Lake Jackson, Texas

Comprehensive Competitiveness AssessmentApril 2016

Lake Jackson, Texas

Developed and Delivered By:

C16.8751.03

Lake Jackson Comprehensive Competitiveness Assessment, April 2016 2

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Lake Jackson Comprehensive Competitiveness Assessment

April 2016

Prepared for: The City of Lake Jackson, TX

Lake Jackson Development Corporation 25 Oak Drive

Lake Jackson, TX 77566

Point of Contact: William P. Yenne, City Manager

[email protected] 979.415.2400

Prepared By: Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service

Knowledge Engineering College Station, TX 77845

Point of Contact: Lisa Mutchler, Program Director [email protected]

979.458.6710




Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the following individuals for contributing their

time and expertise to the development of this plan.

Lake Jackson Stakeholder Committee

Ronald Barksdale, BASF Gary Basinger, Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County

Jeff Bilyeu, Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport Brittany Lamas, Angleton Independent School District Donald “Dude” Payne, Brazoria County Commissioner

Mayor Joe Rinehart, City of Lake Jackson Gary Rodgers, Lake Jackson Development Corporation Locke Sanders, Lake Jackson Planning Commission

Sandra Shaw, Brazosport Area Chamber of Commerce Vinay Singhania, SI Group

Bob Sipple, Former City Mayor; Brazosport Area Chamber of Commerce Dr. Millicent Valek, Brazosport College

Jay Whitehead, Brazosport Independent School District Chris Witte, BASF

Cindy Yell, Lake Jackson Library

Lake Jackson City Staff Michael Coon, Assistant to the City Manager Modesto Mundo, Assistant City Manger Gerald Roznovsky, City Council Member

William (Bill) Yenne, City Manager


City and Business Leaders Anne Bartlett, Brazosport College Dorothy Brandt, Brazosport College

Al Guevara, Jr., Brazosport Regional Health Systems Jeff Kuhn, Zachry

David Marshall, Brazosport College Danny Massey, Brazosport Independent School District

Jenna Masters, Brazoria County United Way Terry McAlister, Associated Building Contractors, Inc.

Mark Monical, Infinity Maintenance Services, LP Donald Payne Jr., Brazosport College

Margaret Pratt, Dow Chemical Becky Rinehart, Merit Shop Training, Inc.; Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc.

Judge L.M. “Matt” Sebesta, Brazoria County Judge Earl Shipp, Dow Chemical

Nancy Stephens, Port Freeport Sean Stockard, Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County

Jeff Strader, Port Freeport Michael Wilson, Port Freeport

TEEX Staff

John Adams, Business Development Manager Paul Guimaraes, Texas A&M University Graduate Student

Colby Humphrey, Project Specialist Lisa Mutchler, Program Director

SueAnn Palmore, Adjunct Michelle Paukett, Texas A&M University Graduate Student

Jennifer Prochazka, Adjunct Pat Wallace, Adjunct


Table of Contents Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................... 11

Background and Approach ..................................................................................................................... 12

Key Features of Lake Jackson ................................................................................................................. 13

Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 15

Area Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 16

SWOT Analysis ............................................................................................................................................ 19

Recommendations ..................................................................................................................................... 21

Overview ................................................................................................................................................. 21

City Government Support ...................................................................................................................... 21

Quality of Place Concentration .............................................................................................................. 22

Recommendations of New Industry and Services ................................................................................ 24

Support for Chemical Manufacturing and Petrochemical Industries ............................................... 24

Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport ..................................................................................................... 25

Support for Transforming and Emerging Industries .......................................................................... 25

Other Professional Industrial Development Possibilities ................................................................. 25

Supporting Information ............................................................................................................................. 27

Baseline Assessment .................................................................................................................................. 29

Lake Jackson Community Profile ........................................................................................................... 29

Brazosport Area ...................................................................................................................................... 29

Southern Brazoria County ...................................................................................................................... 29

Lake Jackson Trade Area ........................................................................................................................ 29

Demographics ......................................................................................................................................... 30

Population .......................................................................................................................................... 30

Lake Jackson Trade Area Socio‐Economic and Demographic Information ...................................... 32

Allied Community Development ............................................................................................................... 39

Cost of Living .......................................................................................................................................... 39

Taxes ................................................................................................................................................... 40

Education ................................................................................................................................................ 43

Brazosport Independent School District ............................................................................................ 43

Brazosport College ............................................................................................................................. 46

Recreation .............................................................................................................................................. 51

Parks and Recreation ......................................................................................................................... 51


Hike and Bike Trails ............................................................................................................................ 52

Lake Jackson Recreation Center ........................................................................................................ 53

The Wilderness Golf Course ............................................................................................................... 53

Stephen F. Austin Statue, Angleton ................................................................................................... 53

Mammoth Lake Waterpark, Clute ..................................................................................................... 54

Sea Center Texas ................................................................................................................................ 54

Lake Jackson Civic Center ................................................................................................................... 55

Lake Jackson Library ........................................................................................................................... 55

Lake Jackson Historical Museum ....................................................................................................... 55

Wildlife Recreation and Beaches ....................................................................................................... 55

The Clarion ........................................................................................................................................... 56

The Center for the Arts and Sciences, Clute ...................................................................................... 56

Housing ................................................................................................................................................... 57

Housing Demographics ...................................................................................................................... 57

Future Housing ................................................................................................................................... 59

Hotels ...................................................................................................................................................... 60

Competitiveness Assessment .................................................................................................................... 63

Land Use and Urban Growth Assessment ............................................................................................. 63

Flood Map ............................................................................................................................................... 64

Transportation ........................................................................................................................................ 65

Airports ............................................................................................................................................... 65

Port Freeport ...................................................................................................................................... 66

Rail Service .......................................................................................................................................... 67

Bus Services ........................................................................................................................................ 67

Major Roads ....................................................................................................................................... 68

Industrial Development ......................................................................................................................... 70

Petrochemical and Chemical Complex and Related Industries ........................................................ 70

Texas Dow Innovation Center ............................................................................................................ 74

Light Manufacturing and Logistics ..................................................................................................... 74

Economic and Job Trends ....................................................................................................................... 75

Sources of Economic Support and Information ................................................................................ 75

Brazoria County Economic Indicators ................................................................................................ 76

Employment and Labor Force ............................................................................................................ 77


Leading Employers ............................................................................................................................. 81

Cluster Analysis and Growing Industries ........................................................................................... 85

Downtown Development and Retail Sectors .................................................................................... 89

Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................ 91




Executive Summary

There has never been a better time to be living in, working in or a part of the Brazosport area in

Southern Brazoria County. With over $35 billion in industrial development, increased housing and

lodging construction, retail and restaurant growth, and new jobs created, Southern Brazoria County is

seeing remarkable growth. The dynamic growth and expansion are moving at a fast pace creating

opportunities for City leaders and businesses to stay ahead and plan for smart growth.

Topping the list of developments, the petrochemical and chemical industries have invested more than

$35 billion to expand and/or build new facilities in Southern Brazoria County, including Lake Jackson.

Companies including Dow Chemical, Freeport LNG, Chevron, and Philips 66 have helped spur the

creation of over 6,000 total direct and indirect new jobs from completed projects since 2013 alone and

are projected to add over 2,000 new direct and indirect jobs with their future prospects and newly

announced projects combined. The current capital‐intensive and construction focus of these companies

is expected to continue for the next ten years before returning to normal maintenance turnarounds.

This will result in an increasing presence of large suppliers and contractors in the Lake Jackson Trade

Area over the next five to ten years, with an emphasis on entities in the safety and regulatory sectors.

In addition, Dow Chemical has made yet another large impact in Lake Jackson. The Company has

completed construction and moved into two of five buildings named the Texas Innovation Center, a new

Research and Development (R&D) facility, near the company’s biggest manufacturing site in Freeport.

The Texas Innovation Center replaces several R&D facilities in Freeport. This Center will support

commercialization of solutions across a series of high‐growth end‐use markets including food packaging,

personal care, furniture, and automotive. This world‐class innovation center attracts scientists and

engineers from all over the world; some of which will be in Lake Jackson for several months and others

many years. This state‐of‐art facility will be a global research and development hub of modern lab and

office facilities that employs around 2,000 people when completed. Dow Texas Operations continue to

grow and thrive in the Gulf Coast area creating many opportunities for suppliers and service industries.

Downtown revitalization continues to bring synergy to Lake Jackson. The City has invested in street and

infrastructure improvements, in addition to pedestrian, parking and streetscape advancements, creating

a much more “friendly” area. New and expanding businesses can be seen in the Downtown area which

demonstrates the return on investments.

Also reflecting new growth are the retail and service sectors, lodging and accommodations, and

residential housing construction. In 2015, the long awaited HEB grocery store opened on the east side of

Downtown. The HEB will serve as the anchor for the development to come which includes restaurants,

multi‐family housing, and shops all connected by walkways, indicating a pedestrian friendly complex.

With the nearby Kroger complex in Clute coming to completion, this area will be a magnet for shoppers

and visitors. Three new hotels are planned to be built in Lake Jackson in the near future, bringing

additional lodging, and conference and meeting room space to the bustling activity in Lake Jackson. The

Brazos Mall was purchased by new investors in 2015. Planning to reinvest over $24 million to upgrade,

this mall will attract additional businesses since it is the only major enclosed shopping mall in Brazoria

County and it has a movie theater. The Creekside Development is well underway with the construction

of over 200 homes and multi‐family housing with some wetlands and open spaces. Additionally, the


master planned Alden Development will provide more homes, public parkland, and other amenities as

one of the largest single developments in Lake Jackson’s history.

The Knowledge Engineering Team at Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) is pleased to

present this completed Lake Jackson Comprehensive Competitiveness Assessment Report to provide the

City with a solid basis for analyzing future strategic planning and programs, allocating resources, and for

its future business recruitment strategy.

Background and Approach The City of Lake Jackson seeks to enhance the overall quality of life for citizens, create jobs, and

stimulate the community’s economic progression through the smart growth of the City that will make

Lake Jackson a prime destination for businesses and visitors alike.

In 2015, the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service contracted with the City of Lake Jackson to

analyze the City’s competitiveness within the local area and use their findings to develop a report

highlighting recommendations for the future planned growth and development of the City.

In order to complete this objective, TEEX members first conducted a Baseline Assessment that highlights

the identity of both the Lake Jackson community and the Lake Jackson Trade Area. After understanding

the demographics of this community and area, TEEX staff were able to analyze features that make Lake

Jackson attractive to residents, visitors, and businesses. This Allied Community Development

assessment includes an analysis of a wide range of variables that contribute to quality of life in Lake

Jackson, such as recreational facilities, housing options, retail sectors and downtown development. The

last stage of the Competitiveness Assessment was of the current and future development of Lake

Jackson. From these supporting information analysis and stakeholder meetings, a Strengths,

Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis was developed that considers the

infrastructure in Lake Jackson, economic trends relevant to the local community, the current local

businesses and the future business development of the City. The SWOT analysis highlights points

brought up in the recommendation section that well help Lake Jackson move forward into the future.

Throughout the process, TEEX staff conducted meetings and interviews with community leaders,

stakeholders, and business leaders which helped to tailor these assessments to Lake Jackson’s specific

needs. The final recommendations are based on TEEX’s collective findings via the three assessments of

local conditions and the insights of local personnel.


Key Features of Lake Jackson Several key findings of the report help summarize what was found while completing this Comprehensive

Competitiveness Assessment for the City of Lake Jackson:

The City of Lake Jackson was founded in 1941 by Dr. A.P. Beutel and Dr. Alden Dow under the

direction of the Dow Chemical Co. This company, as well as other related businesses, remain an

integral part of the local community today.

Population in Lake Jackson, the Lake Jackson Trade Area, and Brazoria County is projected to

continue increasing and will need to be accommodated.

Lake Jackson has established a reputation in the Brazosport Area for being at the forefront of

development and quality of life.

Property taxes in Lake Jackson are the 5th lowest in Brazoria County, making it attractive to both

current and potential residents and businesses and one of the lowest in the State for cities over

10,000 population.

The local school system, Brazosport Independent School District, is making many positive

changes and is on its way to being a premier educational system.

The nationally‐recognized Brazosport Community College provides a source of technical training

and workforce preparation for the local industries.

Lake Jackson is home to the Sea Center Texas, the Wilderness Golf Course, a variety of parks,

their own Recreation Center, and other entertainment venues.

Many of the current houses in Lake Jackson are occupied, older, and family sized, and the City is

investing in new housing to meet the unmet demand for housing in the City.

Housing data indicates Lake Jackson leaders’ focus on being a family friendly and business

friendly community is validated.

Plans underway for hotel development will greatly increase the number of rooms to

accommodate the many visitors coming to Lake Jackson.

Lake Jackson is ideally situated within several transportation hubs, including major roadways

such as SH 288, the Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport, the nearby Union Pacific Rail line, and

Port Freeport.

Industrial development in Lake Jackson is primarily based on chemical manufacturing, helping to

shield the City from the effects of declining oil prices.

The chemical manufacturing and petrochemical industries have made significant capital

investments in the local area, thereby contributing to the creation of new jobs and providing

incentive for new residents and businesses to come to Lake Jackson.

The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of the Texas Gulf Coast currently serves between

300 and 400 separate contractors each month to keep up with these petrochemical and

chemical industry’s expansion and needs. This organization also partners with Brazosport

College to provide craft trainings to ensure that there is a skilled, trained workforce to

accommodate both existing and new contractors in Southern Brazoria County.

The economic vitality of the City can be realized by the fact that it maintained lower

unemployment rates than the State and County, as well as having a higher average income per

capita.

The majority of industries in Lake Jackson were meeting the City’s needs as of 2014. However,

there is a shortage of some of these important industries, such as the arts, entertainment,


recreation, accommodation and food services sectors which are increasing in demand making

the City’s current development all the more vital.

The majority of retail sectors in Lake Jackson experience a surplus of sales each year, indicating

that the City is successfully attracting people from surrounding areas to do their shopping within

Lake Jackson.

Local businesses have acknowledged the ease of doing business with Lake Jackson, which is a

critical aspect of smart community development and growth.

Lake Jackson’s “City of Enchantment” brand has come to define the City’s image for residents,

businesses, and visitors. The brand promotes Lake Jackson’s natural assets of decades‐old trees,

large parks and history and refers to the community’s inherent uniqueness: a distinctive

downtown, cultural diversity, quality of life, business‐friendly environment, and the continuous

growth enjoyed during the past five years.

The City of Lake Jackson has many strengths and opportunities that it needs to exploit, while

remaining conscious of its weaknesses and threats.

The revitalization and increased diversity of the retail outlets in and around Lake Jackson are

assets and set Lake Jackson apart from other Brazosport Area cities.


Introduction

Lake Jackson is located in the heart of the southeast Texas petrochemical and chemical company

industries. While other towns in the area have become industrialized with the expansion of these

companies, Lake Jackson allowed the companies to grow up around it and support the City, while they

maintain within the City the professional, executive and specialized jobs of which there is much pride.

These large petrochemical and chemical companies provide numerous opportunities for new housing

development, the attraction of retail services, and the growth of jobs in Lake Jackson and the

surrounding communities.

This assessment provides an overview to address challenges and identify opportunities for new business

attraction and economic development in Lake Jackson. The enhanced tax base growth for Lake Jackson

will help the City maintain its lower tax rates, while encouraging the retail development and expansion

that will help Lake Jackson retain its status as the “hub” of the local area.

Lake Jackson’s recent development efforts are creating a solid foundation for long‐term growth and

prosperity, including the following fundamental enhancements: Downtown revitalization, the HEB

Center, the Dow Innovation Center, the Alden and Creekside Developments, the approval of three new

hotel developments, and the Brazos Mall redevelopment. These enhancements and investments in the

local community will attract additional investments and encourage developers to add more housing and

businesses, thus increasing the City’s tax base and allowing for future reinvestment into the community.

Community leaders in Lake Jackson face challenges in planning for the area’s future including the

demand for new and affordable housing, the demand for service‐related jobs, as well as diversifying the

retail and entertainment options within the City. This diversity in what Lake Jackson has to offer is

crucial to ensuring that people will want to remain and continue to come to the City. At the same time,

preserving the spirit, history, and heritage of the community is paramount and should be a

consideration in decision making regarding issues created by growth. City enhancements are driven by

the quality of government at all levels, including citizen and local business interactions and involvement

in the planning, growth, and direction of the community. Leadership and governance are critical to

developing long‐term plans, objectives, and programs to allow the City of Lake Jackson and its Trade

Area to take advantage of existing growth and develop a sustainable plan.

The findings and recommendations that follow should serve as a snapshot outlining the key issues,

opportunities and challenges facing Lake Jackson as it sets its future course. A broad set of collected

data, interview notes, a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis, and

observations from both the public and private sector have been considered in this review. Awareness

that Lake Jackson is the regional hub for white collar jobs and retail entertainment should drive the

controlled, future growth of the City. By actively taking advantage of the existing industry’s investment

in the City, Lake Jackson City leaders are ensuring the sustainable and directed growth of this unique

community.


