Target Industries:
Galveston County’s infrastructure and industry knowledge, location on the Texas Coast of the Gulf of Mexico, and economic power of the Greater Houston region translate into great locations for the following target industry sectors:
Aerospace
With a heavy emphasis on space. NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, NASA’s $1.5 billion human spaceflight, research and flight control facility is located on the Galveston County/Harris County line. Consisting of more than 1,620 acres, the complex is home to NASA’s astronaut corps and employees 3,200 employees and more than 15,000 contractors. In addition, the Houston Spaceport, the world’s first truly urban commercial spaceport, is located just minutes north of Galveston County.
Life Sciences
Uniquely qualified. The University of Texas Medical Branch is located in the city of Galveston, with satellite facilities in League City. UTMB is the oldest medical school in Texas. Established in 1891, the school employs more than 11,000 and consists of schools of medicine, nursing, health profession, and a graduate school of biomedical sciences. Houston is home to the largest medical complex in the world – the Texas Medical Center – and provides clinical health care, research, and education at its 54 institutions. The healthcare and life science industries employ more than 320,000, making it larger than Houston’s energy sector. Houston is home to more than 190 life science companies and start-ups, 132 hospitals and health clinics, and some of the country’s top research facilities.
Galveston National Laboratory: The Galveston National Laboratory (GNL) is a sophisticated high containment research facility that serves as a critically important resource in the global fight against infectious diseases. The GNL is located on the campus of the University of Texas Medical Branch and operates under the umbrella of UTMB’s Institute for Human Infections and Immunity.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) provides funding for the BSL4 Lab Operations at the GNL, and the lab’s top priority is research to develop diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines to combat the most dangerous diseases in the world. Researchers at the GNL are internationally known for their expertise working with pathogens including Ebola and Marburg, emerging infectious diseases like MERS, and mosquito-borne viruses like Zika and Chikungunya.
Regional Office, Corporate & Regional Headquarters
Galveston County is the most pro-business county in the Houston MSA. Galveston county offers companies a pro-business environment in a location where their executives and employees can enjoy an extremely high quality of life. Galveston County’s ability to offer access to the Texas Coast, Houston, award- winning schools, and culture is unmatched. Houston’s business-friendly climate and talented workforce are one of the many reasons why the region ranks fourth in corporate headquarters for Fortune 500 companies.
Downstream Oil & Gas
Texas leads the nation in petroleum refining and chemical products production and is a global leader in the closely related petrochemical industry. The oil and gas industry is usually divided into three major sectors: upstream, midstream, and downstream. Upstream is the part where the oil is taken out the ground, midstream is the transportation segment of the industry, and downstream is the section of the process where the refining, marketing, and selling of the finished goods take place. Galveston County is at the downstream end of the oil and gas industry. The county is home to chemical plants, oil refineries (including the largest in Greater Houston), terminal storage facilities, industrial gas manufacturers, and petroleum, fuel and chemical testing facilities. In addition, INEOS, a major petrochemical manufacturer located their North American headquarters in the county. Galveston County is also located in the energy capital of the world. Petrochemical Powerhouse: The Texas Gulf Coast has 25% of the nation’s refining capacity, capable of refining 4.8 million barrels of oil per day. Houston has 40% of the nation’s base petrochemical and manufacturing capacity.
Foreign Direct Investment
The Texas Gulf Coast is an excellent region to expand into. Galveston County’s superior workforce, vibrant economy, and excellent business climate, along with the county’s centralized location, and relatively low production costs have lured many foreign businesses to expand or relocate here. Currently, more than twenty-five foreign corporations have ongoing operations in Galveston County.
Maritime
Four ports for the price of one, and all the coastline you could want. Of all the regions in Texas, none are as uniquely positioned to serve the maritime industry as Galveston County. Home to the Port of Texas City and the Port of Galveston, and with easy access to the Port Houston nearby, Galveston County is the epicenter of the Texas Gulf Coast.