Despite the energy downturn that has brought lower oil prices and job losses to Texas, locally owned businesses and nonprofit organizations in The Woodlands have not felt significant negative effects. Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, existing home sales, single-family permits and housing starts in Texas all declined in January. At the beginning of the year, the state experienced slow job gains. Texas employment grew at a 1.7 percent annualized pace in January, which was slower than the nation's 2.1 percent increase. However, in The Woodlands and surrounding areas of Conroe and Spring, nonprofit organizations that cater to helping those in need have not reported an increase in clients, even with the job cuts. Ann Snyder, president and CEO of Interfaith of The Woodlands, said she believes there are two reasons why an increase has not been seen. "I think the full impact has yet to be determined—it's too soon," she said. "We have seen the same number of clients but it's also only the first quarter of the year. Then there's also [the fact] that the county is growing and the demand for services goes up. The economy is much more diversified that it has been before." Interfaith provides several services to The Woodlands and surrounding areas, including family services, a community clinic, workforce services and a food pantry. Interfaith served over 17,000 people at the food pantry last year, and Snyder said the need for Interfaith is still as great today as it ever has been. "We saw an economic downturn in the '90s and then again around 2008," she said. "Many challenges arise and it's hard to know where to turn. But we aim to be a resource to an individual who is struggling." Rodney Dickerson, executive director of the Montgomery County Food Bank, said that although the food bank has seen a steady amount of activity over the past year and its clientele base remains about the same, he thinks all nonprofits will see an increase in demand in future months because of the downturn and because of business growth, no matter what service they provide. "During these times, we're the only outlets that Montgomery County residents have, and the food bank recognizes almost immediately when hard times hit," Dickerson said. "What increases we have seen here so far have been not directly related to the downturn, but to growth. Growth is great for businesses but it causes the need for service-based jobs that pay minimum wage, which sometimes isn't enough [to cover a worker's living expenses]." Chad Patterson, executive director of Montgomery County Emergency Assistance, said he has seen the county experience an influx of growth, especially with businesses, despite the economic downturn. However, Patterson said residents who have lost jobs or who are struggling financially still need assistance. "There's been a whole spectrum of wealth and corporations, especially in The Woodlands," Patterson said. "However, there still is a lot of economic poor [in the area]. Things have been steady here at MCEA, and I'm sure all nonprofits have seen a steady amount of need." MCEA provides rent assistance, food assistance, a resale shop and utilities assistance to those in need in the county. Patterson said demographics would need to be analyzed to determine if there is an increase in the economic poor and if more assistance would be required from MCEA for residents. According to the U.S. Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, Montgomery County had an unemployment rate of 3.4 percent at the end of 2014, down from the end of 2013 when the annual unemployment rate was 5.4 percent. Small businesses According to a demographics report published by The Woodlands Development Company, the population of The Woodlands has grown at a continuous rate since 1975. Job growth rose from an estimated 55,000 jobs in 2013 to 58,400 in 2014 due to a variety of new businesses opening up around the area. Ashley Middleton, manager of Blue Mug Caf in The Woodlands, said that despite the economic downturn and being a relatively new business, the caf has actually experienced a significant increase in customers this past year. "We've been open two years and have seen a big increase in business," she said. "I think it will be even better the rest of the year based off these past few months." Tony Faour, owner of BBQ Godfather, a food truck located in Spring, said he has seen a increase. "We're new and people are just finding out about us, but we get a lot of traffic," Faour said. "We're not being affected by the downturn, and I think people just keep coming here for the great [prices]." However, some shop owners said that business volume will all depend on how oil prices turn out for the remainder of the year. Don Harke, owner of Southern Home Furnishings in The Woodlands, said if oil prices rebound, business sales will continue to be strong. But if the cost of oil continues to fall, Harke said it could have a more pronounced effect on local businesses and area residents. "Nationwide chains don't feel the effects," Harke said. "But locally owned businesses in The Woodlands will. [The local economy is] really going to hinge on the outcome of oil prices."