In a nutshell
Following a closed executive session, Missouri City City Council voted to immediately withdraw the city’s membership from the FBEDC and “seek resources for any and all remedies and reimbursements for which the city of Missouri City is entitled,” council member Jeffrey Boney read.
The FBEDC is focused on facilitating economic development agreements between potential employers and developers as well as cities and the county. City Council’s vote comes after months of uncertainty regarding the organization’s future, with the FBEDC board of directors set to determine soon whether the organization will dissolve in June.
The context
Herman Rodriguez, executive director of economic development at Missouri City, said in an emailed statement the city reserves the right to review and terminate any agreement at any time to “assess the contract’s benefit to the city and its residents.”
Rodriguez said the city is seeking $42,500 from the FBEDC, which is how much the city paid to the FBEDC in the fiscal year, which ends in June. He said the city pays the FBEDC not only for membership but marketing the city.
Quote of note
While the FBEDC focuses mostly on attracting industrial businesses, Rodriguez said city staff looks to attract other types of businesses.
"Missouri City is experiencing exponential growth with limited parcels left; we strategically want to utilize the best use for what is left," he said in the email. "Industrialization in urban areas doesn’t lend itself to quality of life and is not our focus. We are focused on quality of life and corporate businesses looking for great places to eat, shop and play."
The backstory
Officials with the FBEDC announced in December the almost 40-year-old organization could dissolve at the end of its fiscal year.
This came after planning firm TIP Strategies, as part of a long-range plan, gave the FBEDC’s board of directors two options of how to move forward—both of which involved reorganizing the board and laying off its staff members, officials said.
Fort Bend County and the FBEDC hired TIP Strategies in February 2023 to create a five-year economic development strategic plan for the entities.
What's next
Community Impact reached out to the FBEDC for comment and will update the story with more information as it's available.