Area Overview

Brazoria County is located on Texas’s Gulf Coast and is surrounded by four counties: Fort Bend, Harris,

Galveston, and Matagorda. Brazoria County includes cities such as Pearland, Lake Jackson, Angleton, and

Freeport, several airports, two national wildlife refuges, and many other attractions that draw visitors

and new residents to the area. Brazoria County has several major roads that keep it well‐connected to

areas of interest within and outside of the County, such as SH 288 to Houston in Harris County.

Figure 1: Brazoria County Map


Population‐wise, Lake Jackson is the second largest city in Brazoria County after Pearland; however, Lake

Jackson is the largest city in Southern Brazoria County. Southern Brazoria County has its own uniqueness

and charm with amenities that attract people to come into Lake Jackson to shop, eat, work and play.

Lake Jackson’s City leaders asked that this Comprehensive Competitiveness Assessment include the

Trade Area in addition to the City, due to the large number of people that come into Lake Jackson during

the day, but do not necessarily live in Lake Jackson.

As depicted in the map below, Brazoria County is highlighted in light orange. The Lake Jackson Trade

Area, outlined in bright red, extends into Matagorda, Fort Bend and Galveston Counties while primarily

covering the majority of Brazoria County.

Figure 2: Lake Jackson Trade Area

Source: MapTechnica




SWOT Analysis

A Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats analysis (SWOT) of the City of Lake Jackson was

conducted in January with the Stakeholder Committee that included representatives from a cross

section of the community along with City leaders. During this free flowing discussion, the City’s greatest

challenges and most promising new markets were identified. The SWOT assessment will serve as a

measurement of current conditions and a framework in which to plan for smart, controlled growth.

The SWOT analysis is divided into four sectors to assess the Strengths, Opportunities, Weaknesses, and

Threats facing both the public and private sectors. Much of the concerns are based on the impact of the

dynamic growth of the petrochemical, chemical manufacturing, and research and development

expansions across Southern Brazoria County. High on the list are concerns for additional and affordable

housing, attracting and keeping specialized health care professionals, the lack of dining and nightlife

activities, having entertainment options for citizens of all ages, and developing the infrastructure to

handle the growing congestion particularly on SH 288. High costs associated with implementing and

monitoring proposed changes to current EPA regulations would become a burden to the City, should

these proposed changes come to fruition. Another major threat is the misperception of how the

changing price of crude oil has affected the local economy, as this makes investors and businesses

cautious when considering investing or locating in Lake Jackson and the surrounding areas.

Maintaining an active dialog with the adjacent communities and the County is of paramount importance

to ensure and capitalize on the coordination of infrastructure and transportation enhancement while

the entire County is experiencing growth. Additionally, the strong relationship and partnerships with the

local school district and Brazosport College as they expand technical, vocational, and specialized training

will provide a more robust workforce in the area. Demographics play a leading role in what amenities

are supported in an area. With Lake Jackson’s median age being somewhat older than the Texas average

(36 vs. 33 respectively) and a large group within retirement age, being attractive to young adults and

families may change the focus of features supported by the City.

The geographic location of Lake Jackson is on one hand a boon to the City and County with the strategic

advantage of being close to the coast, Houston, and Port of Freeport. However, Lake Jackson has limited

room for growth and expansion within the current city limits. Development of the current projects

underway will maximize both the development of commercial services as well as provide a wide‐range

of housing options to facilitate the continued growth. In the future, the City will have the ability to

annex all the land presently owned by the prison system and being leased out as pastureland.

The Opportunities and Strengths of the community far outweigh the challenges. The City should develop

a vigorous branding campaign to highlight the strategic location of Lake Jackson as both a destination for

businesses, and retail and hotel expansion, as well as a thriving and healthy community in which to raise

a family. The DOW Chemical Company and the expansion of its research and development activities

through the Dow Texas Innovation Center provides support to Lake Jackson and draws educated people

from other locales to the City. Spouses of these new hires and the growing labor force will present the

Brazosport College with further opportunities to expand its course offerings. These families will also

encourage Brazosport ISD to continue to redefine itself as an institution of the highest quality education.


The Port of Freeport is also a critical strategic advantage to the community and County. Continued

dialog with the Port, Texas Gulf Coast Airport, and County will pave the way for expansion of services

and commercial development which bodes well for value‐added commercial growth and revenue for the

City of Lake Jackson. An opportunity arising near the Airport is the Alden Development which will not

only supply water and sewer services to the Airport and nearby state correctional institution, but also

consists of plans for a residential area and light manufacturing facilities.

This SWOT finds Lake Jackson well positioned to benefit as the economic climate continues to improve.

Lake Jackson is a family‐friendly, welcoming community with a strong sense of pride, whose recent and

future growth will catapult them to meet their full potential and remain the “gem” of the Texas Gulf

Coast, a community of choice to raise a family and build a full life.

Lake Jackson SWOT Analysis


Recommendations

Overview After conducting the Baseline Assessment, Allied Community Assessment, Competiveness Assessment

for Lake Jackson, interviews with stakeholders, and on‐site visits and observations, recommendations

are made in the following general areas and expanded below:

1. Continued City Government Support

o Maintain positive relations with local businesses and industries

o Increase City branding

o Continually review land use and plan for future developments

o Provide enhanced web‐based support for businesses and residents

o Collaborate on economic development efforts

2. Enhance the “Quality of Place” in Lake Jackson

o Maintain and expand Lake Jackson’s unique cultural identity

o Engage individuals from younger generations

o Invest in infrastructure that will enhance the City’s cohesiveness

3. Attract New Industries and Services

o Focus on supporting the chemical manufacturing and petrochemical industries

o Maximize the impact of the Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport

o Focus on supporting transforming and emerging industries

o Consider other professional industrial development opportunities including:

Software support

Rapid prototyping facilities

A collaboration center

Day care centers

Accommodating the aging workforce

City Government Support These recommendations relate more to a city government administrative application and the overall

promotion of Lake Jackson.

Continued City government support is paramount to new and existing businesses and

engagement in initiatives that promote smart growth in Lake Jackson.

Maintaining positive relations with the local chemical manufacturing and petrochemical

industries will ensure that they continue to invest in the local area and make it more

economically attractive for new residents, job seekers, and businesses.


Encourage, or provide incentives, for major contractors to outsource and sub‐contract to

third and fourth tier suppliers. Additionally, encourage suppliers heavily used by the local

industry to locate facilities in the local area.

Accent and brand the benefits of the Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport to attract corporate

clients, possible maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations and high‐value critical

components from the supplier network.

Develop a branding strategy for Lake Jackson and the surrounding area to promote a diverse,

growing community and hub of technology and commercial activity which will assist in the

attraction of value‐added jobs, housing, and new investment.

Continually review current land use plans and focus future planning towards attracting value‐

added industry and services. Lake Jackson should City‐initiate zoning for commercial and

industrial land use to preserve future development opportunities that will be vital in

attracting these businesses.

Embracing technology as a tool for more efficient city management, growth, and marketing

will be economically beneficial. Helping to promote the businesses in the community via

online directories or websites, as well as providing easy‐to‐access online resources, will

improve communication efforts and assist both businesses and residents.

Due to the higher projected growth in northern Brazoria County compared to the Lake

Jackson Trade Area, the City may want to consider a northward extension of its marketing

area.

Strong consideration should be given to collaborating with the Economic Development

Alliance for Brazoria County to promote, pursue, and fulfill economic development

opportunities for the City of Lake Jackson and Lake Jackson Development Corporation. There

are numerous ways to accomplish this including The Alliance working for the City at 25% to

50% level until the City is ready to hire its own full time Economic Development Director.

This falls in line with recommendations brought forward by Carlton Schwab with the Texas

Economic Development Council in December 2015.

Quality of Place Concentration These recommendations relate primarily to areas outside of work that add to a person’s quality of life.

It is important to market Lake Jackson as a happening place, full of fun things to do ranging

from cultural activities to shopping and outdoor recreation. Embracing and promoting

important community cultural aspects including the Library, Historical Museum, Sea Center

Texas, and events at The Clarion and the Center for Arts and Sciences will add extra

motivation for those interested in coming to an already economically attractive city.


Advertising Lake Jackson as a prime convention destination will increase the amount of

revenue the City receives from hotel tax, which can then be reinvested to bring in more

visitors. Additionally, convention visitors may take advantage of the unique retail experience

Lake Jackson offers thus increasing sales tax revenue.

With major projects underway such as the HEB Center, Alden Development, Creekside

Development, and Brazos Mall redevelopment are completed, attracting private investment

in the downtown area and beginning the exploration of the next phase of the downtown area

improvement plan should be initiated. In particular, opportunities exist for development near

the Dow Texas Innovation Center, the airport, and the Brazos Mall that can help fulfill the

need for more shopping, dining, and leisure options in different parts of Lake Jackson.

As Lake Jackson’s current population ages, the City needs to invest in venues and amenities

which young professionals value in order to engage and draw in this demographic group

which will become the City’s future. In particular, creating a more vibrant nightlife scene and

providing more multi‐generational entertainment opportunities in Lake Jackson will be

beneficial to both the City’s image and economic growth.

Helping promote and maintaining a strong partnership with Brazosport College can help

attract younger professionals and will demonstrate Lake Jackson’s commitment to quality

education and the sustainment of a skilled workforce.

Quality and affordable housing remains an additional challenge for the community to attract

young professionals; increasing the inventory of single family and multi‐family dwellings

would help to minimize this concern.

Investment in non‐motor vehicle mobility infrastructure improvements will help provide a

cohesiveness to the community and connect the retail and residential sectors. For instance,

hike and bike trails can be enhanced by features such as attractive benches, bike docking

stations, and bike repair stations. Additionally, push‐button signal changers and clear signs

for both bikers, pedestrians, and drivers can be installed to make people more comfortable

using the trails.

As development continues, re‐evaluating the public transportation system to ensure it is

meeting the community’s needs will also help keep the City connected. In particular, as

nightlife expands it would be beneficial to have the Connect Transit buses run later hours and

run more frequently during the times of the day with more activity.

As the City continues to encourage new development, it is important that existing facilities,

equipment, and infrastructure are not ignored, but continually maintained at high standards.

Giving attention to revitalizing older and underperforming areas within the City will help Lake

Jackson achieve a higher “quality of place.”


Recommendations of New Industry and Services Creating a diversified economic base is crucial for Lake Jackson to ensure that a “boom and bust”

scenario is avoided and to eliminate retail leakage from the City and its Trade Area. Historically local

businesses are culturally important and should be advertised and encouraged, while the adoption of an

entrepreneurial spirit that allows the City to embrace more emerging markets will further increase its

competitiveness and help the city prosper.

Support for Chemical Manufacturing and Petrochemical Industries Lake Jackson provides the white collar, complementary support for the chemical manufacturing and

petrochemical industries in the surrounding area that have invested over $34 billion in expansion.

Opportunities to offer additional support to these industries and related industries are jobs in the

following areas:

Environmental Engineers ‐ Help minimize and manage waste and pollution, protecting the air,

water, soil, and people from harmful chemicals

Health and Safety Engineers – Are concerned with preventing accidents and lessening

opportunities for human error in engineered environments or in engineering design

Research and Process Development Scientists ‐ Research and develop ways to manufacture

products and monitor existing processes and products for quality and efficiency

Financial Advisors ‐ Works with individuals and businesses to guide them in making budgetary,

savings and investment decisions

Consultants ‐ Inform businesses and government institutions about the myriad of applications

of chemical engineering. They act as outside contractors to supply specialized knowledge to

organizations

Medical Specialists – Includes various doctors such as, cardiologists, internal medicine,

obstetricians, ophthalmologists, surgeons, pediatricians, psychiatrists, and radiologists

Equipment Sales ‐ Supply industrial parts, materials, machinery, aircraft equipment,

construction machinery, material handling equipment, and welding equipment

Logistics ‐ Logistics includes trucking, inventory tracking, merchandise delivery, and product

storage and handling and involves the timely delivery of freight and goods from one place to

another, as well as the unloading and unpacking of this cargo

Caterers ‐ Offering food delivery services particularly to the large companies in the area

Light Manufacturing – Involves those in assembly (production operator, machine assembler,

etc.), distribution and warehouse (inventory clerk, forklift operator, material handler, etc.),

quality control (Inspector, test technician, quality control tester, etc.), and skilled technicians

(CNC operator, fabricator, welder, etc.)

Contractors Supporting Research & Development‐Includes a variety of specialty contractors

that are able to leverage their technologies and capabilities


Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport The Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport should consider expanding its services to help support business

growth in Lake Jackson and attract corporate clients. Specific opportunities include:

Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) Operations‐ Expand to accommodate the needs of

corporate and private customers. A full range of MRO helps to ensure aircrafts continue to

operate at peak performance, improve the value and productivity, maintain and upgrade the

attractiveness of the aircraft, and assist in meeting increasingly stringent federal regulations.

MROs are attractive and having one could help diversify the City’s workforce with more aviation,

logistics and warehousing jobs

Product Distribution Center & Intra‐Modal Container Storage‐ This will connect goods from

Lake Jackson and the surrounding communities including Port of Freeport by air, rail, or road.

Establishing an intra‐modal container storage facility to support port traffic from both Freeport

and Houston, as well as any light manufacturing which occurs at the Gulf Coast Regional Airport

will reinforce Lake Jackson’s image as a regional “hub.”

Support for Transforming and Emerging Industries Lake Jackson would benefit economically by supporting the following transforming and emerging

industries as indicated in the cluster analysis (page 83) of Lake Jackson:

Information & Information Technology

Finance and Insurance

Real Estate, Rental, and Leasing

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation

Accommodation

Food Services

Educational Services

Healthcare and Social Assistance

Professional, Scientific, and Management Services

Transportation and Warehousing

Utilities

Other Professional Industrial Development Possibilities Other possibilities for professional industrial development are wide‐ranging, from business to family

support.

Software Support

Process Efficiency Optimization‐ Optimize processes for refineries or chemical processing plants

Controls‐ Includes temperature, pressure, flow rates, sample testing, reliability, and quality

controls

Safety Solutions‐ Provide solutions for temperature stability, hazardous gas leak detecting,

development of environmental clean air strategies, and emission controls

Financial Tools‐ Offer tools to economically track pipeline product movement from source to

the endpoint consumer that are not extremely expensive to purchase and manage

Traceability‐Manage traceability of chemical products from processing to the end consumer,

such as obsolescence, date coding, and inventory turns


Rapid prototyping

Prototyping‐ Provide methods to quickly create prototypes of new process equipment designs

3D Printing Solutions‐ Takes process equipment designs into 3D modeling to test concepts and

form/fit/function ability. These would be used to speed design/product development into

producible products to be manufactured elsewhere

Machining Centers‐ Support services to produce working models to be tested in a lab

environment

Environmental Test Labs‐ Provide places to stress test new design concepts with vibration, salt

spray, humidity, pressure, corrosion, or temperature durability

Collaboration Center

A collaboration center will provide a place for high‐tech professionals to meet and collaborate on

technical solutions. Additionally, it will provide a secure place for off‐site meetings and serve smaller

companies that cannot afford their own equipment. The following considerations outline set‐up and

support services for the collaboration center:

Meeting Rooms‐ Nominally sized rooms with fiber optic internet and media production facilities

Conferencing Tools‐ Supporting state, national, and international conference meetings

Security‐ Provide a high level of security and privacy that cannot be obtained in a hotel

conference room

Catering Service‐ Offering food delivery for small meetings

Taxi/Shuttle/Uber/Lyft‐ Providing transportation to/from the local airport and in the region

Partnering – with the Small Business Development Center at Brazosport College to provide

assistance to local companies/entrepreneurs

Day Care Centers

To be effective, day care centers should provide the following amenities:

Provide care year round from 7 am to 7 pm for children of professionals who work in the high‐

tech industry

Offer quality educational programs

Handle ages six months to five years of age

Provide food, such as lunches and snacks

Offer late care for those who cannot make the 7 pm closing

Accommodating the Aging Population

Based on Lake Jackson’s demographic profile, the City needs to be prepared to accommodate its aging

resident population.

Development of more retirement facilities

Establish reputable specialized health centers

Encourage retail health store development

Organized activities for fun, entertainment, exercise, and education

Recruit retail stores that older adults frequent


Supporting Information

The following sections are meant to provide verification of the statements and recommendations made

in the previous sections. The first supporting information analysis, the Baseline Assessment, highlights

the demographics of Lake Jackson and its Trade Area. The next section is the Allied Community

Assessment, which provides insight into what makes Lake Jackson attractive to residents and businesses.

Finally, the Competiveness Assessment features information on land use and transportation in Lake

Jackson, local industry information and economic trends. Altogether, these supporting documents will

be a valuable resource in convincing potential businesses and future residents to invest in Lake Jackson.




Baseline Assessment

This section delves into the demographics and identity of the City of Lake Jackson and the Lake Jackson

Trade Area.

