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Freedom to Grow TEXAS:

Texas continues to lead the nation in attracting both business and talent looking for economic opportunity and the freedom to grow. In 2019, the healthcare industry-leading McKesson Corporation joined the seemingly constant wave of companies relocating from California to Texas. In McKesson’s case, the move took the headquarters of the 76,000employee company from San Francisco to the Las Colinas master-planned development in Irving, Texas.

Years later, CEO Brian Tyler has no regrets about the company’s relocation to Texas. In fact, CEOs considering a move to Texas were to contact him about McKesson’s experiences, Tyler said, “I would tell them I regret not doing it a decade earlier.”

Similar testimonials are offered by leaders of diverse industries ranging from aerospace and automotive to technology, advanced manufacturing, financial services, and biotech who now call Texas home.

The Texas Advantage

It’s no coincidence Texas has won the title as the Best State for Business for the last 18 years as awarded by Chief Executive Magazine. This is due in part to the Lone Star State’s unmatched, business- friendly climate—with no personal or corporate income tax, easy access to global markets, overall lower operating costs, and reasonable regulations, not to mention a diverse and growing workforce and an enviable quality of life.

From leading the nation in job creation in 2022 to having the most diverse city (Houston) and the safest city (Frisco) in the nation, the Lone Star State is a beacon of opportunity.

Texas’ more than $2 trillion economy, the ninth largest when compared to nations of the world, is fueled by a highly skilled, diverse, and growing workforce of more than 14.6 million, along with 3.1 million small businesses, thousands of publicly traded firms, and the most Fortune 500 corporate headquarters in America—all of which are bolstered by a statewide focus on a business-friendly climate where companies of all sizes can thrive.

The Texas economy is also supported by a diverse industrial base. The state is actively pursuing growth in industry sectors such as corporate operations, finance, advanced manufacturing, energy, biotech and life sciences, information technology, petroleum and chemical processing, and aerospace, aviation, and defense.

JOBS GIANT & TALENT MAGNET

Texas’ economic successes are driven by their record-breaking job creation. Businesses large and small are continuing to break all-time job records with more than 13.7 million total jobs at the end of 2022 and more than 14 million Texans working.

And the Lone Star State continues to be a talent magnet, attracting the brightest minds from across the nation and around the world. With a diverse and growing population of more than 30 million, the state has added more than four million new Texans since 2010—more than California and New York combined. The Texas population is younger and growing faster than the country as a whole, offering companies the workforce they need to grow well into the future.

Top Tier Universities

In the last decade, Texas has grown from four Tier 1 research universities to now leading the nation in this category. In an economic development world increasingly dominated by the need for highquality and skilled talent, this is another reason businesses continue to relocate and expand in Texas.

At the end of 2021, the following Texas universities achieved Tier 1 Status:

• Baylor University

• University of Texas at San Antonio

• Texas Tech University

• University of Texas at Arlington

• Texas A&M University–College Station

• University of Texas at Dallas

• University of Texas at El Paso

• University of Texas at Austin

• University of North Texas

• University of Houston

Also the home to top-ranked universities for business, engineering, and more, and a leading state for biotech, engineering, and electrical engineering doctorates, Texas is well positioned to help businesses continue to innovate for years to come.

Ideal Infrastructure

Strategically located in the center of North America, a key piece to Texas’ economic strength is their robust infrastructure and ports system. Home to more miles of public roadways, state highways, freight railways, and airports than any other state in the country, people and goods can move easily throughout the Lone Star State by air, land, or sea and quickly reach customers across the nation and the world. Texas serves as a logistical hub for the entire country and offers easy access to all major domestic and international markets.

Leader In Exports

Accounting for 9% of all U.S. GDP, it’s no surprise that Texas has led the nation in exports for the last 21 consecutive years, proving that “Made in Texas” has never been a more powerful global brand. In addition, Texas exports in 2021 accounted for more than one million jobs, according to the International Trade Administration.

Among the factors that have contributed to Texas’ 21-year export streak are:

• A business-friendly regulatory environment.

• A low tax burden.

• A strong, established infrastructure and a global logistics network.

• A high level of collaboration among state and local economic development professionals.

The state’s leadership in the high-tech industry also plays a key role. In the state where the microchip was first born, the future of America’s semiconductor industry is already building for tomorrow as Texas ranks as the top state in the nation for semiconductor manufacturing and exports. Texas has now led the nation in semiconductor exports for 12 years in a row and for high-tech exports for 10 years.

