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Houston in the News

What are major media outlets saying about Houston? The conversation about H-Town has evolved in recent years as awareness of the city's tremendous quality of life, emerging tech and innovation scene and other attributes has grown. The Partnership is working to expand the conversation around these key attributes that will help advance the region's economic growth. Read some of the recent stories about the nation's most diverse major city and the Partnership's efforts to steer its prosperity.

Fossil fuels built Houston into an energy capital. Can it lead the clean energy transition?

There's a new kind of energy in town to advance the transition to an energy-abundant, low-carbon future.

Houston metro area among the nation's top destinations for new corporate projects, report says

When it comes to landing corporate developments, Houston is among the top destinations in the country.

Houston ranks in top 10 for best housing markets for stability and growth, new report shows

The greater Houston housing market ranks among nation’s the top metropolitan areas in terms of growth and stability, according to a recent report by SmartAsset.

HPE Houston campus.jpg

Houston tech ecosystem ranks as No. 5 in the world for emerging startup hubs

In a new report from Startup Genome and the Global Entrepreneurship Network, Houston ranks fifth among the world’s top 100 emerging ecosystems for startups. Last year, the groups’ report put Houston at No. 19 in the same category.

Houston could become ‘epicenter of global clean hydrogen hub,’ report says

The region contains all the ingredients for a clean hydrogen market — clean power access, electricity-guzzling industries, and the existing network of production and pipelines — on a scale large enough to make Houston “the epicenter of a global clean hydrogen hub” that extends across Texas and the U.S. Gulf Coast, the Center for Houston’s Future laid out in a report released May 23.

Report: How Houston could gain, lose jobs in a clean energy transition

As the "energy capital of the world," Houston's overall employment is significantly impacted by the energy industry. New research is shedding light on how Houston's economy could be impacted if the city doesn't lean into an energy transition to become the energy capital of the future.

Inflation Reduction Act accelerates clean energy transition in the Houston area

The energy transition has accelerated in the Houston area in the past year as companies expand their presence in the region and plan new projects for solar, wind, hydrogen and carbon capture technologies.

The flurry of activity can be attributed to the region's place as the center of the U.S. energy industry and the existing infrastructure for transporting, refining and storing energy. But also playing a part in the uptick in activity has been the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and the incentives it created for clean energy projects.

Report: Houston ranks in the top 10 life sciences markets in the U.S.

In assessing Houston’s strength in life sciences, CommercialCafe says that “the resilient Texas powerhouse was lifted by the wave of emerging life sciences clusters across the U.S.” Two major projects are helping Houston maintain that powerhouse status. The Texas Medical Center (TMC) last year unveiled TMC3, a 37-acre, roughly 6 million-square-foot life sciences campus, and Houston-based Hines recently topped out the 270,000-square-foot first phase of the 53-acre Levit Green life sciences district next to TMC.

TMC3 Aerial July 2022

Exxon to Move HQ to Houston, Merge Refining and Chemicals

Exxon Mobil Corp. will relocate its corporate headquarters to the Houston area from suburban Dallas and combine its chemical and refining divisions in a major shake-up aimed at reducing costs.

The City of the Future: Walkable, mid-sized and built for flexible work

Houston is using their assets and sharing that expertise to attract more development. The secondary intent is to become less of a high-traffic metro and more walkable by connecting this development to downtown.

Dear Austinites, you have permission to move to an affordable, weird city: Houston

You want live music? How about the world-class Houston Grand Opera, the symphony at Jones Hall, and Opera in the Heights? And if you’d prefer something more familiar to Austin sensibilities—a schlubby guy doing Oasis covers on his acoustic guitar, for example—may I suggest Hopdoddy Burger Bar in Rice Village? Moreover, Houston can claim genres of music almost totally lacking in Austin—think DJ Screw, or Paul Wall and the Southern rap spawned by Swisha House. Also, Beyoncé. 

Downtown Houston

fDi’s Global Cities of the Future 2021/22 — overall winners

Houston came in at No. 19 on 2021/22 fDi list, which ranks major global cities based on foreign direct investment. That’s up from No. 24 when the ranking was published in 2018/19. Houston was only one of two U.S. cities among the top 20 on the latest list, with New York ranking seventh. 

Intuitive Machines opens $40M production center at Houston Spaceport ahead of moon mission

Houston-based Intuitive Machines has completed its Lunar Operations and Production Center and is preparing to send its first lunar lander product to Florida in support of a NASA mission.

Houston's economic fate no longer solely tied to oil and gas, Moody's report says

Houston remains the energy capital of the country, but a new Moody Analytics report indicates the Bayou City has diversified its industry portfolio enough to no longer rely solely on oil and gas.

