'A developer couldn't have placed Tomball in a better location if they really tried': Commercial, industrial growth in city of Tomball to create nearly 450 jobs

A new brewery that broke ground in February and an upcoming sports complex are just two examples of companies eyeing a move to Tomball or expanding their footprint in the city.

This comes at the same time the former BJ Services campus in Tomball—once housing about 800 employees—lies nearly vacant following the oil and gas company’s bankruptcy announcement in July.

“The [COVID-19] pandemic and continued challenges in the oil and gas sector have certainly impacted industrial and commercial users in the region,” said Kelly Violette, executive director of the Tomball Economic Development Corp., in a Feb. 1 email. “Some have put expansion plans on hold, while others have been absorbed by other companies that are looking for an opportunity to bring services in-house and reduce costs. Overall, we have continued to experience tremendous growth in industrial and commercial developments in Tomball.”

Despite the ongoing pandemic, the TEDC has inked seven performance-based grant agreements totaling a potential investment by the TEDC of more than $725,000 to help with job creation, retention and infrastructure costs for ongoing industrial and commercial projects in the city. These seven projects are anticipated to yield nearly 450 new jobs—directly and indirectly—and a more than $4.7 million net benefit for the city over the next decade, according to TEDC information.

The net benefit is calculated by subtracting the city’s investment—the cost of providing government and utility services—from the projected financial benefit to the city, such as sales tax revenue, property tax revenue and utility revenue.