BY KELLY SCHAFLER
Why it matters
What’s next
What they’re saying
Meyers said some members of Commission- ers Court want economic development to fall mainly under the county’s purview, which he doesn’t agree with. Regardless of the organization’s future, Meyers said he believes economic development is important because the county should diver- sify its property tax base to ease the burden on taxpayers, because most of the county’s revenue is from residential development.
City and county leaders said they believe there’s a future for the FBEDC—despite di ering opinions on how to get there or what the role will be. Meyers said the FBEDC should focus more on attracting employers than master-planned communities. Additionally, Elizabeth Hu —who is Sugar Land’s economic development director, an FBEDC board member and an ad hoc committee member— said she also believes there’s a future for the FBEDC. She said she and other economic development directors would like the FBEDC to: • Become a lead generator that promotes the county through marketing • Bring together the region to speak as one voice
"Collectively, as municipalities, we had a voice on the Fort Bend EDC, because
we were members. I don’t know what that’s going to look like from the Fort Bend County collective aspect." AARON GROFF, FULSHEAR MAYOR
Fort Bend County appraised value, 2023
“We need an independent economic development council. I disagree that the county can take over economic development and basically do it justice.” ANDY MEYERS, FORT BEND COUNTY PRECINCT 3 COMMISSIONER
Commercial, industrial 10%
Other 15.2%
Residential* 74.8%
*INCLUDES SINGLEFAMILY, MULTIFAMILY AND VACANT PLATTED LOTS
SOURCES: ANDY MEYERS, FORT BEND COUNTY COMMUNITY IMPACT
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KATY SOUTH FULSHEAR EDITION
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