Lake Jackson Community Profile Lake Jackson, “gem of the Texas Gulf Coast,” is an incorporated City located fifty miles south of Houston

and eight miles north of the Gulf of Mexico, just upriver from the mouth of the Brazos River in Southern

Brazoria County as seen in Figure 1: Brazoria County Map. The City of Lake Jackson began in the 1940’s

when Dr. Alden Dow and Dr. A.P. Beutel saw potential in carving out the “City of Enchantment,” saving

as many trees as possible in the heavily wooded bottomland. Now a beautiful City with decades‐old

trees, nice residential areas, and rich history, Lake Jackson is known to be the “gem” of Southern

Brazoria County. The eighteen square miles in the City limits has been carefully planned to ensure the

City’s layout, beauty and family friendly orientation are preserved.

Brazosport Area Lake Jackson is a part of the Brazosport Area which also includes the cities of Clute, Freeport, Jones

Creek, Oyster Creek, Quintana, Richwood and Surfside Beach. The area has its own Chamber of

Commerce, called The Brazosport Area Chamber of Commerce, which supports businesses throughout

the area. The Chamber boasts that the area has 20‐plus miles of beaches with sport and commercial

fishing. In addition to the top employers noted in Brazoria County and Lake Jackson, other top

employers in the Brazosport Area include Phillips 66, BASF Corporation, Olin, and Excel.

Southern Brazoria County The City of Lake Jackson is also associated with Southern Brazoria County. Other cities included in this

geographical area are Angleton, Clute, Freeport, Brazoria, West Columbia and the smaller communities

in between these larger cities. Southern Brazoria County has its own identity compared to northern

Brazoria County. Southern Brazoria County is known to be more rural with conveniences found in urban

areas, picturesque, protective of its history and heritage, and has cities with real downtown areas,

whereas Northern Brazoria County is a part of the Houston sprawl. Lake Jackson’s proximity to Houston

can cause it to be associated with the larger city at times; however, differences in economic well‐being

and industry make‐up indicate that Lake Jackson is clearly an independent entity that has become an

economic force to be reckoned with within the area.

Lake Jackson Trade Area Lastly, being known as the “gem” of Southern Brazoria County, Lake Jackson’s Trade Area is

approximately 1,680 square miles as seen in Figure 2: Lake Jackson Trade Area. Beginning south of Farm

to Market Road 1462 (FM 1462) off of State Highway 288 (SH288), extending west to Pledger, south

beyond Bay City and Wadsworth, and east to the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge and Liverpool,

residents and businesses depend on Lake Jackson’s amenities to live, work and play.


Demographics Demographics are the characteristics of a population based on factors such as age, race, sex, economic

and employment status, as well as education and income level, among others.

Population The population in Lake Jackson increased about 15.9% between 1990 and 2000, but has seen minimal

growth in the new millennium. Population counts in the last decade rose only 1.75%, an increase of only

463 people from 2000 to 2010. Considering the 2014 census estimate that shows a growth of 2.8% since

the 2010 census, Lake Jackson may currently be growing faster than in the past decade. In 30 years,

1990 to 2010, the population has increased by about 17.9%.

Figure 3: Total Population Change in Lake Jackson

Source: US Census Bureau, Texas State Library and Archives Commission, 2016

In the past four decades, Brazoria County’s population grew by 85%, while the Lake Jackson Trade Area

population grew 22.8%, as seen in Figure 4: Total Population in Brazoria County and the Lake Jackson

Trade Area. The 1980 Census recorded 169,587 people in Brazoria County and 113,895 people lived in

the Lake Jackson Trade Area, a difference of only 55,692. Since then, the 2010 Census recorded a

difference of 173,324 more in Brazoria County and this difference is expected to increase to 238,835 in

2020. This indicates that the majority of population growth in Brazoria County is outside of the Lake

Jackson Trade Area, suggesting perhaps a reevaluation of where and how Lake Jackson markets itself.

22,776

26,386 26,849 27,604

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

1990 2000 2010 2014 Estimate

Lake Jackson Census Population


Figure 4: Total Population in Brazoria County and the Lake Jackson Trade Area

Source: US Census Bureau, Research360, 2015

The following table shows the demographic breakdown of Lake Jackson, compared to the Lake Jackson

Trade Area, Brazoria County, Texas, and the USA as a whole. In general, the demographics of Lake

Jackson reflect the larger entities fairly closely with the exception of Lake Jackson having a considerably

higher population density which comes with being a city. The average income per capita and median

household income are both higher than the Trade Area, County, State, and Country averages at $30,745

and $73,857, respectively. This reflects the slightly higher cost of living in Lake Jackson compared to the

surrounding communities.

Table 1: Comparative Demographics of Lake Jackson, Brazoria County, Texas, and the United States, 2014

Demographic Characteristic

Lake Jackson

Lake Jackson Trade Area

Brazoria County

Texas USA

Population Density 1,390.3 99.5 231.1 96.3 87.4

Percent Male 48.6% 51.4% 50.8% 49.6% 49.2%

Percent Female 51.4% 48.6% 49.2% 50.4% 50.8%

Median Age 36.2 37.4 35.2 33.9 37.2

People per Household 2.7 2.7 2.9 2.8 2.6

Median Household Income

$73,857 $53,748 $68,008 $52,576 $53,482

Average Income per Capita

$30,745 $25,576 $29,042 $26,513 $28,555

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau, 2014, Research 360, 2015

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

400,000

450,000

1980 Census 1990 Census 2000 Census 2010 Census 2015Projection

2020Projection

County and Trade Area Population Growth

Lake Jackson Trade Area Population Brazoria County Population


Lake Jackson Trade Area Socio‐Economic and Demographic Information The City of Lake Jackson’s Trade Area is approximately 1,680 square miles beginning south of FM 1462

off of SH 288, extending west to Pledger, south beyond Bay City and Wadsworth, and east to the

Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge and Liverpool.

The total population for the Lake Jackson Trade Area is just under 170,000 and is comprised of a fairly

even ratio of men to women, with only approximately 4,000 more males than females.

Table 2: Lake Jackson Trade Area Population by Gender, 2015

Source: Reserach360, 2015

The breakdown of the population shows that nearly three‐fourths of the population is white, slightly

more than 10% are black, and just under 10% are part of the “Other Race” category. The remaining few

percentages belong, in descending order, to the “Two or More Races” category, Asian, Native American,

and Hawaiian / Pacific Islander races.

Table 3: Lake Jackson Trade Area Population by Race, 2015


Race and ethnicity are separated and categorized independently by the US Census. Hispanic is

considered an ethnicity. Table 4: Lake Jackson Trade Area Hispanic Population, 2015 gives the

breakdown of the entire population by Hispanic ethnicity. This shows that nearly one‐third of the Lake

Jackson Trade Area population is Hispanic, compared to the remaining two‐thirds of the population that

identifies as non‐Hispanic.

Table 4: Lake Jackson Trade Area Hispanic Population, 2015

Hispanic Population (2015)

Number Percent

Hispanic 53,511 32.00%

Not Hispanic 113,637 68.00%

Total 167,148 100.00% Source: Reserach360, 2015

Population by Gender (2015)

Number Percent

Male 85,926 51.40%

Female 81,222 48.60%

Total 167,148 100.00%

Population by Race (2015)

Number Percent

White 123,364 73.9%

Black 19,508 11.7%

Asian 2,491 1.5%

Native American 1,026 0.6%

Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 35 0.0%

Two or More 4,376 2.6%

Other Race 16,071 9.6%

Total 166,871 100.00%


Below, Figure 5: Lake Jackson Trade Area Population by Age, 2015, gives a solid estimate of the number

of people considered the typical working age: 20 to 64. It shows that roughly 60% of the population in

the Trade Area is of the working age, with more than 10% being older than 65, and less than 30% being

younger than 20.


The most recent data from 2015 indicates there are 5,500 employment establishments and more than

60,000 employees in the Lake Jackson Trade Area.

Table 5: Lake Jackson Trade Area Daytime Population, 2015


The number of families in the area is slightly more than 43,000, with the average family household size

being a little over 3 people. There are under 18,000 non‐family households and the average non‐family

household size is just over 1.5 people.

Table 6: Lake Jackson Trade Area Family Statistics, 2015

Families (2015)

Families 43,049

Average Family Household Size 3.06

Households: Non‐Family 17,596

Average Non‐Family Household Size

1.55


Daytime Population (2015)

Establishments 5,525

Employees 61,080

Age 0‐1928%

Age 20‐6458%

Age 65+14%

Population by Age

Figure 5: Lake Jackson Trade Area Population by Age, 2015


The median household income is calculated by arranging all the incomes in ascending order and

selecting the income which occurs in the very middle; this number comes out to roughly $54,000 for the

Lake Jackson Trade Area. The average household income, however, is about $69,000 and the average

family income is just under $80,000. Per capita income, which is calculated by adding all incomes

together and dividing by the total number of people, is slightly more than $25,000.

Table 7: Lake Jackson Trade Area Income Statistics, 2015

Income (2015)

Median Household Income $53,748

Average Household Income $68,941

Average Family Income $79,288

Per Capita Income $25,576 Source: Applied Geographic Solutions, 2015

The following is a breakdown of households by income in the Lake Jackson Trade Area. More than 50%

of household incomes are $59,999 or less per year, with the two most common ranges being between

$75,000 to $99,999 and $100,000 to $124,999 per year.

Figure 6: Lake Jackson Trade Area Households by Income, 2015

Source: Applied Geographic Solutions, 2015

0.0%

2.0%

4.0%

6.0%

8.0%

10.0%

12.0%

14.0%

Households by Income


Of all the households in the Lake Jackson Trade Area, nearly two‐thirds are owner occupied, one‐fourth

are renter occupied and the remaining 10% are vacant.

Figure 7: Lake Jackson Trade Area Households by Tenure, 2015

Source: Applied Geographic Solutions, 2015

The largest percentage of households are family households, with nearly 80% being in this category.

Non‐family households account for more than 15% of households in the Trade Area, while the remaining

5% represent group quarters. Group quarters include places such as college residence halls, residential

treatment centers, skilled nursing facilities, group homes, military barracks, correctional facilities, and

workers’ dormitories.

Table 8: Lake Jackson Trade Area Population by Household Type, 2015

Population by Household Type (2015)

Number Percent

Family 131,926 78.90%

Non‐Family 27,332 16.40%

Group Quarters 7,891 4.70%

Total 167,149 100.00%Source: Applied Geographic Solutions, 2015

Owner Occupied61%

Renter Occupied29%

Vacant10%

Households by Tenure


The total labor force for the Lake Jackson Trade Area is 130,650 people, which is broken down into

roughly 60% who are in the labor force and the remaining 40% who not in the labor force, as indicated

in Table 9: Lake Jackson Trade Area Labor Force, 2015.

Table 9: Lake Jackson Trade Area Labor Force, 2015

Labor Force (2015)

Number Percent

Labor Force 76,724 58.70%

Not In Labor Force 53,926 41.30%


Of the 76,724 people in the labor force, 95% are employed, slightly less than 5% are unemployed, and

the remaining tenth of a percent are in the armed forces.

Table 10: Lake Jackson Trade Area Labor Force Employment Status, 2015

Labor Force Employment Status (2015)

Number Percent

In Armed Forces 46 0.10%

Employed 72,963 95.10%

Unemployed 3,715 4.80%


The following figure, Figure 8: Lake Jackson Trade Area Educational Attainment, 2015, depicts the

breakdown of the educational attainment of those in the Lake Jackson Trade Area. This figure indicates

that over 25% of people have a high school degree and more than 20% having experienced some

college, although only 10% have obtained a bachelor’s degree and slightly less than 10% have completed

a graduate degree.

Figure 8: Lake Jackson Trade Area Educational Attainment, 2015


0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

< Grade 9 Grades 9‐12 High School SomeCollege

AssociateDegree

BachelorsDegree

GraduateDegree

Educational Attainment Age 25+


As can been seen in the figure below, Management, Sales, Office and Administrative, Construction and

Extraction, and Production related jobs make up the majority of all jobs in the Lake Jackson Trade Area.

In particular, the Office and Administrative sector provides more than 14% of all jobs.

Figure 9: Lake Jackson Trade Area Occupation by Percentage, 2010


8.40%

2.80%

1.20%

2.90%

1.60%

1.20%

0.60%

6.30%

1.30%

2.30%

1.50%

2.30%

1.20%

2.10%

5.70%

4.20%

2.60%

8.60%

14.20%

0.80%

9.80%

4.70%

8.10%

2.90%

2.60%

0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14% 16%

Management

Business and Financial Operations

Computer and Mathematical

Architecture and Engineering

Life, Physical, and Social Science

Community and Social Service

Legal

Education, Training, and Library

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media

Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners

Health Technologists and Technicians

Healthcare Support

Fire Fighting and Prevention

Law Enforcement Workers including Supervision

Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations

Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance

Personal Care and Service

Sales and Related Occupations

Office and Administrative Support

Farming, Fishing, and Forestry

Construction and Extraction

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair

Production

Transportation

Material Moving

Occupation Breakdown


Nearly half of all people in the Lake Jackson Trade Area have a 19 minute or less travel time to work,

whereas slightly more than 15% have a travel time of 45 minutes or more.

Figure 10: Lake Jackson Trade Area Travel Time to Work, 2010


0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

Travel Time to Work


Allied Community Development

Development of this Competitiveness Assessment is divided into three parts: Baseline Assessment,

Allied Community Development and Competitiveness Assessment with recommendations. The Baseline

Assessment summarizes currently existing demographics and socioeconomic conditions, whereas the

Allied Community Development examines factors which may influence and attract businesses and

residents. When examining places to live and work, individuals evaluate the cost of living, educational

and recreational opportunities, and housing supply, in addition to a community’s demographic and

socioeconomic conditions. Through this process, access to quality education, an area’s ongoing

innovation, and the community’s thriving business opportunities thrust the Lake Jackson area into a

prime place to locate.

Cost of Living Cost of living is the amount of money required to sustain a certain level of living, including every day

expenses such as food, healthcare, and housing. The rating is based on the national cost of living

average of 100, with anything below 100 resulting in a lower cost of living and anything above 100

resulting in a higher cost of living. The cost of living in Lake Jackson is exactly at the state average of 89,

but is slightly above the average for the surrounding communities and higher than the Brazoria County

average of 82.4. The expensive portions of Lake Jackson’s index are health, utilities, transportation, and

miscellaneous. The miscellaneous category covers the cost of living of those goods and services not

included in the other cost of living categories, including clothing, restaurants, repairs, entertainment,

and other services.

Table 11: Incorporated Cities in Brazoria County Cost of Living Index Rating

Source: Sperling’s Best Places, 2015

2015 Cost of Living Based on US Average of 100

Lake Jackson 89 Iowa Colony 88

Alvin 85 Jones Creek 85

Angleton 84 Liverpool 81

Bailey’s Prairie 73 Manvel 100

Bonney 76 Oyster Creek 73

Brazoria 84 Pearland 97

Brookside Village 92 Quintana 85

Clute 81 Richwood 87

Danbury 81 Surfside Beach 87

Freeport 79 Sweeny 84

Hillcrest 96 West Columbia 85

Holiday Lakes 69 Average for Brazoria County 82.4

Texas 89


Taxes Lake Jackson has the fifth lowest tax rate in the county, following the Town of Quintana, Village of

Bailey’s Prairie, City of Liverpool, and the City of Oyster Creek. The rate of $0.36 per $100 is the lowest

tax rate this City has seen in the past decade and its neighbors Angleton, Richwood, Clute, and Freeport

all have tax rates between about 1.8 times to 2.2 times higher than Lake Jackson’s rates. While these

cities have also seen a slight decline in tax rates since 2012, Lake Jackson has the most pronounced

decrease at 7.69%, with the City of Clute being a far second with a decrease of 1.93%. This decrease in

the rate can be contributed to an increase in the cumulative value of local land, which was $1.65 billion

in 2015 for the total property valuation within the city limits. This should be encouraging for both

businesses and families considering Lake Jackson as a place to settle with cost conscience City leaders.

Source: The Brazoria County Appraisal District, 2015

Lake Jackson is serviced by Brazosport ISD, which has the third lowest school tax rate in Brazoria County

at $1.26 per $100. Additionally, there is a tax rate of $0.28 per $100 for Brazosport College. The City is

located in the Velasco Drainage District which has the second lowest Drainage District tax rate in

Brazoria County at $0.09 per $100. Other taxes to consider are the Brazoria County Tax, currently at

$0.43 per $100, the County Road and Bridge Fund tax rate of $0.06 per $100, and the Brazos River

Harbor Navigation District Tax of $0.04 per $100. Altogether, the aggregate tax rate is $2.51 per $100.

