FORBES MAG Says: Houston & Fort Bend County, Texas BEST PLACE!

Premier Place To
Relocate, Open A Business
(Fort Bend County, TX) February 3, 2010 – Despite a national economic downturn, Fort Bend County, Texas
continues to provide a premier place to relocate or open a new business. Here are eight key reasons business
owners should consider Fort Bend County when moving their business.
• Favorable business climate. Qualified businesses and developments relocating to Fort Bend County can
take advantage of a number of incentives including: value-added tax abatement, Freeport tax exemption,
tax increment financing and industrial revenue bonds. Additionally, a Foreign Trade Zone designation is
currently pending on the area’s new intermodal facility and logistics park.
• Strong economy. Fort Bend County is the regional leader in household income.5 Ranked third in job growth
in the country by the U.S. Department of Labor in 2009, its unemployment rate remains consistently below
the national average.
• Low cost of living. Texas offers the fifth lowest cost of living in the U.S.1
• Low tax burden. Texas is seventh in the nation in lowest tax burden2 and consistently ranks well below the
national average. Plus, Texas is one of only seven states in the country that have no state income tax.
• Exceptional quality of life. Families make up 83 percent of the households in Fort Bend County3, most of
which reside in one of 70 master-planned communities, characterized by affordable upscale homes and
outstanding amenities. In addition, Fort Bend County maintains the lowest crime rate in Houston’s eightcounty
area.4 The Fort Bend County cities of Sugar Land and Missouri City both appeared on the safest
cities of America list published by CQ Press’ City Crime Rankings in November 2009.
• Educated workforce. Fort Bend County is the regional leader in high school graduation rate and educated
adult population. Nearly 40 percent of its workforce earned a college degree or higher.5
• Optimal distribution network. More than 100 Fortune 500 companies use the Sugar Land Regional Airport
annually. Plus, businesses in Fort Bend County are in close proximity to two major airports – George Bush
International Airport and Hobby Airport. The soon-to-be-completed Intermodal Rail Facility will offer
time-wise import/export shipping options via Mexico. And, the Port of Houston and Port Freeport are also
available to export/import shipments overseas.
• Right-to-work. Workers in Fort Bend County are not required to be members of a union. Therefore, business
owners have the right to hire whomever they choose.
Fort Bend County is located in the Houston metropolitan area of southeast Texas. For more information about
Fort Bend County, visit www.fortbendcounty.com.
1 The Council for Community and Economic Research, March 2009


2 Texas ranks seventh nationally in the Tax Foundation’s State Business Tax Climate Index. The index compares
the states in five areas of taxation that impacts business: corporate taxes, individual income taxes, sales taxes,
unemployment insurance taxes and taxes on property.
3 U.S. Census Bureau-American Community Survey
4 U.S. Census Bureau-American Community Survey
5 U.S. Census Bureau-American Community Survey
About Fort Bend County
Fort Bend County is located in the Houston metropolitan area of southeast Texas. Its population is among the fastest growing in the United
States and has been recognized among the most educated and diverse counties in the nation. According to the 2008 U.S. Census, Fort Bend
County has more than 530,000 residents and is projected to grow to one million by 2017. Fort Bend’s vibrant economy has also received
national recognition. Fort Bend County is among the top 10 counties in the nation in terms of economic strength, according to Woods & Poole
Economics, 2008. For more information about Fort Bend County, including a complete list of accolades, visit www.fortbendcounty.com or
follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

PRESENTED BY:

Media contact:
Natalie Rivera
Marion, Montgomery, Inc.
(713) 523-7900
nrivera@mmihouston.com

For more information on Houston office space, Houston retail space or Houston warehouse space and Houston industrial space, please call 713 782-0260 or see my web site at : www.houstonrealtyadvisors.com Offer opportunities for Houston office space. Thank you for your interest.
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Thanks,
Ed A. Ayres
Houston Realty Advisors, Inc.
Mitaquye oyasin


Please follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/edayres, my blog at http://houstonrealtyadvisors.blogspot.com,