The City of Tomball Economic Development Corporation has granted the Baker Hughes Corporation more than $900,000 to assist in the construction of several commercial facilities at the northeast corner of FM 2920 and FM 2978.

EDC Executive Director Kelly Violette said the campus will include the Western Hemisphere Education Center, consisting of a 72,445-square-foot, three-story education building, a 36,000-square-foot workshop, a 16,730 square-foot-laboratory and auditorium, and a 156,000-square-foot yard with two training rigs.

"Baker Hughes is a global leader in the oilfield industry and a major employer in the City of Tomball," Violette said. "This project will have a tremendous impact on the local economy."

She said the project will generate new direct and indirect jobs, new residents, additional sales and property taxes.

The facility will serve as a training center which will generate approximately 5,500 trainee days per month or 66,000 per year. The EDC anticipates that the new Baker Hughes facility will generate more than 50,000 hotel room nights per year. The facility expects to have up to 50 workers with average annual salaries of $40,000 for support personnel and $80,000 for trainers.

Overall, the net benefit to the city for the first 10 years is estimated at $8.4 million, Violette said. The EDC also anticipates the project will create 45-50 direct jobs at the facility as well as 29 indirect jobs, which includes maintenance companies and service firms that may supply goods to the facility.

Violette said construction is projected to begin later this year or early next year. Baker Hughes is currently negotiating the purchase of the site. Once the site is annexed into the city limits Baker Hughes can begin the permitting process.