Figure 11: City Tax Rates

$0.84

$0.72

$0.79

$0.66

$0.80

$0.65

$0.41

$0.50

$0.36

$0.22

$0.58

$0.33

$0.71

$0.74

$0.84

$0.83

$0.97

$0.01

$0.07

$0.53

$0.41

$0.38

$0.0 $0.2 $0.4 $0.6 $0.8 $1.0 $1.2

City of Alvin

City of Angleton

City of Brazoria

City of Clute

City of Danbury

City of Freeport

City of Hillcrest Village

City of Iowa Colony

City of Lake Jackson

City of Liverpool

City of Manvel

City of Oyster Creek

City of Pearland

City of Richwood

City of Sweeny

City of West Columbia

Town of Holiday Lakes

Town of Quintana

Village of Bailey's Prairie

Village of Brookside

Village of Jones Creek

Village of Surfside

2015 Tax Rates in Brazoria County


Source: The Brazoria County Appraisal District, 2015

The Type B sales tax is a state‐authorized ½‐cent addition to the local sales tax which generated $2.75

million in revenue in the 2014 to 2015 fiscal year. This is a 59% increase in revenue from the fiscal year

1999 to 2000. This revenue goes to the City’s Economic Development fund, administered by the Board

of Directors of the Lake Jackson Economic Development Corporation (LJDC), for projects that have

included park and recreation improvements such as the outdoor pool and Wilderness Golf Course, as

well as infrastructure improvements including the HEB retail center and airport water extension. Since

2007, the City of Lake Jackson has invested over $28 million to support local economic growth and

improve the City’s “quality of place” through recreational and civic investments such as these. One

important note on the use of revenues from this sales tax is that in 1995 Lake Jackson voters restricted

the use of this fund to only be used for the types of improvements described above in order to

encourage new or expanded business enterprises, rather than all the purposes allowed by state law

which would have expanded usage to promotional activities and hiring paid economic development

staff.

0.00%0.20%0.40%0.60%0.80%1.00%1.20%1.40%1.60%

School Taxes

Figure 12: School Tax and Brazoria County Drainage District Tax Rates

0.00%

0.05%

0.10%

0.15%

0.20%

0.25%

0.30%

0.35%

AngletonDrainageDistrict

VelascoDrainage

District (LakeJackson)

BrazoriaCounty

Conservation&

ReclamationDistrict #3(Alvin)

BrazoriaCountyDrainageDistrict #4(Pearland)

BrazoriaCountyDrainageDistrict #5

(Iowa Colony)

BrazoriaCountyDrainageDistrict #8(Danbury)

West BrazoriaCountyDrainageDistrict #11

Drainage District Taxes


The total sales tax in Lake Jackson is $8.25 per $100, which is the highest allowed by the State and the

same as nearby cities like Clute, Freeport, and Angleton. In fact, the annual revenue from sales tax was

51% higher in 2014 at $5.23 million compared to the revenue received in 1999 and it is projected to

increase in the future as Lake Jackson’s economy continues to expand. This revenue growth reflects Lake

Jackson’s presence as the local trade center in the area and its downtown development efforts. In

particular, Lake Jackson’s sales tax revenue has been increasing significantly due to a growth in retail

and service sectors in areas including groceries and lodging. The increased economic activity in Lake

Jackson as a whole provides a larger tax base that allows for the City to better serve its people by

providing additional valued public services and improving infrastructure. These amenities will, in turn,

lead to a magnified cyclical effect of economic growth in the community and attract new people and

businesses to the area. Successful community development will also encourage private sector

businesses to invest in the City, thus helping to pay for its growth and limit the burden of funding risk for

these public improvements within the City. Overall, the lower tax rates in Lake Jackson add to the

competitiveness assets found in the City.

Figure 13: Taxes and City Growth Cycle


Education Education is an integral part of every community. For many families, the decision on where to live is

dependent upon the quality of education in the area, despite other attractions a city may have.

Additionally, the presence of a community college can draw people to the area and provide a channel

for community education opportunities that can enhance residents’ quality of life, making education an

even more important factor in a community’s assessment.

Brazosport Independent School District Brazosport Independent School District (BISD) serves the cities, towns, and villages of Lake Jackson,

Clute, Freeport, Jones Creek, Oyster Creek, Quintana, Richwood, and Surfside Beach. It is comprised of

11 elementary schools, two middle schools, three intermediate schools, two high schools, and one

alternative school; of which four elementary schools, one middle school and one intermediate school

are within Lake Jackson city limits. For the 2014‐2015 school year, BISD served 12,411 students. Of those

students more than half were Hispanic, slightly more than a third were white and less than 10% were

black or African American. The Texas Education Agency reports that 55.2% of the students were

economically disadvantaged versus the state average of 58.8% and BISD had half the typical amount of

English language learners than the state average, at 9.1% and 18.2% respectively. A full breakdown of

the demographics in the following figure.

Figure 14: 2014‐2015 Demographics of Brazosport ISD

Source: Texas Education Agency, Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS), 2014‐2015

Based on multiple metrics, Brazosport Independent School District is at the state average or better for

the majority of criteria. The only area of concern is the lower STAAR percentage met or exceeded, which

is 8% below the state average. Otherwise BISD is at the state average or above, especially for the

average SAT and ACT scores, and has shown improvement in scores over the past year.

Black or African American

8%

American Indian or Alaska Native

1%

Asian

Hispanic52%

Native Hawaiian/Other or Pacific Islander

0%

Two or More Races2%

White35%

Demographics of BISD


Table 12: 2014‐2015 Brazosport ISD Key Metrics

Brazosport Independent School District BISD Region State

Longitudinal Graduation Rate 87.1% 87.8% 88.3%

STAAR Percentage Met or Exceeded Progress 49% 58% 57%

Average SAT (2014) 1454 1405 1417

Average ACT (2014) 22 21.3 20.6

Economically Disadvantaged 55.2% * 58.8%

English Language Learners 9.1% * 18.2%

Average Years of Experience of Teachers 9.9 * 11

Average Teacher Salary $51,942 * $50,715 Source: 2014‐2015 Academic Excellence Indicators, Texas Education Agency (* Data unavailable)

Based on the Student and Community Involvement rating compiled by the Texas Education Agency of

the entire Brazosport ISD, BISD received a rating of 2.9 or “recognized,” which is the second highest

possible rating category. If schools located strictly in Lake Jackson are considered, then the rating

balloons up to 3.45, still a rating of “recognized,” but nearly exemplary. When the two high schools are

added, the rating drops slightly to 3.22, but it is still a strong rating, indicating quality education is

available to students with much student and community involvement in Lake Jackson.

Table 13: 2014‐2015 Student and Community Involvement Rating and Score Card

Student and Community Involvement Final Rating Rating Score

Fine Arts Exemplary 4

Wellness and Physical Education Exemplary 4

Community and Parent Involvement Recognized 3

21st Century Workforce Development Program Acceptable 2

Second Language Acquisition Program Acceptable 2

Digital Learning Environment Code Acceptable 2

Dropout Prevention Strategies Exemplary 4

Education Program for GT Students Acceptable 2

Overall Rating: Recognized 2.9 Source: 2014‐2015 Texas Education Agency

Key:

Exemplary 3.6 to 4.0 points

Recognized 2.6 to 3.5 points

Acceptable 1.8 to 2.5 points

Unacceptable less than 1.8 points


With the recent hiring of Superintendent David Massey, Brazosport ISD has been actively changing the

perception of the district. Outreach in the community has been strong through social media,

presentations, meetings, and one‐on‐one encounters. Community partnerships have been strengthened

which increases student learning experiences through internships, sponsorships, and other types of

assistance. Mr. Massey led the effort of creating a marketing campaign with four main themes:

1. Brazosport ISD students receive a high quality education;

2. In addition to academics, a variety of learning experiences are offered – extracurricular

activities, clubs, athletics, music, art, career and technology, robotics, internships, mentoring,

etc.;

3. The school is comprised of many caring, compassionate staff – raised the salary levels and

amount of support given to the teachers, the districts most valued ambassadors; and

4. There is much community pride ‐ students, parents, teachers and the communities.

The Brazosport ISD website’s “Braggin!” Headlines section highlights accomplishments of students and

teachers. This weekly newsletter praises accomplishments in all areas including, but not limited to,

academic performance, swimming, service projects, teacher recognition, robotics, community

partnerships, student council, band, and athletics.

In 2015, a multi‐million dollar bond election was passed permitting bond funds to be used to upgrade

half of the elementary school buildings in the district. Lake Jackson students will be served by all newly

renovated elementary school buildings. Additionally, the district received more money last year allowing

for teacher raises and more campus support. The teacher salaries are now in the top 10% of the state.

Mr. Massey reported that not only are the City leaders easy to do business with, the school district

offers the second highest number of Chapter 313 agreements in Texas, which give tax abatements to

businesses in the school district. Another example of collaborative partnerships is with Dow. Through

this collaboration, Dow provides mentors for the 11 of the 19 schools in the district that have a robotics

program. Last year, Brazoswood High School placed first in the state at the robotics competition.

The ISD works closely with Brazosport College in developing courses, urging students to further their

education, meeting the job demands of local industry, and in offering dual enrollment courses. Dual

enrollment of students is offered at both high schools and at the College for students living in Lake

Jackson and Clute. Students have the opportunity to earn certificates and associate degrees, allowing

them to move directly into a career. In 2015, five seniors graduated with their associate’s degree, while

many others had earned some college credit hours.

Brazosport ISD is playing a leading role in strengthening local talent to bridge the gap between high

school, higher education and industry. Students who graduate from BISD, whether through their Career

and Technology program or general education, are more prepared for college entry or the workforce

than in years past.


Brazosport College Brazosport College is a public community college in Southern Brazoria County that offers certificates,

associate’s and bachelor’s degrees. The majority of the College is in the Lake Jackson city limits with a

few buildings in the city limits of Clute, however people from all over the state, nation and world attend

Brazosport College. Of the 4,077 enrolled in the Spring 2015 semester, 24 students were from states

outside of Texas and three students came from foreign countries.

Enrollment numbers for the past 10 years show an increase of 11.4%, as can be seen in Figure 15:

Brazosport College 10‐Year Enrollment. In addition to credited courses, the College offers a variety of

community education programs serving youth and adults. Programs include non‐credit, workforce

training, healthcare and personal enrichment classes.

Note: Reflects numbers of regular, for‐credit students.

Source: Brazosport College Board of Regents Report Fall 2015

During the Fall and Spring semesters Brazosport College enrolls around 5,000 students in both for‐credit

and non‐credit programs. During the first summer session over 2,000 students are typically enrolled,

while only 1,000‐plus students enroll in the second summer session.

Table 14: Brazosport College 5‐Year Enrollment

School Year Fall Spring Summer I Summer II Total Enrollment

2011‐2012 5,089 5,534 2,500 1,158 14,281

2012‐2013 5,054 5,054 2,201 1,279 13,588

2013‐2014 4,990 4,961 2,427 1,234 13,612

2014‐2015 4,995 5,136 2,152 1,560 13,843 Note: Includes those enrolled in the For‐Credit and Non‐Credit Program

Source: Brazosport College Registrar's Office

3,500

3,600

3,700

3,800

3,900

4,000

4,100

4,200

4,300

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Number of Studen

ts

Fall Semester Enrollment

Figure 15: Brazosport College 10‐Year Enrollment


In both 2013 and 2015, Brazosport College was a top 10 finalist for the Aspen Prize for Community

College Excellence, a national competition overseen by The Aspen Institute in Washington, DC. The

Institute’s mission is to foster good leadership values and provide a neutral, or non‐partisan, venue for

handling critical issues. The selection committee for this award considered performance data, learning

improvements, graduation rates, workforce outcomes, and equitable outcomes for demographically

diverse students of over 100 institutions who were eligible for the prize.

According to the Aspen Institute’s press release of the 2015 finalists, Brazosport College has a very high

retention rate from first to the second year at 84% which can be attributed to its well‐designed financial

aid process and student academic support services like tutoring. They also applauded the school’s post‐

graduation statistics which show that those employed one‐year after graduation earn 43% more than

other new hires in the region, approximately $47,320, which increases to $67,340 or 38% more than

other workers in the region five years post‐graduation. Another highlight was the College’s partnership

with the petrochemical and chemical industry in the area, so much so that Dow Chemicals has moved its

new employee preparation program to the school.

The percentage of students receiving Pell Grant Aid is essentially half the Texas average percentage

receiving such aid. However, the average tuition and fees per year for Brazosport College are slightly

below the Texas average at $2,295, making it an affordable choice for a quality education. The school

reported a total amount of financial aid awarded for the 2014‐2015 school year, including summer

sessions and federal aid, to be $4,772,994.52

Table 15: Costs of Attending Brazosport College

Cost Brazosport College Texas Average

% Students Receiving Pell Grant Aid 17.8% 35.1%

Average Tuition and Fees Per Year $2,295 $2,339

Source: Texas Higher Education Accountability System


The largest percentage of Brazoria County students in the 2015 Spring semester are Lake Jackson

residents, although they do not comprise the majority of students on campus. These numbers remailn

fairly consistant thoughout the year, except in the second summer session when Lake Jackson residents

account for 43% of the regular, for‐credit enrolled students. These percentages are for regular, for‐

credit enrolled students only.

Figure 16: Brazosport College students from Brazoria County

Source: Brazosport College Registrar's Office

Angleton18%

Brazoria8%

Clute14%

Danbury1%

Freeport13%

Lake Jackson31%

Sweeny5%

West Columbia4%

Other Residence6%

Spring 2015 Student Residence


In 2004, Brazosport College received Legislative authority and accreditation status to offer the Bachelor

of Applied Technology program (BAT); one of three community colleges (out of 50) with this authority.

Students graduating from this program earn their Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Management.

According to Dr. Dorothy Brandt, Professor and Division Chair of the Bachelor of Applied Technology

Program, the College began offering BAT courses in 2005 with about a 20% growth each year in number

of students enrolled. Currently, there are a little over 200 enrolled in BAT with approximately 55

graduating each year. Most of the students work and go to school simultaneously, thus the online

course option is most popular. To be accepted into the program, students are required to have a two

year Associate’s degree with acceptable grades and then are required to complete their upper level

courses while in the program. Dr. Brandt reported about 20% of the students earn their degree in two

years while it generally takes three‐four years to finish since most of the students attend part‐time.

Brazosport College is tied to industry and has been very responsive to industry demand. With the large

petrochemical and chemical industries presence and expansions, the need for a more trained workforce

played a key role in business operations. Industry leaders assisted Brazosport College in getting

legislation passed to offer the BAT program. Students in the BAT program at Brazosport College are

fortunate in that projects completed while in school, directly relate to actual work place events and

most have built in mentors with the company in which they work. Through this program and the

college’s trade programs, Brazosport College participates in the regional workforce initiative that

prepares students for careers in the local petrochemical industries, known as the Community College

Petrochemical Initiative. This initiative is funded by a grant from ExxonMobil and nine community

colleges throughout Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast area participate. Additionally, Brazosport College

is part of UpSkill Houston, an initiative that focuses on closing the skills gap in the Houston Area through

workforce training for “middle skills” careers that require more than a high school education, but less

than a four‐year college degree. Its key objectives are to train, place, retain, and attract individuals to

skilled professions in seven locally important sectors, including the petrochemical industry.

In 2014, Brazosport College was granted approval to offer a Bachelor of Health Services Management

degree. This degree prepares students for management positions in health care or medical facilities. The

College currently offers an Associate’s Degree in Nursing. With the proximity to large medical facilities in

Houston, and the new partnerships recently established with the Angleton Danbury Medical Center and

the University of Texas Medical Branch (now UTMB Health Angleton Danbury Campus) and Brazosport

Regional Health System and Chatholic Health Initiatives, Brazosport College is definitely preparing

students to work in the local heatlh care industry. The current Health Services Management program

has about 30 students enrolled with six planning to graduate in May 2016.

According to the Gulf Coast Workforce Solutions, openings in the health care industry are expected to

increase double digits by 2020 (see Table 19: Gulf Coast Region Top 20 Fastest Growing Industries 2012‐

2020) and Health Care and Social Assistance is also identified as the leading service sector for job growth

(see Figure 43: Gulf Coast Regional 2012‐2022 Job Projections). In addition, the Gulf Coast Workforce

Solutions identifed nurses as a high‐skilled, high‐growth targeted occupation for the area. Brazosport

College is hoping to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in the future to fill the nursing gap,

however currently the State has chosen not to view the BSN as an applied degree under the College’s

current legislative authority.


Plans to increase enrollment and visibility for the BAT according to Dr. Brandt include reinvigorating

marketing efforts, hosting information sessions, and target marketing in the Houston area. The school is

exploring other programs to offer under the Applied Technology umbrella based on industry demand.

Compared to the Texas average, Brazosport College has more Technical students which reflects the local

industry needs.

Figure 17: Brazosport College Student Majors vs. Texas Majors, Academic vs. Technical

Note: BC Data is based on Spring 2015 values. BAT program is technical based.

Source: Texas Higher Education Accountability System, Brazosport Registrar’s Office, 2015

Academic Majors57%

Technical Majors39%

BAT Program4%

Brazosport College Majors

Academic Majors71%

Technical Majors29%

Texas Majors


Recreation Opportunities for recreation and quality education in Lake Jackson are crucial quality of place

characteristics, especially for people with children or those planning to have families. There must be

sufficient outlets in these areas in order to keep people from leaving Lake Jackson for entertainment and

make it a place residents will want to raise a family. Additionally, recreational activities will help make

Lake Jackson worthwhile to visit for non‐residents.

