The Fort Bend Commissioners Court voted Tuesday to create a reinvestment zone in Needville’s extraterritorial jurisdiction and to establish five districts within the boundaries of Fort Bend County Levee Improvement District 19 for election purposes. 1) Tax Reinvestment Zone Commissioners authorized the creation of Fort Bend County Reinvestment Zone No. 19 in Precinct 1 for tax abatement purposes. The 12 acres of land sit on Hwy. 36, across from Needville High School, according to meeting documents. The business coming to the area is Fort Bend-based biotechnology company TekManna, said Jack Belt, executive vice president of the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council, which helped spearhead the development. The company will potentially bring 25 jobs and spur economic activity in the area, Precinct 1 Commissioner Vincent Morales said. “It’s going to be good for the county [in the] long run and Needville,” Morales said. 2) Fort Bend County LID 19 The Court established five districts within Fort Bend County LID 19 for the purpose of electing five directors to manage the LID. Typically, the Court appoints LID directors, however there are exceptions to this, County Judge Robert Hebert said. “The law allows as residents move in—at their option—they can petition to hold an election and elect their own directors,” Hebert said. “That’s what LID 19 [residents] did. There were several hundred homes flooded inside LID 19, and those folks want to have more direct control over the LID.” Each director elected would represent one district to ensure residents are equally represented on the board, Hebert said. There are approximately 2,250 residents within the LID, so each of the five districts will contain over 400 residents, he said. Candidates for LID directors will be on the May 5 general election ballot. 3) Energy Assistance The Court accepted $10,000 and $980 from electricity companies TXU Energy and Reliant Energy, respectively to provide assistance to qualified County residents. 4) Federal Emergency Management Agency Pilot Program Commissioners agreed to participate in a FEMA pilot program, which would entitle the county to receive partial reimbursement for administrative work done related to Hurricane Harvey recovery projects.