Photo by David Pollan

Photo by David Pollan

The Tomball Economic Development Corporation hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its 120-acre Business and Technology Park site May 6.

Officials from the city of Tomball and the TEDC, along with other area officials, were on hand to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony on a project that has been three years in the making.

"Breaking ground on the Business and Technology Park today really celebrates the visible change that's about to happen in this area," Tomball Mayor Gretchen Fagan said. "It allows us to have development-ready sites for businesses to come in and bring a number of jobs to the area."

In the past, Tomball has lost out on companies considering moving to the city because other communities were able to provide sites similar to the business park and Tomball had no such sites. Fagan said the addition of the business park makes Tomball a more competitive city to attract business.

"We are very excited to be breaking ground today," TEDC's Executive Director Kelly Violette said. "We at the TEDC are working very hard to keep on top of all the companies interested in moving to the site. We have so much interest from a number of different companies. Some want to buy the whole site and some are looking at buying 2-3 acres."

Violette said most of the interest is from oil and gas companies, but there is also interest from software development firms.

"It is a business and technology park, so having software development type firms would be a nice addition we hope to have at the site," Violette said.

The TEDC has hired Colliers International to market the sale of the park.

"We have primarily been marketing it as a master-planned business park with variable lot sizes that can accommodate a number of different uses," Violette said.

The site has been cleared so construction on the roadways, drainage channel and utilities can begin. Violette said construction will be split into two phases and will go out for bid within the next two months. The TEDC will select a contractor with the best bid to complete the construction. The first phase will include the construction of the drainage channel and detention pond. The second phase will include roadway construction and installing utility lines. The Business and Technology Park is slated for completion in mid-2015, Violette said.