Countries around the world recognize the strength of the Texas economy when it comes to international trade and foreign direct investment. Mexico ranks as the state’s top trading partner followed by Canada, China, South Korea, Brazil, Japan, India, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Taiwan. In addition, Texas ranks as the top state for foreign direct investment with top countries including South Korea, Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and France.

The Headquarters Of Headquarters

The Lone Star State champions a world-class economic landscape, bringing businesses of all sizes and people from all backgrounds to a state fueled by one of the lowest business operating costs in the nation, creating an environment that is attractive for corporate headquarters across all industries. Paired with a reasonable regulatory environment, a lower cost of living, and an exceptional quality of life, Texas is a top state for corporate headquarter relocations and expansions.

Texas has a robust corporate services workforce estimated to be more than 1.5 million, allowing businesses to find specialized labor and back-office support in finance, information technology, human resources, and more. In 2021, 80 companies relocated their headquarters to Texas, the most in the state’s history. This includes Fortune 500 corporate relocations such as AECOM, NRG Energy, and Tesla. Most recently, Caterpillar Inc., the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, announced the relocation of their global headquarters to Irving. Governor Greg Abbott said relocations like Caterpillar are a “testament to the boundless opportunity Texas has to offer.”

Additional recent headquarter relocations and expansions include:

• Archaea Energy, one of the largest renewable natural gas producers in the U.S., chose Houston as the site of their new headquarters.

• Apollo USA, a California-based specialty products firm, announced plans to make North Richland Hills the location for their new headquarters.

• CCIntegration, Inc. in Plano: CCIntegration, Inc., an original equipment manufacturer, has established a new corporate headquarters in Plano.

• DaBella Exteriors, a home improvement company, announced they will move their headquarters from Oregon to Austin.

• Kraken Technologies, an Octopus Energy Group company, announced their first U.S. headquarters will be in Houston.

• M2M Certified Inc. in Austin: M2M Certified Inc. officially moved its headquarters of operations to Austin to capitalize on the next boom in technological expansion in the region.

• Parus Holdings Inc., a maker of voice-enabled technologies, announced the relocation and expansion of their corporate headquarters in Austin, relocating from Illinois.

• Ranchland Foods LLC, a grass-fed, free-range chicken, and organic meat food production company, relocated their main distribution facility to Denton.

• SI Group, a performance additives company, announced the relocation of their global headquarters and research and development facilities to the Woodlands.

• Ulrich Medical USA Inc., a medical device company, announced they are relocating from Missouri to Plano.

Under Governor Abbott’s administration, there have been more than 270 corporate headquarter relocations to the state since 2015. And this number continues to grow as companies flock to the Lone Star State to escape high-taxed and over-regulated states.

While many companies are announcing their move to Texas, companies already headquartered in Texas are making their impact nationally. In 2021, 49% of all expansion and relocation projects in the U.S. were attributed to companies headquartered in Texas. These projects represented $41.4 billion (60%) of all capital investment across the U.S.

Quality Of Life

“Night and day.” That’s how one CEO described the difference between Silicon Valley and his new Texas headquarters. In Texas, employers and workers alike enjoy low taxes, low housing costs, and high-quality education options coupled with a vast range of recreational opportunities. That’s why Texas cities, large and small, continue to attract a diverse group of millennials, families, and entrepreneurs. With plenty of cultural offerings at museums, restaurants, music venues, and more across the state, they truly do have something for everyone—whether you’re looking for a rural oasis or busy city lifestyle. There’s simply no place in the world quite like Texas.

Texas Economic Development Corporation

The opportunities in Texas are as vast as the state itself, and those at the Texas Economic Development Corporation (TxEDC), in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Texas Economic Development & Tourism, are promoting Texas across the country and across the world as the best location for businesses to locate and expand.

Through a robust program of national and international investment attraction missions, industry events, media relations, advertising, and other signature initiatives, TxEDC spreads the word of Texas’ business advantages among a target audience of corporate decision makers and site-selection consultants. The organization is made possible through the support of a broad range of organizations, Fortune 500 companies and privately held enterprises throughout the state.

Interested in learning more about the Texas advantage? Contact them at www.businessintexas.com.

TEXAS: Harlingen

One Of The Best Kept Secrets

Strategically situated in the Rio Grande Valley in Southern Texas, the city of Harlingen and the surrounding region might be one of the best-kept secrets of the Lone Star State.

Harlingen is in a great location in terms of market accessibility, which opens the door to draw in more investors to the area. Harlingen is connected to major metro areas through its airport, proximity to Mexico, the Port of Harlingen, and the interstate system. Plus, Harlingen also boasts a low cost of living, which can be enticing for outside companies looking to relocate or expand.

