Tomball Economic Development Corporation plans to attract tenants in the energy, oilfield and medical services industries
In order to capitalize on the relocation of companies like Noble Energy and ExxonMobil, the Tomball Economic Development Corporation is beginning traffic and environmental studies for a 96.5-acre business and technology park. The park, which will be located on the corner of Hufsmith-Kohrville and Holderrieth Road, is expected to have shovel-ready sites by the last quarter of 2013, according to TEDC executive director Kelly Violette.
"Tomball is very strategically located to capture the growth that is coming to northwest Harris County," Violette said. "With the ExxonMobil relocation to Spring, as well as the new global headquarters for Noble Energy just south of Tomball on Hwy. 249, we think the Tomball Business and Technology Park will be in a very good position to capture some of the businesses that support the energy industry."
Violette said they will also look at businesses in the medical services industry because of Tomball's strong health care base.
Relocations
In January, Noble Energy Inc.—an independent energy company engaged in worldwide oil and gas exploration and production—announced it would be consolidating its three Houston locations to move into the former Hewlett Packard headquarters at 20555 Hwy. 249. The 10-story, 497,000-square-foot building will house approximately 700 employees and an additional land parcel was purchased for future growth.
"Our new global headquarters will bring our very talented and dedicated workforce closer together, helping to provide and promote the type of working environment that will fuel Noble Energy's continued and positive growth," said Charles Davidson, CEO of Noble Energy. "Providing our employees access to latest office technologies and surrounding amenities they can be proud of, and to be able to expand to a second building at this site, were key considerations for Noble Energy."
The new headquarters are adjacent to The Vintage, a mixed-use community that features retail and office space, two apartment communities, a hotel and a St. Luke's regional hospital. Noble Energy will begin the relocation process in the summer of 2013.
In early 2014, ExxonMobil will begin occupying its new campus in Spring, just south of The Woodlands at I-45 and the Hardy Toll Road. The oil and gas giant announced in June 2011 it would be relocating 8,000 employees from various office locations in the Houston area, with full occupancy expected by 2015.
Allen Jeffers, media relations manager for ExxonMobil, said the main reason the site was selected was the opportunity to consolidate its offices in a single location.
"It will help employee collaboration by providing a high quality working environment [and] eliminating inefficiency caused by traveling from one location to another," he said.
On a smaller scale than ExxonMobil and Noble Energy, Lone Wolf Manufacturing—which specializes in oil and gas fabrication—will move its headquarters from North Houston to a 100,000-square-foot facility adjacent to Hooks Airport, just outside of Tomball in May.
Owner Wade Shindewolf said if business continues to grow as it has been, he expects to add 50 employees to his existing base of 175 by the end of the year. One of the main reasons Shindewolf said he decided to relocate was the opportunity to move from a leasing agreement to purchase the Thora Road property, which used to belong to his family.
"It's a better area with less crime and a higher quality of living," he said. "And it means something to me personally because it's family property."
Business park benefits
The Tomball Business and Technology Park will allow the city to be more competitive in attracting companies looking to locate to the Gulf Coast region, according to Violette.
"One of Tomball's biggest challenges with regard to economic development is the availability of land suitable for commercial/light industrial development," she said. "Part of the challenge lies in the fact that some of the necessary infrastructure needed to support these types of businesses is not currently in place."
Violette said the majority of leads the EDC receives from the Governor's Office of Economic Development and Tourism and the Greater Houston Partnership require shovel-ready sites or existing buildings that meet specific size and capacity requirements.
"Because we don't currently have many properties available that meet these needs, we are unable to compete for these businesses," she said.
In anticipation of the business park opening in 2013, Violette has talked to several steel fabrication companies that have shown interest in the property.
The business park lots will range in size from two- to 10-acres with utility lines and underground detention in place.
"Right now, people may see some vacant property, but then they have to get utilities and work with the city on permitting and that takes a lot of time and a lot of money," said Bruce Hillegeist, president of the Tomball Chamber. "With all of the permitting more or less done, it's going to be real lucrative for Tomball."
While the initial concept plans for 20 lots, she said this could change depending on the needs and interests of the companies looking to be located in the park.
"Our intent is not to get into building development, but leave that up to who's buying the lots," Violette said.
With the TEDC handling the site, rather than a developer, costs will be low for incoming companies.
"Our focus is more global in that we're focused on the overall growth and development of the city, not just a specific area or project," Violette said. "It adds to our ability to attract jobs to city limits to provide opportunities to residents and make sure what we're doing is in line with what the city wants to see."
Ultimately, Tomball leaders said they expect the relocation of ExxonMobil and Noble Energy, as well as the business park, to fuel home sales, job growth and retail spending.
"With major relocations like Exxon and Noble Energy, not only are you bringing those 8,000 jobs to the area, you're creating a multiplier effect with all the other jobs—construction and additional supportive service jobs—that come with it," Violette said. "It definitely impacts our area—it's not just the bubble surrounding those two campuses."
With so many people relocating for work, the goal of Tomball leaders will be attracting them to reside in Tomball.
"Having good schools and health care is going to be a lure—we want people to know the Tomball lifestyle and the benefits of living here," Hillegeist said. "That's what we work on each and every day."
