun things to do in Sugar Land, visit VisitSugarLandTX.com.
Advisory Council
Congressman Al Green
State of Texas, District 9
Congressman Pete Olson
State of Texas, District 22
Senator Borris L. Miles
State of Texas, District 13
Senator Joan Huffman
Texas Senate, District 17
Senator Lois W. Kolkhorst
State of Texas, District 18
Representative Rick Miller
State of Texas, District 26
Representative Ron Reynolds
State of Texas, District 27
Representative John Zerwas, MD
State of Texas, District 28
Representative Phil Stephenson
State of Texas, District 85
Dr. Charles Dupre
Fort Bend Independent School District
Dr. Robert Bostic
Strafford Municipal School District
Dr. Thomas Randle
Lamar Consolidated Independent School District
Ken Gregorski
Katy Independent School District
Judge KP George
Fort Bend County
Jeff Wiley
Fort Bend Economic Development Council
Mayor Bill Benton
City of Rosenberg
Mayor Darryl Humphrey Sr.
City of Kendleton
Mayor Evalyn W. Moore
City of Richmond
Mayor Chuck Brawner
City of Katy
Mary Fred Burton
City of Arcola
Mayor Yolanda Ford
City of Missouri City
Mayor Bob Haenel
City of Fairchilds
Mayor Charles Jessup
City of Meadows Place
Mayor Laurie Boudreaux
City of Simonton
Mayor Delbert Wendt
City of Needville
Mayor Joe Zimmerman
City of Sugar Land
Mayor Leonard Scarcella
City of Stafford
Mayor Rodney Pavlock
City of Orchard
Mayor Tom Reid
City of Pearland
Mayor Aaron Groff
City of Fulshear
Mayor Kenneth Reid
City of Beasley
Mayor Larry Bittner
City of Pleak
Mayor Freddie Newsome
City of Thompsons
Mayor Mary Rose Zdunkewicz
City of Weston Lakes
Betty McCrohan
Wharton County Junior College
Randy Wooten
Texas State Technical College
Dr. Jay Neal
University of Houston Sugar Land
Dr. Madeline Burillo
Houston Community College Southwest-Stafford
Programs & Initiatives
The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce has established separate divisions to address specific goals and initiatives within the community.
Business Initiatives
The Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce provides opportunities for member involvement through its business initiative programs comprised of 10 highly effective divisions. Each initiative creates synergy between our members and the Fort Bend community at large including Business and Professional, Community Resources, Infrastructure, Healthcare, Education and Government relations. Members benefit from professional development and education, networking and community connections, leadership programs and member resources.
EDUCATION DIVISION
Jim Rice, Rice & Gardner Consultants, Inc.
The Education Division is a critical link between the academic and business sectors in the county engaging community leaders and building awareness of the positive impact of education through working with agencies, the division advocates legislative agendas for the benefit of Fort Bend education. Annual events include State of the Schools, State of Higher Education, principal appreciation receptions and school board candidates forums. The division’s goal is to create ongoing dialogue to promote educational opportunities and produce college and work ready students to ensure the social and economic well-being of the Fort Bend community.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES DIVISION
Dee Koch, Dee S. Koch, LLC
The Community Resources Division focuses on impacting the community-at-large through effective partnerships and collaborations offering programming to inform and educate members. It creates relationships between the business community and the nonprofit sector providing opportunities to address critical issues. Working through dynamic programs like Excellence for Nonprofit Leadership and Youth in Philanthropy, Chamber members engage in the nonprofit sector, community building, volunteerism, diversity, and improving the quality of life in Fort Bend County.
GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS DIVISION
Christopher Breaux, Whitley Penn, LLP
The Governmental Relations Division provides Chamber members with access to local and state government officials, promoting the understanding of current legislative issues and giving the business community an opportunity for input. This division provides a forum for discussion of relevant legislative matters, updates members on key issues and provides leadership on legislative agendas. During election years, the division conducts community candidate forums for municipal, school, and county elections that provide a fair and unbiased opportunity for attendees to understand the qualifications and positions of the candidates and the key issues of the election.