With an in-city population of up to 1.3 million within a 45-minute radius, Harlingen also benefits from several other advantages, such as being located in a Foreign Trade Zone, Freeport Tax Exemption, no personal state income tax and no corporate income tax. All of these factors point to Harlingen as a strategic location for a large business interested in expanding its operations or an aspiring entrepreneur looking to establish a new small business.

Harlingen’s business climate is perfect for companies specializing in logistics, distribution, manufacturing, healthcare, technology and those that are also interested in launching something new – literally. The Harlingen Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) has spurred major growth in aerospace with companies like United Launch Alliance (ULA), that has chosen Harlingen for more than 20 years, and has helped companies from many sectors to either relocate or expand into Harlingen and the Rio Grande Valley. Those companies include United Healthcare, Penske Logistics, Qualfon, and CARDONE Industries, the world’s largest auto parts manufacturer.

The HEDC has a lot to proud of and our industrial sector has made great strides in 2019. The HEDC worked with Poly Sachi Polymers to set up a relocation of the plastics firm to the Harlingen Industrial Park from their location in Taylor, Texas. Harlingen is also proud of the expansion happening at Valley International Airport through the addition of new airlines, more frequent flights, and FedEx’s Express facility, which brought the airport up to rank as 71st in the nation in terms of cargo facilitation.

There are many other major projects creating jobs, improving our workforce, and contributing to local economy. Harlingen may not be a secret much longer. Learn more about why your business should choose Harlingen for business and much more by visiting our website for more information: www.harlingenedc.com.

A small town with big potential. Beyond our booming economy, you’ll find landscapes filled with adventure, food flavored with goodness, and new Texans falling in love with life. Unlock your potential here.

TEXAS: Tomball Creating Growth & Innovation

Tomball, Texas, located less than 30 miles northwest of Houston, has emerged as a premier business destination be blending economic opportunity with small-town charm. Advanced infrastructure, a business-friendly mindset, quality education, and hospitable quality of life drive Tomball’s sustained growth. With roots as a railroad hub in the early 1900’s, Tomball has become a modern destination for business and commerce.

Tomball is home to more than 1,500 businesses and nearly 1,400 employees. Companies from all over the globe have located in Tomball. From headquarters to manufacturing, Tomball’s businessfriendly approach, dynamic economy, and cost advantages attract companies large and small.

Tomball, located in the 3rd most populous county in the U.S., is in an advantageous geographic location to reach job seekers. With roughly 7 million people in the Houston-metro area, Tomball companies can effectively locate skilled employees without having to extend beyond the region. Tomball utilizes its location to create a diverse workforce representative of the region, which is one of the most culturally diverse in the country.

The Tomball Economic Development Corporation has a strategic commitment to develop and maintain a talented, robust workforce within Tomball. Working with stakeholders like the Tomball Independent School District and Lone Star College-Tomball, the TEDC provides opportunities to attract premium talent to Tomball businesses.

One of the TEDC’s primary focus is on promoting business retention and expansion for Tomball companies. The TEDC offers financial assistance to qualifying companies in the form of cash grants for projects that create or retain jobs, in addition to assisting with funding for eligible infrastructure costs. The goal is to support Tomball companies with their development plans, as the key to economic vitality is building upon existing success. Investing in existing companies strengthens ongoing business connections leading to sustained growth.

For more information on the advantages to investing in Tomball, please contact the Tomball Economic Development Corporation at 281-401-4086 or visit their website at www.tomballtxedc.org .

TEXAS: Marble Falls Growth Leads To Multiple Community Developments

Like most communities, Marble Falls has commercial and industrial land that is available for development. The town of just over 7,500 also has reasonably good transportation infrastructure and proximity to large urban centers like Austin (60 minutes away) and San Antonio (75 minutes away). The area can start claiming some advantages as a scenic lake town in the Texas Hill Country, popular for retirees and tourists alike, with recent growth creating new opportunities in the healthcare, light manufacturing, and professional office sectors. Being a regional shopping hub for more than 117,500 people has helped Marble Falls weather the current economic storm very well—in fact, monthly sales tax allocations have averaged more than 20% growth over the prior year.

What sets Marble Falls apart, however, now more than ever, is the community’s small-town values coupled with its welcoming attitude toward newcomers. Those who are buying land in the Business and Technology Park are coming from nearly everywhere. The community supports law enforcement and first responders, holding multiple events every year to honor their service. The Marble Falls Independent School District is the area’s largest employer, so teachers, administrators, and other support staff provide a strong foundation at all levels of the workforce.

