Legislation authored by Rep. Patricia Harless, R-Spring, will provide a new avenue for economic development in northwest Harris County through donations from residents.

Signed into law in June, House Bill 2528 amends the Water Code to allow water districts in unincorporated Harris County to accept donations via water bills. The donations can be used by nonprofit organizations that pro-vide economic development improve-ments with the intention of preserving property values.

“It’s going to be a big challenge for the nonprofits to get the MUDs to participate,” Harless said. “But after they participate, [MUDs] can add a box on their water bill to allow a member of the community to check it off to contribute [to economic development projects].”

The Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce and the Houston North-west Chamber of Commerce both plan to form a separate economic development plan to collect money from the MUD.

“It would be customers out there who decided this is a good way—and from our perspective, the only way—for community improvement to take place,” Houston Northwest Chamber President Barbara Thomason said.

MUDs will have the option to place a check-off box on the bill of its water users, which will ask whether the resident wants to donate to the program. After the MUD receives the money, the board will deliver a monthly check to the economic development group, which will fund improvements defined in the scope of HB 2528.

“Our plan is to connect with the MUD boards in our 14 ZIP code area and create a plan and partnership,” Cy-Fair Chamber President Leslie Martone said. “After getting the MUD boards to agree to this partnership, we then must educate the public so they can elect to donate on their bill.”

Opportunities for economic development in northwest Harris County are slim, since there are no municipalities, economic development corporations, management districts or tax increment reinvestment zones, Thomason said.