Manufacturing company to relocate headquarters to Tomball

Tomball City Council members unanimously approved a motion at the June 2 meeting permitting Grimes Industrial, Inc. to relocate its headquarters to Tomball.

The business, which was founded in 2007, manufactures structural steel and industrial sheet metal fabricated components for the oil, gas and energy industries. Owner Jody Grimes said the company is expected to move from its current location at 2828 Delafield St. in Houston to 959 E. Main St. in Tomball by the first quarter of 2015.

"Myself and my operations manager, we all live in Tomball," Grimes said. "We're all looking forward to the move that's for sure. We'll be closer to home and won't have the hour and half drive time and we'll be bringing our business closer to our clients."

Officials with the Tomball Economic Development Corporation have been working with Grimes to relocate the business to the area since 2011, TEDC executive director Kelly Violette said. The new facilities will be situated on 4.6 acres and include 3,000 square feet for corporate offices, 5,000 square feet for a machine shop and an additional 8,000 square feet for a fabrication shop. Grimes said he plans to expand the fabrication facility by 8,000 square feet in the future.

About 20 employees will be relocating from the existing property in Houston. The business recently hired three new workers and may add more staff within the coming years, Grimes said.

Violette said the TEDC is providing Grimes Industrial, Inc. with $69,000 to help with the move to Tomball, and the business is expected to bring a five-year net benefit of more than $77,000 to the community. The total construction cost for the new facilities is estimated at $2 million, Grimes said.

Grimes said the business creates products that are indirectly sold through third-party vendors to companies such as Baker Hughes.

"It'll be great being next to [Baker Hughes]," Grimes said. "That in itself will be huge for us."