Roughly 100 businesses open or expand annually in Marble Falls, with about 70% of those being locally-owned and operated. The Downtown area in particular has been a major contributor to that growth. Professional offices and small headquarter facilities are well-situated here with proximity to quaint shops, great restaurants, and amazing park space. People are realizing that, if they can work from anywhere, they want to work from Marble Falls.

New subdivisions like Gregg Ranch with 707 lots-currently in phase II-and Thunder Rock with 1,870 lots will support recent developments that include Baylor Scott & White’s $100 million regional medical center, a 110,000-square-foot H-E-B grocery store, and a $20 million operations center for Pedernales Electric Cooperative. There are also several medical office facilities and a new family entertainment center that just opened, and the development pipeline includes some exciting retail opportunities such as the 114--acre Legacy Crossing, 40-acre Flatrock Crossing, and the 10-acre Panther Hollow Village. Also in the development pipeline are several multi-family properties with 1,000+ combined units and a public/private Downtown hotel and conference center project slated to break ground summer 2023.

While the emergence of Marble Falls as the retail and entertainment hub of the Highland Lakes area is a relatively recent development, the community’s draw for generations has been its connection to the outdoors. Beautiful Lake Marble Falls is ideal for skiing, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding, and the Downtown parks along the waterfront are continually enhanced by a $25 million improvement plan that began in 2019.

Marble Falls is already a special place, and community leaders are focused on making incremental improvements to a few areas while maintaining momentum in others. When it comes to new businesses, size and fit are critical considerations. Small- to mediumsized companies will likely have an easier time with real estate and employment than very large firms—and the community likes it that way. If the prospects of a charming small town with steady, manageable growth and a surprising set of amenities sounds appealing, give Marble Falls a shot. Whether your interests lead to a greenfield development in the Business and Technology Park or the restoration of an historic downtown structure into a live/work/shop space, opportunities abound in Marble Falls. For more information about investing in Marble Falls, contact Christian Fletcher, Executive Director of the EDC, at 830/7987079 or cfletcher@marblefallseconomy.com.

TEXAS: Hamilton A Hill Country Destination

The city of Hamilton, Texas is conveniently located at the intersection of US Highway 281 and Texas State Highway 36. Seated along the Edwards Plateau, where the hill country embraces the grassy plains.

Hamilton is centrally located, only 100 miles north of Austin, south of Dallas/Fort Worth and east of Abilene. Close proximity to these metro areas ensures a consistent flow of recreational, industrial, agricultural, and commercial traffic, as travelers venture from one part of the state to another. Enticed to stop for unique shopping and dining opportunities, Hamilton has changed from a stop-along-the-way to a hill country destination.

In addition to direct highway access, the Hamilton Municipal Airport is the largest in the region, supporting private jets, providing self-service fuel and a courtesy car available 24-hours a day. Most weekends, you can find gliders leaving the airport, so pilots, students and guests can take in the beautiful hill country scenery from an alternative perspective.

Hamilton is the county seat, allowing the historically preserved and updated Hamilton County Courthouse to provide governmental services daily to a population of 8,000. The courthouse is the center of our downtown, supplying the perfect location to numerous community events and festivals.

The Texas Historical Commission designated the 18-county area of Central Texas as the Texas Brazos Trail Region. Hamilton is featured on the trail because of its rich architectural history. Many of the buildings downtown feature their original limestone facades and a rare bowstring iron bridge leads pedestrians to a local nature trail for walking and running. The beautiful and spacious Pecan Creek Park spreads across numerous acres, providing baseball, softball, playgrounds, and disc golf. City Lake provides water-based recreation for kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing and much more.

Hamilton is known as the “Dove Capital of Texas”, which is a strong statement. Extensive wildlife such as turkeys, doves, whitetail deer and more, are just a few additional reasons why individuals visit Hamilton. Those that prefer photography keep busy all year round with breathtaking fields of bluebonnets, endless sunflowers, world record longhorns, and exquisite sunsets.

The Circle T Resort provides a comfortable western inn for overnight stays, stall and RV reservations, award-winning steakhouse, and monthly opportunities to participate in youth and adult rodeos, including the World Series of Team Roping.

Just outside the city limits, is a 200-acre complex that is home to the Game Warden Training Center for Texas Parks and Wildlife. The facility provides the only training available to become a Game Warden or Park Police Officer. Every year, a new class of cadets graduate and join an elite group of trained conservation officers stationed throughout the state.

The Texas Historical Commission designated Hamilton as an official Texas Main Street community in 2020. To ensure clear communication, streamlined processes and project efficiency, the Economic Development Corporation and Main Street Program are housed in the same building. Both entities focus on community engagement, economic growth and development, historical preservation, and building a talented local workforce. X

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