Parks and Recreation

Lake Jackson Parks and Recreation recognizes 10 pocket parks, 10 neighborhood parks, and two

community parks throughout the City. By definition, pocket parks serve small neighborhoods and are

under three acres such as Yaupon Park. Neighborhood parks serve residents within one‐fourth to a half‐

mile of the park and, therefore, tend to have more acreage than the pocket parks, with the largest in

Lake Jackson being the 18‐acre James F. Crews Park. Community parks are available to all residents and

offer a wider selection of activities, but focus on serving those within one to two miles of the park. For

example, the 84‐acre McLean Park and Youth Sports Complex includes a fitness trail, lighted basketball

court, pavilion, picnic tables, sand volleyball and tennis courts, soccer and softball fields, and a stage

with lighting. This park is located next to the Lake Jackson Recreation Center which hosts area sports

teams. Dunbar Park is another community park, located at the intersection SH 288 and FM 2004, and

features BBQ pits, a disc golf course, lighted football field, backstop, picnic tables, a playground and

pavilion located on its 75.5 acres. Altogether, there is a total of 270.9 acres of parkland, setting Lake

Jackson above the midrange recommended acreage of parkland per 1,000 people by the National

Recreation and Park Association. Additionally, two Regional Parks, Dow Centennial Bottomlands and

Wilderness Park, add 832 acres of land to the Lake Jackson park system. Parks are available for

reservation and several, such as Madge Griffith Park and MacLean Park, are located within walking

distance of area schools.

Source: Lake Jackson Comprehensive Plan Draft, 2015

Figure 18: Existing Park Service Areas


Hike and Bike Trails Pedestrian and bike paths are an important way to keep a community connected, more accessible, and

decrease traffic congestion. Additionally, such trails can be used for recreational purposes that will help

increase resident’s quality of life. The City’s Comprehensive Master Plan outlines Lake Jackson’s

developmental goals through 2020 and recommends that walking and bike paths are provided within

buffer zones along waterways, along all arterial roads and along major drainage canals. These initiatives

and the safe use of these paths are overseen by the Hike and Bike Committee, in association with Lake

Jackson’s Parks and Recreation Board. According to 2011 update of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master

Plan, the City has a total of 26 miles of existing trails, comprised of about nine miles of hard‐surface

trails, six hard surface jogging tracks located at neighborhood schools, nearly seven miles of soft surface

off‐road trails, and almost nine miles of six foot wide sidewalks in high pedestrian traffic areas. There are

currently five suggested longer recreational biking routes along the roadways in Lake Jackson, in

addition to eight city trails in popular areas such as Brazosport College and MacLean Park. Once the 19

planned miles of trails are completed, Lake Jackson will have about 45 miles of hike and bike trails

linking important community points including nine parks, schools, health centers, the Sea Center, the

Mall and Downtown. To enhance the trail system, points to consider include the construction of

attractive benches, bike docking stations, and bike repair stations throughout the City. To ensure safety

along these routes, push‐button signal changers and clear signs for both bikers, pedestrians, and drivers

should be installed.

Figure 19: City Trails in Lake Jackson

Note: Red stars represent area schools. Solid red lines are city trails.

Highlighted route is the Wilderness Park Trail.


Lake Jackson Recreation Center Figure 20: Indoor Recreational Pool

The 65,500 square foot Recreation Center in Lake Jackson

offers both residents and visitors a chance to get fit every

day of the week all year round. It features a full size

gymnasium with two full courts for sports such as basketball

and volleyball, a weight training room, four racquetball

courts, two indoor swimming pools, a spinning studio, and

two multipurpose rooms. Adult group fitness classes are

offered using both live instructors and Fitness on Demand, a

system that utilizes hundreds of instructional exercise videos

for every level in everything from dance to kickboxing. Those

with family memberships can take advantage of the KidZone

which offers childcare weekdays 8 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm for children ages six months to seven

years old. Youth programs available at the Recreation Center include summer camps for both sports and

special interest activities like robotics. Year round group and private swim lessons are provided, along

with Lifeguard and CPR training. From late May to September, an outdoor pool is available daily for the

community’s enjoyment. Facilities can be rented for special events and easy access to MacLean Park

puts the Recreation Center in an ideal location.

The Wilderness Golf Course Completed in 2003, this public 18‐hole Wilderness Golf

Course offers opportunities for everyone to both learn and

play the game. Tournaments and benefits are held at the

course throughout the year, in addition to a summer camp

for youth golfers. Yearly passes are available and regular

rates for the course vary by age, time of play, and residency,

with a special discount given to Lake Jackson residents. The

driving range is open daily from 7 am to 5 pm and the golf

shop remains open until 6 pm. The course was designated as

a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in 2007, meaning

that it helps preserve and enhance the wetland habitat

around it. In both 2014 and 2015, it was ranked the fourth best course in Texas by Golf Advisor based on

reviewer’s submissions. It also received accolades in 2015 from Golf Advisor that placed this course as

#20 for friendliest course in the US, #23 for best course conditions in the US, and overall #41 in the US

on the Best of Golf Advisor list.

Stephen F. Austin Statue, Angleton Located off of SH 288 in Angleton lies the ten acre William Munson Park. This

park recently became the first historic‐themed park in the Brazoria County

Parks Department System, with its major attraction being a 70 foot tall

statue of Stephen F. Austin that acknowledges the area’s rich history. This

park also includes a lake shaped like Texas and a 900 foot “Walk of Honor”

for those who have helped shape Brazoria County’s history. Admission is free

and the park is open 24 hours.

Figure 21: Wilderness Golf Course Clubhouse

Figure 22: Stephen F. Austin Statue


Mammoth Lake Waterpark, Clute Figure 23: Scuba Divers

The Mammoth Lake 55‐acre underwater park opened in 2008 and

is the largest scuba‐diving specific lake in the US. Maximum Scuba

is a full service scuba diving shop on site that is a five‐star

Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) training

center. Mammoth Lake offers Scuba courses and PADI certification

opportunities, as well as the opportunity for certified divers to

explore over 70 diving wrecks including fire trucks and planes. It is

open every day year‐round, with temperatures ranging from 85°F

to 51°F due to seasonality, and allows for diving up to 61 feet with

10 feet to 30 feet of visibility. People can also enjoy swimming,

kayaking, training for triathlons, and stand‐up paddle boarding.

Primitive camping and trailer camping with full utilities are

available. There is also an indoor heated pool that can host swim

lessons, parties, and independent dive training classes.

Sea Center Texas Figure 24: Touch Tank

Sea Center Texas is a 75‐acre marine aquarium, fish

hatchery, and education center that opened in 1996

using funds from The Dow Chemical Company, the

Coastal Conservation Association, and the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service and is currently operated by the Texas

Parks and Wildlife Department. Highlights include a

“touch tank” and aquariums exhibiting Texas habitats

including wildlife from the salt marsh, jetty, reef, and

open Gulf. It boasts the largest redfish hatchery in the

world, with the capability of producing up to 15 million

juvenile fish each year. Its wetland area, with a one‐

acre salt marsh and a three acre freshwater marsh, is

part of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail. Various free tours include a tour of the hatchery, wetland

exhibit tours, a Storytime tour for younger kids, and a self‐guided tour of the visitor center. Educational

activities and materials are available, school visits are encouraged, and a summer camp is available.

Three times a year a youth catch‐and‐release fishing event is held. The Andrew Sansom Youth Fishing

Pond is stocked and available on a limited basis for young anglers to reserve for use. Additionally, fly

fishing and tying workshops for beginners are offered several times throughout the year. Sea Center

Texas is open 9 am to 4 pm Tuesday to Saturday and 1 pm to 4 pm on Sundays, while closing for major

holidays and occasionally for special events. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.


Lake Jackson Civic Center

Opened in 2000, the Lake Jackson Civic Center boasts a 1,100

square foot senior center, 4,500 square foot terrace room,

7,100 square foot ballroom, 900 square foot conference

room, and three plaza meeting rooms, each about 1,100

square feet. Additionally, there are two outdoor plazas, one

with a stage and mini‐band stand and another with two

fountains, a trellis, and a life‐size chessboard. Spaces can be

rented both individually, or the entire facility can be rented

out with rates that vary depending on residency, military

status, and day of the week. The facility’s summer hours are

10 am to 8 pm daily.

Lake Jackson Library The Lake Jackson Library offers both physical and e‐books, movies,

and music. Additionally, access to online databases is provided for

members. The Library hosts some special events like Family Fun

Night and book club, primarily for younger kids. It opens at 10 am

Monday to Saturday and is closed on Sundays.

Lake Jackson Historical Museum The 12,000 square foot Historical Museum focuses on the local

history of Brazoria County and, specifically Lake Jackson. Visitors

can choose to attend an hour long tour or walk through the

museum alone. Other sites associated with this museum are the

Alden Dow Office site and a Plantation site. The main museum is

open 10 am to 4 pm Tuesday to Saturday and is closed Sunday

and Monday. It can be rented either daily or hourly for special

events, such as weddings or receptions, as the museum features

a 2,400 square foot rotunda that can accommodate 200 standing

or 150 seated.

Wildlife Recreation and Beaches The Gulf Coast Bird Observatory is open to visitors Monday to

Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and primarily features hiking and

birdwatching. Brazos Bend State Park is located in nearby

Needville, TX and offers six lakes for fishing, hiking trails, and

camping. Hunting, fishing, and educational programs are also at

the Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area, San Bernard

National Wildlife Refuge, or the Brazoria National Wildlife

Refuge. Beaches in the Brazosport Area include Surfside Beach,

Bryan Beach, and the 51‐acre Quintana Beach County Park. These sandy beaches are ideal for family fun

outdoor recreation including shell collecting, surfing, sunbathing, camping, fishing, and boating.

Figure 26: Library Entrance

Figure 27: Museum Entrance

Figure 28: San Bernard NWR

Figure 25: Civic Center Plaza


The Clarion The Clarion is a Musical Performance Center at Brazosport College that is

celebrating its 10th year anniversary with the 2015‐2016 Performance

Season. The 29,000 square foot Clarion includes rehearsal halls,

individual practice rooms, classrooms, faculty offices, a two‐story lobby,

and a 600‐seat performance hall. It offers quality performances from

world‐class performers in a variety of musical genres, in addition to

hosting local college, high school and community bands and choirs, such

as the Brazosport Symphony Orchestra. For Brazosport area students

ages 8 to 18, Klassical Kids offers an opportunity to audition to work with

faculty from the Brazosport Department of Music and perform a live

concert that is also taped for airing on BCTV.

The Center for the Arts and Sciences, Clute Founded in 1976, the Brazosport Center for Arts and Sciences is located next to Brazosport College, just

across the border in Clute, and offers a variety of educational and entertainment options. This facility is

owned and operated by the non‐profit Brazosport Fine Arts Council; therefore, with the exception of a

small staff, this facility is entirely volunteer‐driven. The Brazosport Center for Arts and Sciences was

listed as one of Texas’s best museums in Frommer’s Travel Guide in 2015.

The Center’s Planetarium features shows, space images, and interactive computer stations and displays.

There is a small fee to see shows in the 30 foot dome theater, with a 72 person capacity, while lobby

displays are free. Those in 11th and 12th grade at BISD can take a full credit astronomy course that meets

in the planetarium two days a week.

The Center’s Art League features 10 art shows annually that highlight both internationally recognized

and local artists. The Art Gallery in the Center is open from 10 am to 4 pm Tuesday thru Saturday and 2

pm to 5 pm on Sundays, as well as before and during the intermission of Center Stage performances. An

Art Studio provides space for art classes and

workshops, such as an oil and pastel class.

The Brazosport Museum of Natural History at the

Center of Arts and Sciences is celebrating its 50th

anniversary in November 2016. It is free and open

Tuesday to Saturday 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday 2

pm to 5 pm. It features five exhibit halls with

exhibits of malacology, paleontology, archaeology,

minerals, and wildlife.

Center Stages offers musical performances for a fee. Its DOW Arena Theatre has 199 seats and the

Freeport LNG Theatre holds about 395 people. In addition to performances and special events, youth

workshops are available and school visits to the Center of Arts and Sciences are encouraged.

Figure 30: Museum of Natural Science

Figure 29: The Clarion


Housing Housing availability, quality, and affordability are all important aspects that people and businesses

consider when deciding where to live and work. In particular, businesses want to grow in a place where

they can get their employees to come and live. Cities need to consider that housing must be accessible

to people of varying demographics and price ranges.

Housing Demographics Although the majority of the homes in Lake Jackson were built prior to 2000, many are built in the

notable Frank Lloyd Wright style. Lake Jackson has been working to provide more modern housing

though new developments including Alden and Creekside that will be attractive to potential new

residents. These efforts are noted in the Brazoria County Appraisal District records which show that on

January 1, 2016 there were 8,409 single family residences, whereas one year before in 2015 there were

8,392 of these residences in Lake Jackson. One‐unit detached houses are the most commonly seen in

the City. The majority of householders have moved into their units since 2000, reflecting the current

draw to Lake Jackson and its strong housing demand.

Census Bureau estimates from 2014 indicate that the total number of housing units in Lake Jackson is

around 10,892 with only 8.3% of housing units being vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate is 1.4%,

whereas the rental vacancy rate is 8.6%, further indicating housing and rental markets in Lake Jackson

do well. The Census Bureaus’ 2014 estimates valued over three‐fourths of the occupied units in Lake

Jackson between $50,000 and $199,999, with 19% valued above $200,000. The average market

appraised value of a home on January 1, 2015, according to the Brazoria County Appraisal District office,

was $166,473. This corresponds to the median listing price for all properties in Lake Jackson, including

land and multi‐unit residents, based on current data from National Association of Realtors website of

$218,000 with a median closing price of $169,000. Additionally, the median price per square foot is

currently at about $100, up from $90 a year ago in 2015.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2014

Figure 31: Housing Values in Lake Jackson

Less than $50,0003%

$50,000 to $99,99920%

$100,000 to $149,99930%

$150,000 to $199,99928%

$200,000 to $299,99913%

$300,000 to $499,9995%

$500,000 or more 1%

Housing Values


According to Sperling’s Best Places, the average rent in June 2014 was about $610 for a studio

apartment, $740 for a one bedroom home or apartment, $910 for two bedrooms, $1,240 for three

bedrooms, and $1,540 for a four bedroom home or apartment in the City. In general, these rates are

less than the average US rental rates. The National Association of Realtors currently has about 115

listings of homes for sale and only about 8 homes for rent in Lake Jackson on their website. For single

family houses, condos, and townhomes the median amount of days they are listed on the market in

March 2016 is 29 days, down from 45 days in March 2015. This drop in the average number of days on

the market in the last year reflects the increasing demand for homes in Lake Jackson.

Figure 32: Lake Jackson Households by Tenure 2015

Source: SitesOnTexas, 2015

Household composition data from 2014 estimates reveals that over 65% of Lake Jackson households are

family households, with the majority being married‐couple families. Those with families tend to own the

houses they live in rather than renting them, whereas the majority of non‐family households are

renters. This corresponds to the fact that over 65% of occupied homes are owner occupied, with around

65% holding a mortgage. Most households are at least comprised of two people, but it is more common

to find larger households than this in Lake Jackson. For this reason, most houses in the City are family‐

sized, three bedroom housing units with the median number of rooms for all units being 5.6 in 2014.

Children in these households are primarily aged 6 to 17 years, meaning that they are school‐aged and

the area school system will be an important decision factor for the parents. Overall, these statistics

show that Lake Jackson should continue to focus on being a “family‐friendly,” as well as a “business‐

friendly” community.

Owner Occupied66%

Renter Occupied30%

Vacant4%

Lake Jackson Households by Tenure


Source: US Census Bureau, 2014

Future Housing Housing Lake Jackson residents into the future requires a viable range of competitive residential options,

including those that accommodate the needs of executive‐level talent attracted to Lake Jackson as

industry continues to grow, but also those that offer affordable housing options to young families.

Due to Lake Jackson’s location in the region, the workforce has a greater deal of flexibility on where they

choose to live and work into the future. When communities fail to adequately address housing

demands, large segments of the workforce may choose to commute in from outside of the city. In some

cases, cities are unable to attract the skilled labor force needed to attract quality industry to the

community.

Based on demographic trends, a variety of new housing product types are appropriate as Lake Jackson

continues to grow. Lake Jackson has low vacancy rates for rental housing, making unit turnover slow,

and affordable and attractive options limited. New rental housing units, multi‐family in particular,

should be located in proximity to industry and schools.

There is also a low inventory of quality and/or affordable for‐sale housing options in Lake Jackson.

