Page 75 - FDI Alliance International Magazine. Winter 2020 Digital Interactive Issue.

ࣿ How affordable is the cost of living in Freeport Texas compared to
other cities the United states?
What is wonderful about Freeport is its less expensive to live in Freeport
than in the Greater Houston MSA or USA while maintaining a great
quality of life being next to a beach, river or near amenities that a
large city brings. Overall, it is 15.2% more expensive in the United
States and 10.1% more expensive in Houston than in Freeport when
comparing the cost of housing, groceries, utilities, transportation,
health and other items that an average family pays annually.

ࣿ Where would you like to see more International investment coming
ࣿ What measures are being taken in your community to ensure businesses
have the resources they need overcome the covid - 19 pandemic? from in the Freeport region?
By working with our local partners such as our Chamber of I have no real preference on where International Investment comes
from as long as that investment is intended to be permanent and
Commerce’s, the Alliance, Greater Houston Partnership, SBDC,
long term in Freeport Texas. Neither our citizens or city desires a
Houston Galveston Area Council, and others we have had various
webinars with Federal and State resources. Through these partners business to fail as that affects the pocket book for us all as well as
I have notified our businesses to attend in order to place them in a better quality of life for the residents.
direct contact with a qualified person to assist in their situation.
ࣿ Do you have any big projects that you are looking forward to
Though it may not help in all situations it has been a lifesaver for
some, one of which re-opened by the time of this publication. developing in 2021
Yes, I am working on many large projects with various businesses and
ࣿ What new strategies will you be implementing to continue to attract hope those will be announced in the next few months. Separately,
foreign direct investment in 2021 and beyond? one of the largest project may be a public-private partnership to start
the redevelopment of our expanded downtown. Many of the systems
We are in a new era of attracting businesses and doing business.
COVID will go away eventually but that does not mean there is to redevelop our downtown as a mixed-use venue of retail on the
not a lasting effect. For the year 2021 physical conferences and bottom floor and live-work units on the upper floors are in place
but a few more still need to be developed to give direct guidance
conventions will be limited where one on one business relationships
to all parties. Both City and I have now in place the incentives that
were easier to develop. I anticipate focusing more on a variety of
social media platforms, working with my development partnerships, will offset the cost of the investor or developer on over 80 acres
and reaching out directly to the business. in the downtown.

ࣿ What are the top 4 industry sectors in Freeport Texas?

Our top industry in Freeport are the Port Freeport and various
Chemical Industrial Manufacturing venues based upon oil or natural
gas. What I am working on is more diversification to our industrial
base that will not rely on just the chemical-based products but on
Financial, Energy, and Technology based businesses in order to
not rely on any one industry segment. This will allow Freeport to
attract a wider diversified segmentation of industry in order to be
more resilient in bad times.

ࣿ What are the benefits of doing business in Freeport Texas? focus on COURTLAND HOLMAN , BSME, PCED
workforce, job creation, diversity and quality of life.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
I have found Freeport has a very diverse workforce that work in
Freeport Economic Development Corporation
our 27 plus national and international industrial business from Port
jobs and chemical through steel fabrication. Those that work in our ☎
service industries such as retail bring a great quality of life to the (+1) 979.871.0117 direct
community as they are integral to the success of a diversified and ✉
qualified workforce in Freeport. Without all components of our cholman@freeport.tx.us
workforce being available and trained would make it harder if not
impossible to attract new businesses while expanding our existing www.freeport.tx.us
businesses.

75. FDI ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL