Skip to main content

Partnership Reports 26 Economic Development Wins in '21

Published Feb 09, 2022 by A.J. Mistretta

Minute Maid

Despite the ongoing challenges of the pandemic, the Houston region continued to see both domestic and international business expansions and relocation activity in 2021. The Partnership and its regional allies assisted in 26 economic development projects, accounting for over $922 million in capital expenditure and over 2,900 new jobs to the region.

These include: 

  • Aegle Management, a high-quality American-made PPE manufacturer and health-tech company, said it will open a manufacturing facility in Brookshire.
  • Archaea Energy, one of the largest renewable natural gas producers in the U.S., is relocating its corporate headquarters to a 40,000-square-foot office space in Houston.
  • Capsule, a New York City-based leading digital pharmacy, will expand to Houston with a hub for its pharmacists, pharmacy techs and delivery drivers. The company plans to grow its local team to more than 100 employees over the next year.
  • Chewy.com, an online pet supply retailer, is expanding its distribution network with a 700,000-square-foot facility in Houston.
  • Dayton Street Partners, a Chicago-based real estate investment firm, has acquired a 500,000-square-foot logistics center in northeast Houston. The company is planning a multimillion-dollar renovation of the terminal and the development of an additional 25 acres.
  • First Bank of Taiwan, one of the world’s leading banks, opened its first branch in Houston. This is the first Taiwanese bank to establish operations in Texas. The Houston Branch will provide a full range of financial services to meet the operating need of overseas Taiwanese enterprises.
  • Fluence Analytics, a venture-backed startup that provides patented process analytics and control solutions to polymer and biopharmaceutical manufacturers, announced the relocation of its headquarters from New Orleans to Stafford, Texas with more than 5,600 square feet of office, manufacturing and laboratory space.
  • Haldor Topsoe, a Denmark-based global leader in catalysis and process technology, will build a 15,000-ton-per-year hydroprocessing catalyst plant at the company’s existing Bayport production site in Pasadena, Texas.
  • Han’s Laser, a Chinese national laser equipment supplier, opened a Houston office that will support its marketing, R&D, assembly plant and more.
  • Hobas Pipe USA, an Austria-based global manufacturer of pipe systems, is expanding in the Houston region with a facility that will support three new product lines.
  • Honeywell International Inc. moved its Performance Materials and Technologies business division to Houston, increasing the company’s Houston headcount to more than 850 employees. Honeywell also plans to open a new Customer Excellence Center on the CityWestPlace campus to showcase its technologies aimed at improving efficiency and profitability for industrial clients.
  • JPMorgan Chase, returned to its namesake building and Downtown Houston’s tallest tower, with a 250,000-square-foot lease. The bank is planning major renovation of the building lobby, outdoor plaza, and amenities. As part of this move, JPMorgan Chase will relocate its Houston Technology Center, which employs more than 1,500 people.
  • Neurogene, a biotech company focused on genetic medicines for patients affected by rare neurological diseases, announced plans to convert a 19,000-square-foot building into manufacturing facility to support research and development efforts.
  • The Financial Times and Nikkei are opening the first joint bureau in their international editorial network in Houston to strengthen coverage of the energy industry.
  • NRG Energy, a Fortune 500 energy company with 3,000 local employees, announced it has designated Houston as its sole headquarters with plans for continued expansion.
  • ProDevice Corp., a leader in modern technologies for storage media data destruction, announced an expansion to Houston with an office that will manage the company’s North and South American operations.
  • Puro Bioplastics, a New York based provider of sustainable bioplastic solutions, is setting up manufacturing operations in a 20,000-square-foot facility in Houston.
  • Quanta Services, a Houston-based company leading in specialized contracting services for the energy industry and others, will expand its headquarters office.
  • Sourcepoint Mortgage, a leader in mortgage business process management service, is expanding to Houston with a 35,000-square-foot office.
  • Stream Flo, a Canadian manufacturer supporting the oil and gas industry, said it will expand to Houston to support the manufacturing of a new product line.
  • Super Cement, a company based in the United Arab Emirates, will build a green cement factory in Houston designed to lower the greenhouse gas effect.
  • Talaris Therapeutics, a Kentucky-based biopharma company, opened a research facility in Houston to focus on process and analytical development.
  • Texas MedPlast, an Argentinian manufacturer of PPE products, opened a manufacturing facility in Houston.
  • Transocean, a leading international provider of offshore contract drilling services, is expanding and updating technology and software platforms used with offshore rigs and mobile fleets in the Houston Gulf Coast.
  • UPS, a global leader in distribution and logistics, will replace its existing Houston facility with a state-of-the-art 660,000-square-foot packaging and sorting facility.
  • World Recycled Products, a California-based company that developed a proprietary tech to utilize recycled products, recently opened a 34,000-square-foot facility in Waller.

The Houston region further solidified its position as a top U.S. metro for business relocations and expansions, with a total of more than 231 announced projects. Of those projects, 24% disclosed jobs tied to the announcement, amounting to over 10,520 jobs, and 15% disclosed capital expenditure totaling $3.4 billion.

Learn more about the Partnership's work in economic development and other focus areas in the organization's 2021 Annual Report

 

Related News

Economic Development

Greater Houston Partnership Receives 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Award

8/28/24
The Greater Houston Partnership received a 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Bronze Award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). The award was bestowed specifically for the Partnership’s work in the regional or cross-border partnership for regions with 500,000 or more residents.  The strategy formed in partnership with regional allies, as elaborated in the regional playbook, aims to enhance regional economic development in greater Houston by fostering collaboration and coordination among stakeholders. This involved creating a framework for the Houston Regional Economic Development Alliance (HREDA) to maximize engagement and support.  Formed in 2006, HREDA is comprised of economic development organizations and municipalities interested in creating jobs and investment to maintain a positive business environment. HREDA meets monthly at Partnership Tower, and often at other locations around the region. Hosted monthly at Partnership Tower and other regional sites, HREDA meetings include members from 98 economic development organizations, representing over 160 full-time economic development professionals.  The project's uniqueness and innovation reside in member involvement at every stage, ensuring ownership of the final playbook. It addressed previous collaboration deficits noted in studies, aiming to leverage regional resources for economic growth. The scale of marketing the region is no small feat. Covering 8,838 square miles, the 12-county Greater Houston region, with its centerpiece, the 10-county Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands MSA, surpasses an area the size of New Jersey,  Despite this vast expanse, the region's stakeholders have rallied together as allies, streamlining processes to attract prospective companies. This collective effort reflects a shared commitment to securing victories for the region's economic growth. “I am proud to be a part of an organization, such as HREDA, that exemplifies how regionalism and collaboration can drive economic success and set high standards for regional development,” HREDA Chair and Chief Economic Development Officer at Partnership Lake Houston Stephanie Wiggins said. “By uniting various stakeholders under a common goal, HREDA leverages the strengths of the Houston region to create a prosperous and sustainable economic environment." Every year IEDC looks specifically for economic development organizations, government entities, initiatives, and programs that have demonstrated consistent, exemplary performance in the economic development profession, leading the execution of projects that have a significant impact on revitalizing communities, and playing a major role in shaping and improving the practice of economic development. “This group understands what it means to succeed together," Greater Houston Partnership President and CEO Steve Kean said. “When we work together as one to combine the expertise, assets and capabilities of our regional partners, the Houston region is unmatched in potential. Through this mindset of regionalism, we can create a more prosperous and inclusive future for all of our citizens.” Learn more about the 12-county region the Partnership represents.  
Read More
Economic Development

Chevron Relocates Headquarters to Houston

8/2/24
Chevron Corporation has announced plans to relocate its corporate headquarters to Houston from San Ramon, California.  The announcement follows the energy giant's recent efforts to consolidate its operations in Houston, which began in 2022, with the sale of its 92-acre headquarters in San Ramon.  This strategic move aims to enhance collaboration among senior leaders, executives and business partners, according to Chevron’s press release. Chevron currently employs 7,000 people in the Houston area and 2,000 in San Ramon. While the relocation will initially have minimal impact on San Ramon employees, all corporate functions are expected to migrate to Houston over the next five years. Positions supporting Chevron’s operations in California will remain in San Ramon. According to the company, this move aligns with its ongoing efforts to streamline its operations and improve performance. By consolidating its headquarters in Houston, Chevron can leverage the city's robust energy infrastructure and diverse talent pool to advance energy affordability, reliability and security globally. “This is just the final step that many industry observers were waiting to happen,” Ken Medlock, Senior Director of the Baker Institute’s Center for Energy Studies, explained in a recent release. “To start, Houston provides a world-class location for internationally focused energy companies, which is why there is such a massive international presence here. Texas is also the nation’s largest energy producer across multiple energy sources and is poised to lead in emerging opportunities such as hydrogen and carbon capture, so Houston is a great place for domestically focused activities as well. To top it off, Texas rates very favorably for business in general.” Chevron will become the 24th Fortune 500 company to establish its headquarters in Houston, joining the city's growing hub of major corporations. Among these is ExxonMobil, which announced its corporate headquarters relocation to Spring in 2022. “Chevron’s decision to relocate its headquarters underscores the compelling advantages that position Houston as the prime destination for leading energy companies today and for the future," said Partnership President and CEO Steve Kean. "With deep roots in our region, Chevron is a key player in establishing Houston as a global energy leader. This move will further enhance those efforts." Learn more about corporate headquarters in the Houston region.   
Read More

Related Events

Economic Development

State of the Texas Medical Center

The Greater Houston Partnership's State of the Texas Medical Center returns on Thursday, November 14! William F. McKeon, President and CEO of the Texas Medical Center, will deliver an annual address, discussing the…

Learn More
Learn More
Executive Partners