Construction of new housing units has been limited over the past decade or more. Between January and

November 2015, Lake Jackson issued 35 new residential permits, an increase from the 12 new

residential permits issued in 2014. At the same time, new residential permits in Brazoria County as a

whole increased by 266 permits in 2015. Housing the growing population will require significant new

construction to bolster the housing supply and provide desired housing options to the workforce that

Lake Jackson seeks to attract.

For a city of its size, Lake Jackson is projected to grow at a considerable pace over the next five years,

consistent with recent‐past growth trends. Closing the gap between the supply and demand of quality

and affordable housing options should continue to be a priority to Lake Jackson officials. Land

development standards should be reviewed to ensure that increased cost of development does not

make affordable housing options scarce.

Figure 33: Household Size in Lake Jackson

1 person25%

2 person34%

3 person16%

4+ person25%

Household Size in Lake Jackson


Additional housing options such as master‐planned housing communities, mixed‐use development,

work‐live units, and other creative housing options should continue to be explored and encouraged as

an attractant to a younger, high‐tech and executive workforce. The current developments underway,

Creekside Crossing and Alden, are examples of housing options needed in Lake Jackson. These two

developments will provide over 1400 homes and over 500 multi‐family units to the rising population and

labor force of Lake Jackson. With the explosive industrial development underway, these homes will help

meet the demand in the near future.

Hotels There are currently 6 hotels within the city limits that can accommodate different traveler’s budgets.

The more expensive hotels that charge $100‐plus per night include Comfort Suites, Candlewood Suites,

and Best Western Plus Lake Jackson Inn & Suites. Travelers on a budget can be accommodated at the

Cherotel Grand Mariner Hotel, Clarion Inn, or at the Super 8 Lake Jackson/Clute. Future hotels that have

been recently approved for construction include a Courtyard by Marriott, La Quinta del Sol, and

Staybridge Suites.

The number of rooms available in Lake Jackson increased by 12.4% from 2014 to 427 rooms in 2015.

During this same time, room revenue increased by 63.4% to $7,788,000. Comparatively, Angleton,

Freeport, and Clute had no change in the number of hotel rooms while their room revenues increased

by 31%, 22.3%, and 22.3% respectively.

Source: Source Strategies, Inc. 2015

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Alvin Angleton Clute Freeport LakeJackson

Manvel Pearland SurfsideBeach

WestColumbia

Number of Rooms

2015 Rooms

Figure 34: Hotel Rooms in Brazoria County


Source: Source Strategies, Inc. 2015

All hotels are currently located off of SH 288, with the majority being in the south part of town. The

Total Hotel Tax is 13% (City and State) and these funds can be used by the City to attract visitors. By

increasing the number of rooms available in Lake Jackson and the associated revenue, more money will

be collected for reinvestment in the community’s future. For this reason, Lake Jackson now offers a

hotel occupancy tax reimbursement as incentive for those looking to build high quality hotels in Lake

Jackson that will attract conventions and tourists, given that they meet a list of requirements for the

hotel’s design.

$‐

$2,000,000

$4,000,000

$6,000,000

$8,000,000

$10,000,000

$12,000,000

$14,000,000

$16,000,000

$18,000,000

Alvin Angleton Clute Freeport LakeJackson

Manvel Pearland SurfsideBeach

WestColumbia

Room Reven

ues

2015 Room Revenues

Figure 35: Hotel Room Revenues in Brazoria County




Competitiveness Assessment

Land Use and Urban Growth Assessment Lake Jackson was designed by Alden Dow in the early 1940s as a master‐planned community for workers

of the Dow Chemical Company plant. Lake Jackson has grown over the past 70 years from a 5,000‐acre

bedroom‐community to a 20.9 square‐mile city with distinctive park‐like features dominating the public

realm.

Lake Jackson’s landscape is enhanced by the Brazos River and Buffalo Camp Bayou to the southwest,

and Oyster Creek bisecting the community from east to west. With over seven percent of the City’s total

area being water and a significant amount of additional land located in the floodplain, Lake Jackson’s

natural features will continue to be an asset as the community develops over time.

Much of the City is currently developed into single‐family residential subdivisions. While this is not

unusual for a community of this size, Lake Jackson’s housing stock is aging with only a limited number of

new single‐family homes developed over the past decade. An appropriate mix of single‐family and multi‐

family housing exists in the City, however all housing opportunities are in need of expansion.

Limited entitled commercial and industrial opportunities currently exist in Lake Jackson. Entitled land is

defined as land that has undergone all, or most, of pre‐development processes such as zoning and

platting and is ready currently ready to be developed. However, the rejuvenated area marketplace has

helped spur an increase in building permits. Between January and November 2015, Lake Jackson issued

47 new commercial permits, an increase from the 37 new commercial permits issued in 2014. This sets

Lake Jackson apart, as Brazoria County as a whole decreased in the number of new commercial permits

issued in 2015. The commercial permits in Lake Jackson accounted 96.5% of the total 2014 total annual

permit value of $161.5 million. The total permit value increased over 400% in 2014 from the 2009 to

2013 annual average of $301.1 million dollars.

SH 288 / SH 332 run through Lake Jackson from north to south, with its intersections with Oyster Creek

Drive and FM 2004 creating significant interchanges. A significant amount of frontage along these

roadways has been developed with single‐family residential subdivisions in the past. Retail development

exists downtown and along the SH 288 frontage, but with limited commercial on the City’s east side.

Industrial land uses are concentrated in the southern portion of the City, currently. As Lake Jackson

continues to grow and develop, preservation of key commercial and industrial land will be paramount in

attracting business to the area.

Much of the zoning of undeveloped areas in Lake Jackson continues to be for single‐family residential

homes, allowing development of single‐family subdivisions by‐right, including along key corridors such

as SH 288 and at key existing and future intersections. In absence of a rural or agricultural district that

may be used as a holding zone, Lake Jackson should City‐initiate zoning for commercial land use to

preserve future development opportunities.

Past annexations along SH 288 have been key in protecting future development activities and controlling

gateway aesthetics. As Lake Jackson continues to grow in population, a focus should also be placed on

geographic growth through annexation of contiguous properties for both gateway protection and future

population growth accommodation.


Alden, a planned 1,000‐acre mixed‐use project along Oyster Creek that includes Traditional

Neighborhood Design is one of the largest single development in Lake Jackson’s history. The project

includes 125 acres of public parkland and significant additions to Lake Jackson’s housing stock. Alden is

adjacent to the airport and includes significant low‐lying areas, but has been master‐planned in a

manner to enhance these natural and acquired assets.

Flood Map When choosing where to build new developments and locate new businesses in Lake Jackson, it is

important to consider potential flood risks. By avoiding development in these areas, or finding smart

ways to develop them, the City will avoid future problems and expenses that may arise due to natural

phenomena beyond their control.

The Creekside Development is circled by Oyster Creek, next to Brazosport College, while the Alden

Development is located in the loop of Oyster Creek near the Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport.

According to the most recent Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate

Map created in 1986, both areas are considered areas of Zone X outside of the 500‐year flood plain.

However, potential flooding could occur right along Oyster Creek, in Zone AE, for both developments.

Lake Jackson has adopted new floodplain development criteria. FEMA has given a verbal approval of the

floodplain updates and the City is waiting on written approval from FEMA.

Source: Flood Insurance Rate Map, FEMA, 1986

Figure 36: Lake Jackson Flood Map for Creekside (Left) and Alden (Right) Developments


Transportation Lake Jackson and the Lake Jackson Trade Area are ideally situated within several transportation hubs,

including the Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport, major roadways such as SH 288, SH 332, and FM 2004,

and the Port of Freeport with access to the Union Pacific’s rail service. These ports of connectivity place

Lake Jackson in a key location for the transport of valuable goods and make it easier for businesses to

bring people into the area.

Airports

Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport

The Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport is a Certificated Class IV Reliever Airport located one‐mile north of

Lake Jackson’s city limits, 40 miles south of Houston, 12 miles north of Port Freeport and less than a mile

west of State Highway 288. The airport is in the extra territorial jurisdiction of Lake Jackson as seen in

Figure 13, Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport map. It is owned and operated by Brazoria County.

Figure 37: Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport

Source: Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport


The Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport is a full service Fixed‐base Operator (FBO) providing aeronautical

services such as fueling, hangaring, parking, courtesy cars, ground and passenger handling, piston and

turbine maintenance, flight instruction, aircraft rental, and rental car services.

The 7000x100 foot runway is frequently used by corporate companies located in or near Lake Jackson

including the petrochemical refineries, chemical manufacturing, plastics and agro science industries,

Ports of Freeport and Houston and the medical center of Houston. Additionally, the newly renovated

Airport lobby and offices offer comfort, relaxation and privacy for pilots and passengers. The 12

employees of the Airport provide travelers information about local attractions and accommodations and

readily accommodate meetings in their state of the art conference room.

The Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport is poised to grow with the rapidly growing south Houston area

and surrounding communities. Acreage around the Airport is best suited for aviation and non‐aviation

related businesses and for residential neighborhoods, such as being planned with Alden Development.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport

The George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is located approximately 73 miles north in Houston and

is the 11th busiest airport in the US for total passenger traffic. IAH offers services to nearly 200 different

destinations all over the world. All major airlines fly into and out of IAH.

William P. Hobby Airport

The William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) is closer to Lake Jackson at 51 miles away and opened an

international terminal complex in 2015 serving Mexico, and Central and South America. The prior year,

over 11 million passengers flew to Hobby Airport using its passenger service airlines, the largest being

Southwest Airlines. Passengers can fly to cities all across the US in addition to the international locations

mentioned.

Port Freeport The Port Freeport is minutes away from Lake Jackson. The Port’s trade with the world totaled over $6

billion through the first 11 months of 2015 according to WorldCity Magazine. This same year, the Port

ranked 27th among US ports in international cargo tonnage handled. The top five Port of Freeport

imports are oil, ammonia, bananas, petroleum gases, and iron or steel structures and parts. Topping the

list of exports are motor vehicles, oil, gasoline, epoxides and polyethers.

With the planned deepening of the channel by 2017, the Port hopes to capitalize on the increased

transporting of goods coming and going through the Texas Gulf Coast. With easy access to the Port via

State Highways 36 and 288, Union Pacific Railroad and direct access to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway,

the Port can be attractive to businesses interested in importing and exporting goods. Additionally, the

Port is an Alternative Site Management Framework Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) for Brazoria and Fort Bend

Counties. This allows them the authority to approve Usage Driven FTZ in both counties including Lake

Jackson.


Rail Service The Union Pacific Railroad operates commercial rail lines in Southern Texas that are capable of shipping

a variety of cargo, from chemicals to finished consumer goods. This railroad has a terminal at the Port of

Freeport Public Docks that handles general cargo and containers which can be directly transferred from

ships to the rail cars. This line cuts through Lake Jackson near Brazosport College before heading north

toward Angleton and Houston. Another set of tracks coming from the West passes near Lake Jackson on

the west side of the Gulf Coast Regional Airport. Although there are currently no rail stops in Lake

Jackson, both area lines run nearby the Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport where the opportunity for a

transfer exists. In 2014, Union Pacific had over 6,000 miles of tracks throughout Texas and the company

operates in 23 states in the Middle and Western United States. Additionally, Union Pacific has

relationships with other railroads and transportation companies to ensure that products can be virtually

sent anywhere. This presents the opportunity for Lake Jackson and its businesses to become more

connected and competitive.

Bus Services The Gulf Coast Center (GCC) has offered bus service to

the Lake Jackson community through Connect Transit

for nearly six years. Demand curbside services are

offered between 7 am and 5 pm weekdays and cost

$1 per person per trip for the general public; although

trips to the Harris County Veteran’s hospital cost

$3.50. Reservations can be made up to five business

days prior to the trip. This bus service can be used for

any transportation need within Brazoria and

Galveston Counties, except on certain holidays and in

severe weather.

Known as the Southern Brazoria County Transit,

Connect Transit’s fixed daily routes service Lake

Jackson, Angleton, Freeport, and Clute. Passengers

can travel set routes within the City, as well as

connect to one of the other serviced cities with

transfer locations at Angleton City Hall, Brazosport

College, and Baywood Foods in Freeport. In 2014, Connect Transit began ADA Paratransit Service which

picks up disabled individuals within three‐fourths of a mile of the fixed route system. Bus shelters,

benches, and information kiosks are available at these transfer centers and locations with high

passenger traffic. One way fares are $1 for the general public and $0.50 for seniors over 65, students,

those with disabilities or a Medicaid card; children under five are free. The buses run weekdays 6 am to

6 pm and 9 am to 7 pm on Saturdays in Lake Jackson, stopping at each stop every hour. These buses can

be used as a reliable work commute option or be used to reach entertainment centers, such as the Mall.

If stores stay open later in Lake Jackson with the revitalization of the Downtown and there is a sufficient

increase in demand for the buses, Connect Transit would be willing to expand their services.

Figure 38: Gulf Coast Center Map


Major Roads Brazoria County, Lake Jackson and the Lake Jackson Trade Area consists of five major area highways.

Travel on these thoroughfares has increased exponentially as a result of the current economic

investment and expansion occurring in Southern Brazoria County. These existing thoroughfares are

unable to handle the increased traffic thus resulting in light congestion.

State Highway 288 (SH 288) corridor is critical for everyday travel and emergency evacuation in the

southern Harris‐Brazoria County region. Also known as the Nolan Ryan Expressway, SH 288 serves many

communities along this north‐south route from Houston to the Gulf Coast City of Freeport. It provides

important access to numerous residential subdivisions, businesses, and major employment centers

including numerous large industrial and petrochemical and chemical facilities. At present, a feasibility

study evaluated SH 288 and necessary upgrades necessary to handle this increased traffic flow via

converting SH 288 into a freeway facility along its entire length, which will require the elimination of at‐

grade intersections and construction of grade separation (overpasses/underpasses) from FM 518

(Pearland) and Main Street in Clute. The highest reported daily traffic counts along this road in Lake

Jackson are over 48,000, which increased by over 8,000 vehicles from the previous year. Congestion in

Lake Jackson‐Angleton leads to nine annual hours of delay per auto commuter, according to the 2015

Urban Mobility Scorecard. Additionally, the section of SH 288 in the Lake Jackson and Freeport area

have the highest risk of serious crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

State Highway 332 (SH 332) is another heavily traveled thoroughfare in Southern Brazoria County which

handles both commuter and cargo traffic. SH 332 begins at SH 36 in Brazoria and heads east into Lake

Jackson. A portion of SH 332 runs concurrent with SH 288 through Lake Jackson before separating

outside Clute and finally ending in Surfside Beach. Traffic counts on SH 332 directly after it crosses FM

2004 are about 14,000 cars per day. On the other end, after it splits with SH 288 below the City, traffic

counts per day are over 20,000. The Texas Department of Transportation is currently planning for a

major expansion of SH 332 from SH 288 west to FM 521. This will add travel lanes in each direction for

the length of the designated distance.

Farm to Market 2004 (FM 2004) begins near the Village of Jones Creek and the Texas Department of

Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Clemons Unit. The route travels northeast, crossing the Brazos River and enters

Lake Jackson, where it intersects SH 332 and then the SH 288 expressway north of the Brazos Mall. FM

2004 travels through Richwood and then traverses into Galveston County ending in Texas City. FM 2004

has experienced a significant increase in traffic traveling to and from work in the Lake Jackson Trade

Area. FM 2004 had traffic counts of less than 6,000 where it enters the City from the south, but over

11,000 cars enter Lake Jackson daily on FM 2004 from the north.

State Highway 36 (SH 36) begins in Freeport and ends in Goldthwaite, TX and serves as a major road

transporting cargo and commuter traffic. In Brazoria County, SH 36 starts in Freeport, passing through

Brazoria, West Columbia, and Damon before entering Ft. Bend County.

State Highway 35 (SH 35) begins in southeast Houston and ends in Corpus Christi and traverses through

Angleton in Southern Brazoria County. SH 35 also serves a major road transporting both cargo and

commuter traffic.

Farm to Market 521 (FM 521) – Begins in Bay City and heads north through Brazoria, Bonney, Rosharon

and ends just southwest of Manvel.


Farm to Market (FM 1462) begins at SH 35 just south of Alvin traveling westward through Rosharon to

SH 36 just north of Damon. FM 2004 traffic has also increased significantly as the greater Houston

population continues to move south of Houston.

Figure 39: Map of Major Transportation Hubs near Lake Jackson

Note: Blue lines indicate Union Pacific Rail Lines

Source: Google Maps, 2016


Industrial Development Due to its proximity, Lake Jackson is considered part of the Greater Houston area. However, the

industrial breakdown of each do not mirror one another. Houston has a prominent oil and gas industry

while Lake Jackson has a prominent chemical manufacturing industry. The recent collapse in oil prices

has brought Houston’s robust job growth to an abrupt halt, while at the same time Lake Jackson has

been experiencing positive economic and job growth. This oil collapse not only affected oil and oil

related companies, but has also seen a negative effect on supporting industries such as finance and

insurance, engineering, manufacturing, wholesale trade, transportation, warehousing, and professional

and technical services. Since Lake Jackson’s industrial development is based primarily on the chemical

manufacturing, the City has not seen the effects of declining oil prices. However, lowering oil prices have

been a mixed bag for chemical manufacturing companies. The industry in general sells at lower prices in

an environment where oil prices are low. The recent decline in global oil prices is causing some

petrochemical supply chain destocking, but is also sowing the seeds for better economic conditions,

lower petrochemical prices and improving global demand.