HEALTHCARE DIVISION
Christy Medlin, Encompass Health; Janice Suchyta, Seyfarth Shaw
The primary mission of the Healthcare Division is to attract the highest quality healthcare providers and to develop the most technical and professional healthcare service companies/facilities to the Greater Fort Bend County Area. This initiative develops a network of healthcare providers, who are well informed of the needs of Fort Bend County and who understand the importance of professional and business development. This division also identifies and promotes economic initiatives and innovations in the healthcare sector which benefit the membership and the community at large.
INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING DIVISION
David Gornet, Gornet Consulting, LLC
The Infrastructure Planning Division educates and advocates for transportation, infrastructure and development programs throughout the region while facilitating public/private partnerships to promote investment. Acknowledging that a strong infrastructure is a prerequisite for cities and communities to thrive, it facilitates collaborations between the private sector, municipalities, and state and federal agencies on infrastructure projects. The division supports the infrastructure efforts of various elected officials, advocates for a proactive legislative agenda and hosts the regionally recognized Fort Bend Infrastructure Summit.
MEMBER SERVICES DIVISION
Nancy Colmenares, Lifetime Member and Ted Volf, Hold Fast Industries, Inc.
The Membership Services Division acts as a liaison for new and current members to educate them on existing and developing resources available through membership to maximize the value of their Chamber membership. The division delivers a variety of opportunities through member services, such as new member receptions, ribbon cuttings and ground breaking ceremonies along with programs and activities that benefit the membership and promote businesses and opportunities in Fort Bend County.
CHAMBER YOUNG PROFESSIONALS (CYP) DIVISION
Nick Deacon, Riverstone Community
Chamber Young Professionals engages and develops the leadership potential of young professionals and fosters lasting business relationships within Fort Bend County. A great tool for membership success, this division creates opportunities for personal and professional growth and provides members with tools for professional success.
FORT BEND LEADERSHIP FORUM
Jan-Michael Jenkins, Legacy Fitness & Breah Campbell, Environmental Development Partners, LLC
The Fort Bend County Chamber Leadership Forum has a rich tradition of developing leaders in the community through establishing valuable relationships. The skills learned and nurtured enhance a participant’s values, both personally and professionally, while volunteer opportunities create a sense of commitment to the County, its businesses and residents. The Forum is a launching pad for community leadership and involvement, where individuals immerse themselves in the dynamics of Fort Bend County and use their talents to act on behalf of the shared concerns of the community.
Business & Professional Division
Robert Thompson, TruCore Business Development
The Business and Professional Division devotes their efforts to helping members achieve their professional goals through business-oriented programs and roundtables, as well as encouraging participation in other Chamber functions. This division also develops and presents business-focused programs relevant to current business dynamics to assist members in marketing, sales, finance, customer service, technology, team-building, and employee relations. The division actively solicits and implements ideas from new and longstanding members to create value-added programs that will enhance the quality of their membership.
Relocation Guide
Emergency / urgent care
For a list of hospitals, please see page 35.