Chevron's offer to pay for staff to move to Houston signals growing focus on Texas

Chevron isn’t requiring employees to move to Texas, but its offer to cover employees’ relocation is another sign that Houston is a primary center of operations for the oil major.

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Economic Development

Houston Astros’ Entertainment District to Drive Significant Economic Growth

7/19/24
The Houston Astros are set to bolster their role as a major economic driver for the city with a new mixed-use district.   The district, which will feature a 17-story, 300-room hotel and 60,000 square feet of retail and entertainment space adjacent to Minute Maid Park, is expected to generate $5.7 billion in economic impact over 20 years, according to the Houston Business Journal. Announced last year, the project is part of a larger initiative to transform downtown into a premier entertainment destination like those around other MLB ballparks such as The Battery Atlanta and Ballpark Village in St. Louis.  Click to expand The project also includes plans for a three-story building that will serve as a gathering space for game day watch parties and live music events. The space will feature a large outdoor screen where fans can watch the Astros and other Houston teams such as the Texans and Rockets, as well as other major sporting events. It will also be enclosed by glass windows overlooking the ballpark that can open during pleasant weather.  "Our goal is it's an attractive area year-round, not just on game days, and it'll be a really great, happening venue," said Giles Kibbe, the Astros' senior vice president and general counsel, in a statement. "If you want to go to a public place to watch a sporting event, this is going to be the spot to go to."  Hines, the Houston real estate firm responsible for the Toyota Center, will develop the district. Meanwhile, Dallas-based HKS Architects, known for designing the Texas Rangers' Globe Life Field, is creating the master plan for the project. Construction on the district is expected to begin in 2025 and span three years, with an estimated cost of $327 million.  This significant investment comes as Houston's growing prominence as an international sports city takes center stage, highlighted by its success in securing major sporting events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2025, 2027 and 2031 AAU Junior Olympic Games. The district will further strengthen the city’s reputation as an entertainment destination, drawing even more visitors downtown.   Learn more about living in Houston.  
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Economic Development

Houston Remains Top Texas City in New National Ranking

6/27/24
Houston has once again topped the rankings of an annual list of America’s Best Cities, claiming first in the state and No. 10 in the nation, surpassing Dallas and Austin.  The report, compiled by international consulting firm Resonance, ranks cities with a population of more than 500,000 based on livability, lovability and prosperity. The Bayou City has consistently ranked high on Resonance’s list over the years, placing No. 9 in 2023 and No. 11 in 2022, drawing praise for its cultural diversity, award-winning restaurant scene, number of Fortune 500 companies and quality of life.  Houston’s population gains can be attributed to its quality of life and strong economy. According to a Greater Houston Partnership analysis, Houston added nearly 140,000 residents in 2023, marking the second highest population growth among U.S. metros.  “Austin may get the attention, but the promise of the Lone Star State drawing Californians and New Yorkers is quietly being fulfilled in Houston,” the report stated.  This year’s report again recognizes Houston as one of the most diverse cities in the nation, with one in four residents being foreign-born and over 145 languages spoken, earning it the No. 21 spot in the report’s Culture category. The report also highlights the city's wealth of international festivals, world-class museums and cultural centers, including the new Ismaili Center set to open next year.  Houston’s dining scene ranked fourth in the report’s restaurant subcategory, ahead of popular foodie destinations including San Francisco, Las Vegas and Miami. The city earned acclaim for its diverse blend of dishes, described in the report as “Southern Soul and barbecue with Mexican that’s then seasoned with global cuisine.” Earlier this year, 11 Houston restaurants and chefs were named semifinalists for the 2024 James Beard Awards.   The report also applauded Houston’s robust economy, ranking No. 3 in the country for the number of Fortune 500 companies and patents. Houston is home to 26 Fortune 500 companies, making it the third-largest hub for Fortune 500 headquarters in the nation. As a hub for business development and opportunity, Houston was also recently named the best city to grow a business, according to a new study by The RevOps Team.  Additionally, Resonance recognized the Bayou City for its leadership in the global energy transition, with an estimated $250 billion in potential investment in the region over the next 15 years, according to a recent McKinsey report. The report also highlighted Houston’s reputation as Space City, noting key facilities and investments such as the Houston Spaceport, which is anchored by NASA-contract-winning companies Axiom Space, Collins Aerospace and Intuitive Machines.  Learn more about living in Houston.  
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Economic Development

Houston Region Economic Outlook

Featuring economists and industry leaders, the Houston Region Economic Outlook takes a close look at the core industries driving job growth and economic indicators measuring the strength of our economy.…

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Executive Partners