Of concern is the Environmental Protections Agency’s (EPA) proposed Toxic Substances Control Act

(TSCA) will challenge future growth by increasing manufacturing costs by developing new ozone

regulations, putting growth at risk. The EPA estimates the cost impact will range from $4 billion up to

$15 billion if emission standards are lowered. Its passage would cause a negative ripple effect

throughout all industry.

Petrochemical and Chemical Complex and Related Industries Since being founded to provide housing for chemical workers over 70 years ago, Lake Jackson has

blossomed to provide much more than just housing. The major employer in the area is Dow Chemical,

and Freeport LNG, Phillips 66, and BASF also add a large number of jobs as well. Lake Jackson provides

the white collar, complementary support for these chemical manufacturing and petrochemical

industries. Suggested opportunities will be addressed in the Recommendations section under

“Recommendation of New Industry and Services.”

In 2011, Lake Jackson, Clute, and Freeport all signed a 15 year Industrial District Agreement that allows

for annual payments to be paid to the cities by these major industrial players in the Brazosport area so

that their industrial facilities are not annexed into the cities. These payments have built‐in annual

increases and allow for more effective planning and budgeting by the City and businesses. In the 2015 to

2016 fiscal year, Lake Jackson will receive $4.28 million from this agreement. To obtain this amount of

revenue without the Industrial District Agreement, Lake Jackson would have to increase property taxes

to over $0.60 per $100, which would strain local homeowners and businesses and hurt the local

economy.


These companies have made and continue to make significant capital investments in Southern Brazoria

County and the Lake Jackson Trade Area through a variety of different projects currently underway or

projected through 2020, as seen in the subsequent two tables. Through these expansions, companies

including Dow Chemical, Freeport LNG, and Philips 66 have helped spur the creation of over 6,000 total

direct and indirect new jobs from completed projects since 2013 alone and are projected to add over

2,000 new direct and indirect jobs with their future prospects and newly announced projects combined.

Additionally, these expansions have brought in around 10,000 construction workers and contractors

who have contributed to the local economy. As these companies move forward, they will be adding at

least $10.2 billion in additional capital investment in the area, on top of the $25.665 billion they invested

in the completed projects since 2013. Such investment in the local area will make the Lake Jackson and

its Trade Area more enticing to potential new residents and businesses.

Source: The Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County, 2016

Announced* and Serious Prospects in Brazoria County

Company & Location

Project Description

Projected Construction Finish &

Start Dates

Est. New Capital

Investment

Total Direct & Indirect New Jobs

BASF Corporation Freeport

Methane‐to‐Propylene Plant 2016 – 2019 $1 Billion 311

C3 Petrochemicals Alvin

Propane Dehydrogenation Plant 2017 – 2019 $2.8 Billion 471

*Dow Chemical / MEGlobal Oyster Creek

Ethylene Glycol Plant 2017 – 2019 $1 Billion 172

Fair Energy Richwood

Waste to Biodiesel Unknown $25 Million 117

*Freeport LNG Quintana/Oyster Creek

Natural Gas Liquefaction ‐Train 4

2016 – 2020 $3 Billion 282

HCS Group Manvel

Purchase & expand Existing Chemical Plan, Add 60‐Acre Business Park

2015 ‐ 2016 $20 Million 25

INEOS‐Alvin Linear Alpha Olefins Plant 2016 – 2018 $550 Million 376

Phillips 66 Sweeny

Fractionation of Natural Gas Liquids‐Frac 2

2016 – 2017 $1.1 Billion 141

Project Augusta Fiberglass Storage Tanks Unknown $2 Million Unknown

Project Carl‐Alvin Ethylene Oxide Plant Unknown $700 Million 283

TOTALS $10.2 Billion 2178

Table 16: Announced & Serious Prospects in Brazoria County


Source: The Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County, 2016

Completed Projects from 2013 to 2016

Company & Location Project Description Est. New Capital

Investment

Total Direct & Indirect New Jobs

Air Liquide‐Oyster Creek Liquid Oxygen Storage Tank & Vaporization Facility

$10 Million 0

Airgas ‐ Alvin CO2 Processing Facility $9.9 Million 79

Apache Oil Co.‐Sweeny Distribution Facility $3 Million 16

BASF / Yara‐Freeport Ammonia Production Facility & Storage Tank $1.09 Billion 62

BASF Corporation‐Freeport Emulsion Polymers Manufacturing Plant $90 Million 59

Chevron Phillips Chemical Sweeny

Polyethylene Units & Rail Storage Facility $2.5 Billion 448

Chevron Phillips Chemical Sweeny

Ethylene Furnace Unknown Unknown

Dow AgroSciences‐Freeport Dichlorophenol Plant $150 Million 36

Dow Chemical Co. Oyster Creek

Propane Dehydrogenation Plant $1 Billion 377

Dow Chemical Co. Lake Jackson

Administration Building, R&D Labs & Offices Unknown 75

Dow Chemical Co. Oyster Creek

Ethylene Cracker $1.7 Billion 471

Dow Chemical Co.‐Freeport Polyolefins & Elastomers Plant $846 Million 235

Freeport LNG Quintana/Oyster Creek

Natural Gas Liquefaction – Train 1 $4.7 Billion 414





Freeport Welding & Fabricating‐Freeport

New Building to Sandblast & Paint Pressure Vessels & New Machine Shop

$3 Million 11

Hoegh Autoliners Port Freeport

Ocean Transport of Roll‐on/Roll‐off Cargo Unknown 125

Nalco‐Freeport Nalmet Metal Scavenger Expansion $9 Million 24

Performance Contractors Iowa Colony

Pipe Fabrication Facility $7 Million 167

Phillips 66 Sweeny & Freeport

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Export Terminal

$2.06 Billion 126

Phillips 66‐Sweeny Pipeline Maintenance Office & Warehouse $2 Million 16

Phillips 66‐Sweeny Fractionation of Natural Gas Liquids‐Frac 1 $600 Million 122

Praxair‐Freeport Hydrogen Plant $277 Million 42

Tenaris‐Bay City Steel Pipe Manufacturing $1.3 Billion 2,800

Trinity Turbine Iowa Colony

New Industrial Gas Turbine Repair Facility $8.09 Million 21

TOTALS $25.665 Billion 6,078

Table 17: Industrial Investment in Brazoria County


Current and Future Industry Insights

Gary Rodgers, President of the Lake Jackson Development Corporation (LJDC), set up a conference call

interview on April 8, 2016 with Terry McAlister, President and CEO of the Associated Builders and

Contractors (ABC) Texas Gulf Coast Chapter, and Former Lake Jackson Mayor Bob Sipple, currently a

member of the Chamber of Commerce and President of JB Industrial Sales, to assist in the identification

of both existing and future support service sectors that will complement existing and future industry

growth in the Lake Jackson Trade Area as a result of the $34 billion industrial industry expansion.

During this interview, the consensus among these business leaders focused around the fact that the

dynamics are currently being driven by leadership that does not necessarily work in Southern Brazoria

County when it comes to locating or relocating new support service sectors in the area. Based on recent

activity, the large contractors have secured maintenance contracts with the large plants in Southern

Brazoria County, but these contractors are utilizing external suppliers and not necessarily local suppliers.

The hope is that the major contractors will be outsourcing and sub‐contracting to the third and fourth

tier suppliers. These lower level tier suppliers will have a presence in the Lake Jackson Trade Area,

however, it will not be as significant as the area might prefer.

With respect to which suppliers may continue to see growth, there is a high likelihood that the electrical

distribution industry will continue to expand over the next 36 to 48 months. Larger suppliers will also be

coming into the Lake Jackson Trade Area. As a result, competition will take over and smaller suppliers

will be impacted in the form of consolidations, mergers, absorptions and even some suppliers leaving

altogether.

Although the focus of the Trade Area’s industrial companies is currently capital‐intensive and focused on

construction versus maintenance, there will come a time when operations will return to normal

maintenance turnarounds. However, it is estimated that the growth in this market will be solid for the

next ten years.

To ensure there is a skilled and trained workforce to accommodate existing contractors and new

contractors coming into Southern Brazoria County, the ABC Texas Gulf Coast Chapter works closely with

Brazosport College to implement jump start programs, which assist contractors immensely in the Lake

Jackson Trade Area. ABC, in conjunction with the college, provide all the craft trainings for skilled trades

including millwrights, welders, electricians, and pipefitters.

It is predicted that over the next five to ten years, the Lake Jackson Trade Area will see an increase in

major contractors and suppliers that will be predominantly in the safety and regulatory sectors. The ABC

Texas Gulf Coast Chapter, currently serves between 300 to 400 separate contractors monthly. This

further validates the level of activity occurring in Southern Brazoria County’s petrochemical growth and

expansion phase.

It is also highly likely that the futuristic needs for contractors or companies over the next five to ten

years will be for more specialty contractors, such as niche‐type companies or contractors, and

leveraging new technologies and capabilities. The ability of these specialty companies to leverage their

technologies will play a major role in the local area’s supply chain.


Texas Dow Innovation Center In 2014, Dow Chemical began its construction on its new global research and development (R&D) facility

hub in Lake Jackson that will be comprised of five buildings when completed. The first building of the

project was a 230,000 square foot administration office building, located across SH 332 from the Lake

Jackson Civic Center, which was completed and populated in 2015. The second building completed was

a visitor center and employee services building called the Diamond Center. This center houses

conference and planning space, in addition to lounge areas, a dining hall, wellness center, and a fitness

center. The R&D 1 building will be completed in the third quarter of 2016, along with a central plant

warehouse. The following quarter will see the completion of the last part of the project: the R&D 2

building. These R&D centers will replace several of the same such buildings currently located in

Freeport.

The Texas Innovation Center contains state‐of‐the‐art tools, laboratory facilities, and collaboration space

to encourage Dow’s creation of products to support a multitude of industries. Additionally, the center

operates as a technical expertise center to encourage continued innovation within the company, as well

as support the commercialization of solutions across different markets such as the high‐growth food

packaging, automotive and personal care markets. About 2,000 employees are expected to be employed

in the Center when completed.

These world‐class facilities will enhance the

administrative research and development facilities within

the local area, as well as encourage other businesses to

consider locating in Lake Jackson. Visitors from across the

globe who are drawn to this site will require both long

and short term housing options in Lake Jackson, which

the City is working to provide. Since the Center is located

off SH 288 near downtown Lake Jackson, Lake Jackson has

the opportunity to service the influx of employees they

expect to see coming to the City’s downtown during mid‐

day and after work hours.

Light Manufacturing and Logistics Light manufacturing typically involves the conversion of partially processed materials into items of fairly

high value per unit weight. Examples of light manufacturing uses are in textiles, wood products,

publishing print books, electronics, home accessories, and cosmetics. These products correspond well to

the currently strong retail sales areas and industries where untapped potential has been cited in Lake

Jackson and its Trade Area. Typically these operations operate in batches or discrete production runs,

compared to the continuous processing of heavy manufacturing. This type of manufacturing may be

considered “green,” as it uses limited amounts of resources and power in its production processes

leading to lower pollution contributions and requires minimal land for its production. This allows light

manufacturing facilities to be permitted near residential areas, as in the case of the Alden Development

near the airport.

Figure 40: Planning Space in Diamond Center


Currently Lake Jackson has little to no light manufacturing operations within the City limits, allowing for

opportunities for expansion in both this and the logistics sector. In particular light manufacturing would

be well‐placed in the available land near the Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport, which is also in close

proximity to the Union Pacific Rail Line. Having the Union Pacific line install a rail spur here to support

these industries would connect all the local transportation hubs currently serving Lake Jackson by air,

sea, sky, rail and road. This would be a huge asset to Lake Jackson by providing the connectivity that is

vital for economic success. Since this area is located northwest of the City, road traffic will be able to

skirt around the City, avoiding the pitfalls of expanding the logistics industry within a city. Future road

development plans can also alleviate any problems that may arise from the growth of light

manufacturing in Lake Jackson.

Lake Jackson has the opportunity to setup an intra‐modal container storage facility to support port

traffic from both Freeport and Houston and to support any light manufacturing which occurs at the Gulf

Coast Regional Airport. Any Lake Jackson business which manufactures a product and imports a product

may consider the advantages of applying for a Usage Driven Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) through the Port

of Freeport.

Economic and Job Trends The Lake Jackson economy has remained strong over the past decade with a manageable rise and fall of

the labor force and unemployment before and after the recession of 2008. Unemployment rates in Lake

Jackson have been historically lower than the County and State unemployment rates. The effects of the

recession hit hardest in 2010; however, the region has quickly recovered due to the strong

petrochemical, chemical and natural gas economic engines in the area. Currently, private industry leads

in the highest number of employees in the County and City. Labor force numbers are steadily increasing

with a prediction they will continue to rise with the rise in number of new homes and the expansion of

existing businesses. Along with downtown development and working to expand retail sectors within the

City, Lake Jackson has proven itself to be an economic magnet within its Trade Area and the Brazosport

Area.

Sources of Economic Support and Information The Lake Jackson Economic Development Corporation’s (LJDC) mission is to “use proactive strategies

and all available resources to promote economic growth and market Lake Jackson as the premier city to

live, work and play.” Three major sources of economic information that the City can partner with to

accomplish its mission include the Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County, the Brazosport

Area Chamber of Commerce and Brazosport College, specifically its Small Business Development Center

(BC SBDC). Existing and interested businesses can refer to these sources for industry and economic data

or use them as a means to promote their businesses. In the same way, Lake Jackson can utilize these

resources as they continue to develop.

Economic Development Alliance for Brazoria County

A public/private non‐profit corporation whose mission is "to promote and diversify the economic base,

attract high‐wage jobs in target industries to Brazoria County, and support and champion the interests

of existing businesses." They serve as data clearinghouse for Brazoria County demographic and industry

data, in addition to marketing the region in a way that benefits Lake Jackson and its Trade Area.


Brazosport Area Chamber of Commerce

Formed in 1945, this organization has many years of experience promoting the Brazosport Area. Their

goals include supporting sustainable economic growth and creating a positive business environment, as

well as improving quality of life in the Brazosport Area. To accomplish its goals, outlined in a strategic

plan, this group acts through different task forces and committees such as those related to

transportation, shopping local, and promote local attractions. They also maintain a business directory

for the area of area business members including those in Lake Jackson.

The Gulf Coast Workforce Board

Brazoria County is part of the 13‐county Gulf Coast Workforce Board with 25 offices in the Board area;

one of which is in Lake Jackson. The largest county in the Board area is Harris County, with an estimated

population of over 4 million people. Being mixed with a large population such as this, Board area

statistics and demographics are often skewed for the smaller areas such as with Lake Jackson. However,

it is important to recognize the data to know what is supported and projected for the Board area. This

organization is also an important resource as a member of the Greater Houston Partnership, which

works to market high‐demand careers in fields such as the petrochemical and other important local

industries. These efforts on the Boards behalf for this Partnership can also be applied and used in Lake

Jackson.

Brazosport College Small Business Development Center

This center has serviced southern Brazoria County since 1998 by providing a myriad of resources for

area business and entrepreneurs. They offer free business consulting services, inexpensive training

seminars, and access to a business library to help people interested in starting a business, managing it

better, or growing their business. By utilizing these resources local businesses can be more successful

and the economy more stable in the Lake Jackson area.

Brazoria County Economic Indicators The Leading Economic Index, Current Economic Index and Lagging Economic Index are all used to assess

the positive or negative economic growth in a region. Using the Brazosport College Economic

Forecasting Center quarterly publication of Brazoria County Economic Indicators from January 2016,

these indices have shown that Brazoria County has been and will likely continue to enjoy a period of

economic growth.

Leading Economic Index

The Leading Economic Index is comprised of three leading economic indicators: the Brazoria County

Stock Index, New Single Family Building Permits, and the Houston‐The Woodlands‐Sugarland Average

Weekly Manufacturing Hours. The leading economic indicator that increased the most from November

2014 to 2015 was the New Single Family Building Permits (seasonally adjusted), with an increase of

18.81%. The Brazoria County Stock Index, which is comprised of the eight largest publicly traded

manufacturers in the county, increased 1.77% over the last year. To put this in perspective, the Dow

Jones Industrial Average increased only 0.27% over the same period. The Houston‐The Woodlands‐

Sugarland Average Weekly Manufacturing Hours (unadjusted) indicator decreased to 43.30 hours per

week in November 2015 from 45.70 hours per week November 2014, a decrease of 5.25%. As a whole,

the Leading Economic Index increased 3.42% to 125.93 in November 2015, compared to 121.77 in

November 2014.