Emerus 24 Hour Emergency
Room: 281-277-0911
16000 Southwest Fwy., Ste. 100, Sugar Land
First Choice Emergency
Room – Richmond: 832-759-5000
8111 W. Grand Pkwy., Richmond
First Choice Emergency
Room – Rosenberg: 832-759-5360
24003 SW. Fwy., Rosenberg
First Choice Emergency Room – Sienna Plantation: 281-778-8240
8927 Hwy. 6, Missouri City
First Choice Emergency Room-Missouri City-Lakes: 281-778-4250
4885 Hwy. 6, Missouri City
FrontLine Emergency Center: 281-607-7402
7051 FM 1464 Rd., Richmond
Next Level Urgent Care, LLC: 832-342-9205
16902 Southwest Fwy., Ste. 108, Sugar Land
Signature Care: Emergency Center: 281-258-4351
8910 Hwy. 6, S., Houston
St. Michael’s Emergency Rooms: 281-980-4357
16062 Southwest Fwy., Sugar Land
GOVERNMENT
Federal
Senate
John Cornyn: 202-224-2934
517 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC
Ted Cruz: 202-224-5922
404 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, DC
House
Pete Olson: 202-225-5951
2133 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC
state
Senate
Joan Huffman: 512-463-0117
P.O. Box 12068, Capitol Station, Austin
House
Rick Miller: 512-463-0710
P.O. Box 2910, Austin
Fort Bend County
Fort Bend County: 281-341-8685
301 Jackson St., Richmond
County Judge
KP George: 281-341-8608
301 Jackson St., Ste. 719, Richmond
Commissioner, Pct. 1
Vincent Morales Jr.: 281-344-9400
Commissioner, Pct. 2
Grady Prestage: 281-403-8000
Commissioner, Pct. 3
Andy Meyers: 281-238-1400
Commissioner, Pct. 4
Ken R. DeMerchant: 281-980-2235
County Attorney
Roy Cordes Jr.: 281-341-4555
County Clerk
Laura Richard: 281-341-8685
County Treasurer
Bill Rickert: 281-341-3750
District Attorney
Brian M. Middleton.: 281-341-4460
District Clerk
Beverley M. Walker: 281-341-4515
Sheriff
Troy E. Nehls: 281-341-4704
Tax Assessor-Collector
Patsy Schultz: 281-341-37100
City of Arcola
13222 Hwy. 6, Arcola, TX 77583
281-431-0606
Mayor
Fred A. Burton
Mayor Pro Tem
Florence Jackson
Council Members
Evelyn Jones
Greg Abarr
Rosie Rojas
City Secretary
Sally Cantu
City of Beasley
319 S. 3rd. St., Beasley, TX 77417
979-387-2775
Mayor
Kenneth Reid
Mayor Pro Tem
Dale Lindemann
Council Members
Alfred Becan
Bonnie Meyer
Doug Harris
Jerri Lindeman
City of Katy
901 Avenue C, Katy, TX 77493
281-391-4800
Mayor
Charles A. “Chuck” Brawner
Mayor Pro Tem
Durran C. Dowdle
Council Members
Janet Corte
Chris Harris
Frank O. Carroll, III
James C. “Jimmy” Mendez, Jr.
City of Kendleton
430 FM 2919, Kendleton, TX 77451
979-532-8240
Mayor
Darryl K. Humphrey, Sr.
Council Members
Lester Aldridge
Louis Byars, II
Rachel White
Carolyn Kindred-Jenkins
Destiny Phillips
City of Fairchilds
8713 Fairchilds Road, Richmond, TX 77461
979-793-6676
Mayor
Bob Haenel
Mayor Pro Team
Richard Vacek
Alderpersons
Linda Kaluza
Debra Zagala
Greg Leslie
City of Fulshear
30603 FM 1093, Fulshear, TX 77441
281-346-1796
Mayor
Aaron Groff
Mayor Pro Tem
Kaye Kahlich
Council Members
Kent Pool
John Kelly
Dana Hollingsworth
Debra Cates
Lisa Kettler Martin
Joel Patterson
City of Meadows Place
One Troyan Drive, Meadows Place, TX 77477
281-983-2950
Mayor
Charles Jessup IV
Alderpersons
John F. Isbell, Sr.
