A Partnership for Your Success
Have you ever experienced difficulties developing your business in cities where it takes months to meet with city staff to discuss your project, or where regulations restrict your ability to submit development applications? Have you experienced where city staff impedes your ability to submit a building application? Have you been informed that it will take about 18 months to obtain a permit to begin construction of a simple building? I previously worked for a city similar to the one described. That city did not partner with businesses seeking to open in our community, and it became known as not business-friendly. Luckily, that city recognized its error and changed its practices. Unfortunately, it takes time to change and earn the trust of the development community to become business-friendly once a negative reputation is established.
Rather than hinder development, the City of Wharton actively encourages and seeks developers to locate in our community. The City of Wharton establishes a partnership to support the success of your development or business, as this benefits everyone. When you are successful and sustainable, we as a community are successful.
Due to growth in the Houston Metropolitan Area along the Gulf of Mexico in Texas, development is expanding into rural communities, such as Wharton, Texas, which is embracing change and preparing, which helps businesses that need a Public-Private Partnership.
How do we Partner With You? By implementing practices that demonstrate the City of Wharton is a Pro-Business community, and by creating an environment that treats everyone fairly and equally. By creating an internal environment where the city staff treats you with respect and LISTENS to your needs. By developing processes where we have all City, County, State participants that will touch your development opportunity, to meet with you and your representatives early in the development processes, before becoming financially committed, in order for you to obtain all the information to your questions before you invest. By implementing these processes as a group, we will create a development that meets the needs of both the community and your business.
But we don’t stop there! You do not know our city as we do. The Wharton Economic Development Corporation helps you identify the best site location that meets your requirements. Based on your site requirements, we can determine whether the infrastructure is in place or requires improvement. We assist in connecting you with the appropriate point of contact for the property owner, our utility companies, and city representatives. Our goal is to have you obtain your permit in months, not years, in order to open your business as time is money!
Wharton is land-rich, thereby attracting retail, industrial, commercial, manufacturing, business parks, and housing along Interstate Highway 69, State Highway 60, and the newly opened Farm to Market Road 1301, which directly connects the city to the Interstate. The Wharton Economic Development Corporation’s website has an up-to-date Property Locator to easily access available properties for purchase or lease.
Many of these developable properties front the Interstate and our business highway, and have on-site or very close infrastructure. Wharton is willing to explore all financial options to work with qualified developer(s) on incentives that benefit the company and the city, such as a public–private partnership and other mechanisms to reduce costs.
Industrial and manufacturing firms that locate along the Interstate 69 and/or adjacent to our railroad main line may be eligible to qualify for New Market Tax Credit funding through a Community Development Funding Institution, as well as the Opportunity Zone Funding that can offset a firm’s financial stack. Another advantage for qualified industrial/manufacturing development is that your firm may be able to secure an Industrial Revenue Bond to fund its project.
Wharton County has been designated an Air Quality Attainment area, which, for many industrial and manufacturing operations, is a significant benefit, eliminating the financial burden of purchasing air quality credits and allowing you to operate your business at a reasonable cost.
The City of Wharton continues to invest in its future, as our business community requires of a city, through infrastructure improvements including utility upgrades, fiber-optic expansion for high-speed communications, flood protection, thoroughfare roads, and airport improvements.
The City of Wharton has undertaken a concerted effort to protect your investment by preventing future flooding. The Army Corps of Engineers is constructing the Lower Colorado River Flood Reduction Project, Phases I and II, along the Colorado River at a cost of over $450 Million.
We recognize that communication with your clients and suppliers is vital to the success and growth of your business. High-speed internet providers have been installing new fiber-optic lines throughout the City of Wharton, which many of our businesses and residents are leveraging in today’s competitive business environment.
The City of Wharton is reaping the benefits of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), which is investing in our community and will ensure the continued growth of the City of Wharton through TxDOT’s development of a freight-hauling corridor, Interstate 69, a 6-lane divided Interstate through the city. The development of the interstate will include frontage roads and four corner overpasses that will allow easy access to our city core, industrial areas, airport, and retail corridors. TxDOT is expanding Hwy 59 to Interstate 69, with completion expected near the Colorado River in late 2026 from Houston. Once the entire Interstate 69 route is complete, it will provide a direct route from the Mexico/Texas border crossings to the Canadian/USA border crossing. There are many great opportunities for industrial–warehouse developments to locate on or near the interstate.
Industry and manufacturing require the right site locations and a sufficient-quality workforce. The City of Wharton is located within 60 miles of downtown Houston and two international airports; it is also a 47-minute drive from a population of over 2.2 million, including just under 1 million in the labor force, accessible to your business.
Wharton has a significant advantage in quality education, with Wharton County Junior College located in the center of the city. Businesses and industry need to recruit quality-educated employees locally to ensure success. As part of Wharton’s Partnership, if your business requires training for your employees, our Junior College can provide you with training specific to your needs through the Skilled Development Fund.
By creating a partnership with your business, either through fast permitting processes, information, incentives, or a Public – Private Partnership, we prove that we want you in our community and desire your business to be successful.
The City of Wharton, Wharton Economic Development Corporation, and Wharton County encourage your business to locate or relocate to the City of Wharton. For those businesses that qualify, the City, County, and State of Texas have incentive programs to help offset your financial stake. The City of Wharton desires you to be successful by making major investments in your business(es) and in our community.
I encourage you to relocate your business or conduct your next business adventure in the City of Wharton, Texas.
Contact:
Courtland Holman
Executive Director
Wharton Economic Development Corporation
execdirector@whartonedc.com
(979) 531-9015 • https://www.whartonedc.com/
