South County fares well in economic study

Houston Chronicle - Beth Kuhles

Jobs in the South Montgomery County area are down slightly in the first six months of 2009, with 60 fewer positions among the 22,000 member workforce recorded during the same period in 2008, according to the local Economic Development Partnership annual report.

“We are very fortunate to be in South Montgomery County, Montgomery County and The Woodlands,” said Bruce Tough, chairman of the South Montgomery County-The Woodlands Chamber of Commerce. “Because of the development plans and business recruitment, we have a healthy and vibrant business community. Those job loss numbers are significantly low, and it shows the strong business climate in South Montgomery County and The Woodlands.”

Based on a periodic survey of companies with more than 100 employees, the hardest hit business have been those in the energy sector, which lost 54 jobs among its 6,600 employees. Professional and specialty services were down 41 jobs among 3,300 employees. On the other hand, health care is a growing industry, with 82 new jobs among the 4,400 workers.

“It is totally a number that represents a miniscule amount,” said Gil Staley, chief executive officer of the South Montgomery County – The Woodlands Economic Development Partnership, of the job losses. “We are certainly not immune to the economy, but we are doing better than some in our region, in the state of Texas and in the country.”

In addition to the job survey among 47, large, non-retail businesses in the area, the EDC teamed up with the South Montgomery –The Woodlands Chamber of Commerce’s Mobility Team to survey companies on commuting patterns in The Woodlands. Of those 16 employers that responded, the survey found that 58 percent of workers commute from inside Montgomery County, while 42 percent comes from other counties.

“As we get more and more larger companies, we will have more people relocate to the county,” Staley said.

Tough said another recent survey of traffic commuting patterns said that 50 percent of people were commuting out of The Woodlands, while 50 percent were coming into the area to work.

The boom in the health care industry is attributed to the growth of area hospitals. St Luke’s Community Medical Center – The Woodlands opened its new Lakeside Hospital this week. In recent years, it also opened an emergency clinic in Sterling Ridge.

Memorial Hermann – The Woodlands Hospital also opened an emergency clinic in Sterling Ridge this year.

The EDC does not track the smaller health care businesses that come with the growth, such as new doctor offices or pharmacies. All totaled, it is like to be the biggest section in the community, surpassing the energy section.

“If you track doctors and pharmacies, it could be the largest business sector,” Staley said.

Staley believes The Woodlands has weathered the economic storm better because of the diversity of industries in the community. After a slowdown in the spring, the number of inquiries about relocations or expansion in the community has begun increasing in the last two to three months. The Woodlands answered about a dozen requests for proposal from companies around the country, and it’s hosting a site visit for a bio-pharmaceutical firm next week that may want to relocate here.

“Over the last two to three months, the requests have been steady,” Staley said.

During the year, the EDP, an arm of the Chamber of Commerce, participates in several efforts to recruit and retain businesses in the community. Among their efforts are offering presentations to elected official, civic groups and businesses; hosting a luncheon for members; promoting local projects for awards; and holding business seminars on facility management, finance and human resources. In addition, the EDC was instrumental in having the area featured on the Economic Report, a national television program hosted by Greg Gumbel on industries, trend and issues that shape the economy.