Steve Bezner
Rick Staigle
Terry J, Henley
Kelle K. Mills
City of Missouri City
1522 Texas Pkwy., Missouri City, TX 77489
281-403-8500
Mayor
Yolanda Ford
Council Members
Jerry Wyatt
Chris Preston
Jeffrey Boney
Anthony Maroulis
Floyd Emery
City of Needville
9022 Main St., Needville, TX 77461
979-793-4253
Mayor
Delbert Wendt
Alderpersons
Andrew Bohac
Chad Nesvadba
Corey Kelly
Grady Kubenka
Scott McElrath
City of Orchard
9714 Kibler St., Orchard, 77464
979-478-6893
Mayor
Rodney Pavlock
Commissioners
Matt Perrreault
Joe Supak
City of Pearland
3519 Liberty Drive, Pearland, TX 77581
281-652-1600
Mayor
Tom Reid
Council Members
Tony Carbone
Adrian Hernandez
Gary Moore
J. David Little
Trent Perez
Woody Owens
City of Richmond
402 Morton St., Richmond, TX 77469
281-342-5456
Mayor
Evalyn W. Moore
Commissioners
Terry Gaul
Barry C. Beard
Carl Drozd
Josh Lockhart
City of Rosenberg
2110 4th St., Rosenberg, TX 77471
832-595-3300
Mayor
Bill Benton
Council Members
Jacob Balderas
Amanda Barta
Isaac Davila
Steven DeGregorio
Lisa Wallingford
Richard Olson
City of Simonton
35011 Fm 1093 Simonton, TX 77476
281-533-9809
Mayor
Louis Boudreaux
Mayor Pro Tem
Jeff Young
Council Members
Sandy Bohannon
Jake Davis
Stacey Gootee
Shae Butts
City of Sugar Land
2700 Town Center Blvd.,
N. Sugar Land, TX 77479
281-275-2700
Mayor
Joe Zimmerman
Council Members
Himesh Gandhi
Jennifer Lane
Steve Porter
Bridget Yeung
Amy Mitchell
Carol McCutcheon
City of Stafford
2610 S. Main St., Stafford, TX 77477
281-261-3900
Mayor
Leonard Scarcella
Mayor Pro Tem
Virginia Rosas
Council Members
Cecil Willis, Jr.
Wen Guerra
Ken Mathew
Arthur Honore
Don Jones
City of Thompsons
P.O. Box 29, Thompsons, TX 77481
281-343-9929
Mayor
Freddie Newsome, Jr.
Mayor Pro Tem
Carol Gubbles
Alderpersons
Deborah Brown
Jacqueline Norwood
Edward Taylor
Gina Treadgold
City of Weston Lakes
P.O. Box 1082, Fulshear, TX 77441
281-533-0907
Mayor
Mary Rose Zdunkewicz
Mayor Pro Tem
Dennis De Luca
Alderpersons
Ted Case
Linda Harnist
Trent Thomas
Bill Ragle
Village of Peak
6621 FM 2218 South, Richmond, TX 77469
281-239-8504
Mayor
Larry Bittner
Mayor Pro Tem
Michael John
Alderpersons
Wade A. Goats
Damon Kuhn
Carolyn Delmat
Anne Stark
Education
Primary
Fort Bend Independent School District: 281-634-1000
16431 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land
Stafford Municipal School District: 281-261-9200
Staffordshire Road, Stafford
Lamar Consolidated Independent School District: 832-223-0000
3911 Ave. I, Rosenberg
Colleges and Universities
Wharton County Junior College: 281-243-8412
14004 University Blvd., Sugar Land
Texas State Technical College: 254-799-3611
26706 Southwest Fwy., Rosenburg
University of Houston Sugar Land: 832-842-2900
14000 University Blvd., Sugar Land
Houston Community College: 713-718-7737
1600 Texas Pkwy., Missouri City
Private/Charter
Meadow Montessori School: 281-232-4444
7860 W. Grand Pkwy., S. Richmond
Primrose School of First Colony: 281-565-2707
4605 Austin Pkwy., Sugar Land
Calvary Episcopal Preparatory: 281-342-3161
1201 Austin St., Richmond
Little Wonders Learning Center: 281-208-9545
4743 Lexington Blvd., Missouri City
Cornerstone Christian Academy: 281-980-0842
2140 First Colony Blvd., Sugar Land
Fort Bend Christian Academy: 281-263-9175
1250 Seventh St., Sugar Land
Primrose School of Sienna: 281-431-8687
4400 Sienna Pkwy., Missouri City
Montessori House Elementary School: 281-239-3400
20625 Lakemont Bend Ln., Richmond
Utilities
CenterPoint Energy: 281-561-3201
Consolidated Communications: 281-396-5951
Windstream Communications: 713-955-0860
Environmental Development Partners, LLC: 832-467-1599
Future is Bright in Fort Bend
“Our vision is to be fully aligned with technological advancements, and to capitalize on developing new and existing tech businesses to the benefit of the economy and our community,” said Keri Curtis Schmidt, Fort Bend Chamber President and CEO. “Many high-tech companies are already located here, and our collaborative efforts with stakeholders in the community are designed to attract more.”
