League City is within the nine-county metropolitan area of Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land and just a half hour drive from Houston, the most populous city in the State of Texas. The city sits at the former site of a Karankawa Indian village, and the rich history of League City lives on today through its 95,000 residents and its many attractions.
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League City continues in the tradition of the hard-working, entrepreneurial farmers from Italy, who moved to the area many years ago. Today, their spirit and dedication are reflected in League City’s diverse and flourishing economy, which blends traditional businesses with new and emerging industries and technologies.
The city has been named one of the best small cities in which to live in mid-2014 by NerdWallet.com – a blog and website which assists and informs consumers about their personal finances, travel and education. The city came in a nineteenth in an exhaustive comparison of 924 cities with populations from 25,000 to 100,000. Factors included in the study were population growth, affordability and meeting the basic needs of residents. For League City, the recognition was just one of many.
It is easy to see why League City frequently ranks among the best communities in the United States. This is an ideal place to visit as it is home to numerous parks and outdoor recreational activities, the South Shore Harbour Resort and Marina and many fine restaurants and quaint cafes. Its gorgeous scenery of Clear Lake, its historic homes and museums and high quality of life for families speak for themselves.
A diverse economic base that includes everything from small family-run business to energy, medical and aerospace means that League City offers many possibilities for companies wishing to start or relocate a business to the area that is close to Houston and Galveston Island.
League City continues to have a great deal to offer on a local and state level. From municipal grants and loans (380 Agreement) to tax abatements, the Freeport property tax exemption, Tax-Exempt Industrial Revenue Bonds and city-financed infrastructure improvements, businesses coming to the city may also benefit from a host of state incentives, including The Texas Enterprise Find, The Texas Emerging Technology Fund (ETF), the Texas Small Business Fund and many more.
League City’s clear and focused economic development strategic plan welcomes new and established businesses alike. Its vision is to create an economic base that is diverse and sustainable, has meaningful employment opportunities for all and encourages ‘the best use of the community’s physical and intellectual assets, consistent with the highest quality of life possible.’ League City also has a mission to build an economic development initiative and environment that is designed to create new employment and business investment while retaining and expanding existing jobs and businesses in the area.
To accomplish this, League City has fostered a local government that welcomes and encourages private sector investment. It has diversified and expanded its local tax base – resulting in low taxes for all. League City is focused on a superior quality of life, attracting tourism and events and benefiting the entire community through the creation of appropriate economic development initiatives.
League City has a number of objectives and strategies in place. These ensure a positive local governmental climate for private sector investment, contribute to a local and regional business environment supportive of public/private partnerships and relationships and support and assist existing businesses and their expansion. Well-planned branding and marketing strategies help in pursuing well-defined and financially stable catalyst projects and developing venues to attract tourists to the area.
Other entities – such as the nearby Galveston County Small Business Development Center – (http://www.galvestoncounty.sbdcnetwork.net/galveston/default.asp) are also committed to business retention, expansion and attracting new enterprises in the area. The centre is dedicated to helping businesses at whatever stage they may be with the development of business plans, assistance with obtaining financing, attracting a customer base, growing sales, and much more. Its experienced consulting is offered at no cost via several reasonably-priced online business workshops and outreach locations through which it helps with marketing, selling to the government, certification and selling outside the U.S.
League City’s information-packed website at www.leaguecityedc.com, allows companies to access valuable information on starting a company, business plans, partners and resources and entrepreneur assistance. Here, companies can find details about filing corporations and corporate documents and creating a successful business plan, including goals and how to attain them. Additionally, there are links to valuable resources such as the County of Galveston, the League City Chamber of Commerce, the U.S, Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Entrepreneurial Development and the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership.
The city welcomes a broad range of business sectors, and there are some proposed niches for area businesses. These include office/business – including small, home, and ‘micro’ businesses – retail (appropriate to each district), evolving aerospace and energy industries, institutional infrastructure, agribusinesses, recreation and, of course, tourism. Its many attractions, parks and recreational sites hold plenty of appeal. These include League City Park, Heritage Park, Historic Homes District, Butler Longhorn Museum, Helen’s Garden, the One Room School and many others.
League City is centrally located along Interstate 45 between Houston and Galveston. It is also readily accessible by I-10, US 59, Loop 610 and Beltway 8, providing ready access to all major cities in the state. Just twenty miles away, are two airports: William P. Hobby and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). The city is served by rail and has a main line operated by Union Pacific Railway that moves goods throughout the Midwest, Southeast and West Coast.
Moreover, just twenty-three miles to the northeast is the massive twenty-five mile long Port of Houston. The port is a mix of public and private facilities and remains ranked number one in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage and second in total tonnage.
For businesses of all sizes, there are many reasons to come here. League City’s well-educated labor force consists of about 46,000 with an unemployment rate of 5.9 percent and an additional labor force of approximately three million people in the Houston metropolitan statistical area. The quality of life remains very high, with well-respected schools and a family-friendly environment bolstered through an active, recreational lifestyle.
The area is the choice of many professionals, from doctors and engineers to business owners and rocket scientists – owing to its proximity to the Johnson Space Center. League City has been voted one of the best small cities in America by Money Magazine and one of the best cities for job seekers.
From the quality of life to easy access to major markets and a well-educated and able workforce, League City remains a gem waiting to be discovered.
