The Fort Bend Regional Partnership, formerly known as the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce, has announced its expanded initiative in economic development as the county is expected to see its population nearly double in the next 20 to 25 years, according to a Feb. 26 news release.
The expansion comes after the organization announced its new name at its Jan. 30 Chairman’s Gala to better reflect the scale of its work, Community Impact reported.
In a nutshell
At the center of the economic initiatives is the organization's upcoming Fort Bend 2050 Report, a comprehensive data-driven analysis to explore critical issues the county will face during the expected accelerated growth, per the release.
Officials said the report will serve as a roadmap for public and private stakeholders evaluating key elements, including:
- Infrastructure
- Workforce alignment
- Economic development capacity
- Education
- Public services
- Quality-of-life indicators
The study is being led by Jeronimo Cortina, who serves as the director of faculty research initiatives for population health and an associate professor at the University of Houston, per the release.
What else?
The partnership also appointed Joe Esch as senior executive director of economic development, according to the release. President and CEO Keri Schmidt said Esch, who has more than 35 years of experience in economic development and real estate, brings extensive institutional knowledge.
"Joe’s leadership strengthens our ability to align city and county economic development strategies with private-sector investment priorities," Schmidt said in the release. "This collaboration ensures we are planning together rather than reacting separately."
What they’re saying
"The Fort Bend Regional Partnership is in a unique position in our region to support our public and private sector partners as all prepare for the next decade of growth," Esch said in the release. "By its nature, successful economic development solves complex problems that have multiple variables operating a dynamic political environment to bring people together for the benefit of our communities.”
Looking ahead
Additional details, timelines and stakeholder engagement opportunities for the Fort Bend 2025 Report will be announced in the coming months, per the release.