According to CNBC’s annual 2018 survey Top State for Business in America; Texas is ranked as the No. 1 state in the nation to do business. Schmidt and the chamber leadership plan to keep it that way. The chamber is in the spotlight and has taken the lead on tech-growth in the region by implementing a new initiative — Fort Bend Future — to strengthen and grow the tech economy and related businesses.
“Fort Bend Future is a new strategy and mission to invigorate the tech economy and secure the future of the tech industry in our county,” Schmidt said. “From the beginning, we discovered that almost every kind of tech company is already doing business here in Fort Bend, however many have maintained a very low profile. They represent local, international, and global businesses from life sciences and engineering to food products and processes and more. We now have a solid foundation, and are focused on mapping and documenting these tech commerce locations, and developing a website to showcase them and alert prospective businesses about opportunities that will encourage them to locate here.”
The timing couldn’t be better, Schmidt said.
“The University of Houston is extending its reach into Fort Bend County,” she said. The new UH College of Technology is being constructed at UH Sugar Land and is tier one in Fort Bend County.”
The 100,000-square-foot College of Technology building is scheduled to open in fall 2019, and will feature modern classrooms and state-of-the-art labs. The new building will also house a fabrications lab, materials lab, rapid prototype lab and a 3-D printing lab.
“By building in Fort Bend County, the university is answering a call from students, employers and industry. The fastest growing large county in the country needs a tier one university to provide a tier one workforce,” said Jay Neal, associate vice president, academic affairs and chief operating officer at UH Sugar Land. “The College of Technology building is a significant leap forward for UH Sugar Land. Students and local industries will benefit from its presence. We anticipate partnerships with industries in our region that can complement our academic excellence with their real-world needs and next-level ideas. The content of the curriculum will incorporate the equipment and actual technologies businesses are using. When students complete their studies, they’ll be able to step right into the workplace, as highly qualified employees.”
The importance of having a tier one university in the county doesn’t go unnoticed.
“Having the college here will help drive the momentum we’re building to prominently establish Sugar Land and Fort Bend as a tech hub and mecca,” Schmidt said. “Opportunities for business and university partnerships will serve as a business incubator and help to establish an educated and skilled workforce that’s so vital to a prosperous business climate.”
Establishing securing a vibrant workforce is the No. 1 concern of business leaders.
“Workforce concerns are what keep business leaders awake at night,” Schmidt said. “Fort Bend Future will help develop a talented and solid workforce, with a focus on technology. When companies feel secure, they make greater investments in the community. It’s a mutually beneficial situation.”
Guiding the progress of Fort Bend Future, the chamber leadership is currently focused on bio-tech companies to develop successful strategies that will spotlight these businesses and create meaningful partnerships.
“Our chamber is here to build connections, and if we’re not doing that, we’re not doing our job,” Schmidt said. “Therefore, we’ve put together a distinguished panel of CEOs from OCuSOFT, Boccard Life Sciences Inc. and Velentium, to determine the best way to showcase the great tech companies in Fort Bend. The idea is to create a spirited synergy, so that we can all work together, with the common goal of securing a healthy future for our county.” n