This index is used to forecast an area’s economic performance over the subsequent six months; when

the index is consistently above a six month moving average then the county is probably entering into or

is currently experiencing a period of positive economic growth. Brazoria County’s Leading Index has only

been above the six month moving average for seven of the past eleven months, but the other indexes

support that the County is experiencing positive economic growth so this can still be considered a

confident sign for Brazoria’s future economy.

Current Economic Index

The Current Economic Index provides insight into Brazoria County’s current economic wellbeing and is

based on Sales Tax Receipts, Household Employment, West South Central Consumer Confidence, and

Hotel/Motel Tax Receipts. Sales Tax Receipts (unadjusted) rose 11.36% from November 2014 to

November 2015 to a total of $2,236,932. Meanwhile, after record high numbers in 2014, by November

2015 Household Employment (unadjusted) decreased by 1.76% and Hotel/Motel Tax Receipts

(unadjusted) decreased by 3.44%. The West South Central Consumer Confidence also decreased

throughout the year by 2.90% to 121.55 in November 2015. Altogether, the Current Economic Index

increased by 10.46% between November 2014 and November 2015 to 205.74. This index has been

above the six month moving average during this time period, meaning that the County is probably

currently experiencing a period of positive economic growth.

Lagging Economic Index

The Lagging Economic Index considers Brazoria County Foreclosure Notices, Prime Rate Charged by

Banks, and the Unemployment Rate. Brazoria County Foreclosure Notices (unadjusted) remained at an

all‐time low of 74 notices in both November 2014 and 2015. The Prime Rate Charged by Banks increased

by 3.69% over that same time period to 3.37. The Unemployment Rate in Brazoria County increased by

6.44%, from the historically low 4.50% in November 2014 to 4.79% in November 2015. Overall, the

Lagging Economic Index increased by 4.14%, a growth from 127.16 in November 2014 to 132.43 in

November 2015. The Lagging Economic Index has been consistently above a six month moving average

in the past year, from November 2014 to 2015, confirming the results from the other economic

indicators that Brazoria County has indeed been experiencing a period of positive economic growth.

Employment and Labor Force Like most other US cities, Lake Jackson saw the effects of the 2007 to 2008 economic crisis which had

lingering negative effects until 2010, as seen in the chart below. Since 2010, Lake Jackson has seen a

steady decrease in the unemployment rate from just over 8% in 2010 down to 4% in 2015, signaling to

investors that the local economy is doing well and returning to normal. Overall, the unemployment rate

in Lake Jackson since 2010 has followed the trends set by the state and the county, while remaining less

than or equal to the rates of these larger counterparts.


Figure 41: Historical Unemployment Rates of Lake Jackson, Brazoria County, and Texas

Source: Texas Labor Market Review, Brazoria County Economic Alliance, 2015

Lake Jackson is known to be home to workers who work in an office or a professional setting generally

not involving manual labor. Blue collar jobs are ones where uniforms might be required and there is

some form of manual labor. Executives and professional workers within the Southern Brazosport Area

often choose Lake Jackson as their place of residence. According to the US Census Bureau, white collar

jobs dominate Lake Jackson at almost 80%.

Table 18: Lake Jackson 2012 Employment Statistics

2012 Employment by Job Type for Civilian Population (Age 16+)

Lake Jackson, TX 77566

Texas United States

White Collar 79.52% 73.54% 75.24%

Blue Collar 20.48% 26.46% 24.76%

Source: US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012

The labor force for Lake Jackson has averaged about 14,000 people for the past 10 years. There have

been minor fluctuations in the total amount, but it has not changed more than 3.5%. Based on previous

years’ growth rates, it is estimated that by 2019 Lake Jackson will have a labor force of 15,000 people.

0%

1%

2%

3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

8%

9%

10%

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Average Unem

ploym

ent

Civilian Labor Force Unemployment Rates, Seasonally Unadjusted

Lake Jackson

Brazoria County

Texas


Figure 42: Historical and Estimated Labor Force for Lake Jackson

Source: Texas Workforce Commission and Allteryx, 2014

Labor force is measured by where your place of residence is, regardless if you live and work in the same

city. So if someone lives in Angleton, but works in Lake Jackson they are counted in the Angleton labor

market and not the Lake Jackson labor market. As can be seen in the chart below, only 22.3% of people

who are employed in Lake Jackson also live in Lake Jackson. Adding more jobs inside the City does not

necessarily add to the labor force; increasing the working population who reside in the City adds to the

labor market. Since the population of Lake Jackson has remained constant, the City has not been able to

increase the measured labor market due to the aforementioned reasons. The flow of the labor force

through Lake Jackson is seen in the following figure which shows that about 5,000 people come from

outside Lake Jackson to work in the city while about 10,000 people leave the City to go to work each

day. Table 19: 2013 Employee Inflow and Outflow from Lake Jackson

Lake Jackson Labor Market Count Share

Employed in Lake Jackson 7,027

Living in Lake Jackson 11,750

Net Job Inflow (+) or Outflow (‐) ‐4,723

In‐Area Labor Force Efficiency (All Jobs)

Living in Lake Jackson 11,750 100.0%

Living and Employed in Lake Jackson 1,569 13.4%

Living in Lake Jackson but Employed Outside 10,181 86.6%

In‐Area Employment Efficiency (All Jobs)

Employed in Lake Jackson 7,027 100.0%

Employed and Living in Lake Jackson 1,569 22.3%

Employed in Lake Jackson but Living Outside 5,458 77.7%Source: US Census Bureau, OnTheMap, 2013

12,500

13,000

13,500

14,000

14,500

15,000

15,500

Lake Jackson Labor Force


Figure 43: 2013 Employee Inflow and Outflow from Lake Jackson

Source: US Census Bureau, OnTheMap, 2013


Leading Employers Typically, the largest employers in a county are the state or local government, independent school

districts (ISD), or health care providers; not so for Brazoria county. Three companies, Dow Chemical

Company, Fluor Corporation, and the Zachry Group are private companies which top the list of largest

employers before school districts and government. Another large and expanding employer in Brazoria

County is Olin Chlor Alkali, who currently has about 1,200 employees, just about 100 employees away

from the tenth top employer in Brazoria County.

Figure 44: Top Employers in Brazoria County

Source: The Alliance – Economic Development for Brazoria County, 2014

Exact numbers of employees for the large employers is difficult to ascertain due to the uniqueness of

Lake Jackson employers. For example, Dow Chemical Innovation Center is nearing completion with

about 900 employees. When the other buildings are completed, it is estimated they will employ over

2,000 people by 2017. In addition, their Plant A and B facilities employs about 3,500 people and an

additional 3,900 contractors work for them in Lake Jackson, Clute and Freeport. These contractors

include BASF, Infinity Group, Zachry and Fluor. Plus, BASF has their own plant in Lake Jackson. Figure 45: Lake Jackson Top Employers

Source: City of Lake Jackson, TEEX Personal Phone Calls, Hoovers

4,200

3,161

2,821

2,781

2,524

2,409

1,673

1,624

1,569

1,335

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500

The Dow Chemical Company

Fluor Corporation

Zachry Group

Alvin I.S.D.

Pearland I.S.D.

Texas Department of Criminal Justice

The Infinity Group

Brazosport I.S.D.

Brock Group

Brazoria County

Top Employers in Brazoria County

2,000

915

650

537

287

264

209

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500

Dow Chemical

BASF

Brazosport Regional Health System

BISD

BC

TDECU

City of Lake Jackson

Number of Employees

Top Employers in Lake Jackson


A comparison of the job profile of Lake Jackson to that of the Lake Jackson Trade Area shows the two

entities are similar. The major difference between the two is Lake Jackson has a larger percentage of

jobs in the manufacturing and retail trade area. This fits in line perfectly since Lake Jackson is home to

many chemical manufacturers such as Dow and BASF. This corresponds well with the top employers in

Lake Jackson. Lake Jackson is also known for its downtown shopping which provides a larger percentage

of retail trade jobs to the City than the Trade Area.

Figure 46: Job Profile for Lake Jackson, 2014 and Lake Jackson Trade Area, 2010

Source: US Census Bureau, AGS

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Hunting, and Mining

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale Trade

Retail Trade

Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities

Information

Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate

Professional, Scientific, Management, and Administrative

Educational, Health Care, and Social Services

Entertainment, Recreation, Accommodation, and FoodServices

Other Services, Except Public Administration

Public Administration

Job Profile for Lake Jackson and Lake Jackson Trade Area

Lake Jackson Trade Area Lake Jackson


The number of establishments for different industry sectors in Lake Jackson is relatively similar to that of

Brazoria County, with the most notable differences being more Retail Trade locations and more Health

Care and Social Assistance Establishments. The County has few Agricultural, Mining, or Oil and Gas

Extraction Establishments which makes sense due to the fact that these operations tend to be large‐

scale and consolidated. In general the County possesses a larger percentage of the blue collar jobs,

while Lake Jackson tends to have a larger percentage of the white collar jobs.

Figure 47: Comparative number of establishments for Lake Jackson and Brazoria County, 2014

Source: Texas Workforce Commission, 2014

0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0%

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting

Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction

Utilities

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale Trade

Retail Trade

Transportation and Warehousing

Information

Finance and Insurance

Real Estate and Rental and Leasing

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Management

Administrative and Support


Health Care and Social Assistance

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation

Accommodation and Food Services

Other Services (except Public Administration)

Industries not classified

Number of Establishments in Lake Jackson and Brazoria County

Brazoria Lake Jackson


The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), the state agency that oversees the Workforce Boards, helps

fund training programs and supportive services for those that meet the workforce criteria and eligibility.

According to TWC, over $134 million in financial aid was spent assisting individuals in the Board area to

get a job, keep a job or get a better job. The Board identifies occupations in high demand and ones that

they forecast will grow and/or decline in a 10 year period. According to the latest projections by

Workforce Solutions in the Gulf Coast Region, over 700,000 jobs will be added by 2022 to the region.

This represents a 23.8% increase over the time period, which is higher than the national growth rate of

21.5%. Most significant to Lake Jackson are the projected increases in Health Care and Social Assistance,

Educational Services, and Accommodation and Food Services which are projected to add 100,000,

70,000, and 70,000 jobs respectively in the Gulf Coast Region as seen in the figure below. Lake Jackson

will be getting a good share of the Accommodation and Food Services type of jobs with the addition of

the three planned hotels building in the City and the redevelopment of the Brazos Mall. In particular, the

recently completed 80,000 square foot HEB center employs around 300 workers.

Figure 48: Gulf Coast Region 2012‐2022 Job Projections

Source: Workforce Solutions Gulf Coast Region, 2012

1,400

34,580

53,900

23,320

3,990

17,150

10,670

49,280

7,570

61,470

70,260

100,690

6,690

70,150

23,890

‐ 20,000 40,000 60,000 80,000 100,000 120,000

Utilities

Wholesale Trade

Retail Trade

Transportation & Warehousing

Information

Finance & Insurance

Real Estate & Rental & Leasing

Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services

Management of Companies & Enterprises

Administrative & Support & Waste Management Services


Healthcare & Social Assistance

Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation

Accomodation & Food Services

Other Services, Excluding Government

Service Producing Sector Projected New Jobs in the Gulf Coast 2012‐2022


The Gulf Coast Workforce Board authorizes training dollars and support services for those seeking

occupations in high‐skilled, high‐growth targeted areas. In 2015, the following occupational types were

identified (examples are not all inclusive):

Educational Services – teachers and counselors

Specialty Construction – welders, cutters, electricians, plumbers, heating and air conditioner

installers, cost estimators, mobile heavy equipment mechanics

Oil and Natural Gas Extraction and Manufacturing – engineers (environmental, petroleum,

safety), industrial machinery mechanics, machinists, refinery operators, geoscientists, chemical

plant and system operators, geological and petroleum technicians, instrument and electrical

technicians

Health Services – registered nurses, licensed practical and vocational nurses, doctors and

dentists, medical records and health information technicians, therapists

Professional and Technical Services – computer systems analysts, software developers, network

and computer systems administrators

Other – accountants and auditors, paralegals and legal assistants

Many of the above type jobs are needed in the Lake Jackson area with the growing population, and

labor force and business expansions. In addition, the Brazosport ISD and Brazosport College offer

educational certificates and degrees in those fields.

Cluster Analysis and Growing Industries Cluster analysis was used to determine the growth status of industry segments in Lake Jackson based on

the current competitive advantage available. The cluster analysis defines industries in relation to local

needs, as shown in the table below. The Location Quotient (LQ) represents the ratio of the percentage

of employment in an industry locally to the percentage of employment in the same industry in the larger

Texas economy. A Location Quotient greater or equal to one means that the industry is meeting the

local demands, whereas an industry with a Location Quotient less than one is not meeting Lake

Jackson’s needs. Lake Jackson would benefit economically should they work to expand declining and

emerging industries within their City.

Table 20: Cluster Analysis Definitions

Declining Local Shift in Employment Growing Local Shift in Employment

Transforming Industries ‐Industries that are declining locally but are still surpassing the needs of Lake Jackson

Growing Core Industries ‐Industries that are currently key to Lake Jackson’s growth and are still growing

High local concentration (LQ >1)

Declining Industries ‐Industries that are not growing in Lake Jackson and that do not meet the local needs

Emerging Industries ‐Industries that do not meet the local needs but are growing

Low local concentration (LQ <1)

Source: Planning Local Economic Development, Blakely, E.J. and Leigh, N.G., 2013


Based on these definitions, Lake Jackson has a majority of industries meeting its local needs. However,

there are several declining industries, such as agriculture and wholesale trade, which do not meet the

City’s needs. The wholesale trade sector includes both merchant wholesalers and the conglomeration of

business‐to‐business electronic markets, agents, and brokers engaged in providing services related to

the sale of merchandise and wholesaling merchandise. This merchandise can include the outputs of

agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and some information industries like publishing intended as either

goods for resale, capital or durable non‐consumer goods like industrial machinery or heavy‐duty trucks,

or the raw and intermediate materials used in production. Additionally, the Information Industry is listed

as being the only emerging industry, when ideally Lake Jackson would want to be the home to several

emerging industries to maintain its economic vitality. Overall, this analysis highlights industries Lake

Jackson may want to focus on supporting and encouraging in an effort to fulfill their needs and maintain

self‐sufficiency. The cluster analysis for Lake Jackson can be seen in the table below.

Table 21: Lake Jackson Cluster Analysis, Based on 2012‐2014 Employment Totals

Declining Local Shift in Employment Growing Local Shift in Employment

Transforming Industries

Transportation and warehousing, and utilities

Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing

Professional, scientific, and management services

Educational services, and health care and social assistance

Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services

Growing Core Industries

Construction

Manufacturing

Retail trade

Other services, except public administration

Public administration

High local concentration (LQ >1)

Declining Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining

Wholesale trade

Emerging Industries

Information

Low local concentration (LQ <1)

Source: US Census Bureau, American FactFinder, 2014


Shift analysis reflects the difference in growth or decline rates of an industry in Lake Jackson relative to

the rate for the same industry in Texas as a whole. The analysis here reflects the growth or decline rates

from 2012 to 2014, as shown in the figure below. For example, the decrease in the Wholesale Trade

sector does not mean that this industry decreased by 4.48%, but rather this differential shift comes from

a decrease in the Wholesale Trade of 3.6% in Lake Jackson minus a 0.9% increase in this sector in Texas

as a whole. This method is used to highlight specific industries where Lake Jackson has a competitive

advantage within the Texas economy and which industries are a cause for concern for the City.

Specifically, positive differential shift rates denote an industry with a competitive advantage in Lake

Jackson, the greatest advantages being in the Information, Retail Trade, and Public Administration.

These were also noted to be growing core and emerging industries in the cluster analysis. Of high

concern is the Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, Accommodation, and Food Services sectors which

declined in Lake Jackson, while this sector grew in Texas as a whole. Along with the Professional,

Scientific, Management, Administrative, and Waste Management Services sectors, these groups

represent large chunks of the Lake Jackson economy that have been struggling to grow, but are on the

upswing in Lake Jackson since 2014. Lake Jackson leaders are focusing on these industries with the

planned development of three new hotels, more restaurants, redevelopment of the Brazos Mall, and

development of the HEB Center. Additionally, the DOW Innovation Center that has recently opened is

helping to revitalize the professional, scientific, management, and administrative positions by creating

additional jobs in Lake Jackson.

Source: US Census Bureau, American FactFinder, 2014

Figure 49: Differential Shift for Lake Jackson, versus Texas

‐9.47%

4.12%

4.81%

‐4.48%

26.07%

‐6.61%

32.80%

‐1.94%

‐20.04%

‐9.88%

‐19.80%

1.62%

13.28%

‐30% ‐20% ‐10% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40%

Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, & mining

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale trade

Retail trade

Transportation, warehousing, & utilities

Information

Finance, insurance, real estate, rental, & leasing

Professional, scientific, mgmt., admin., & waste mgmt. services

Educational services, and health care and social assistance

Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, & food services

Other services, except public administration

Public administration

Differential Shift for Lake Jackson


Based on a comparison of the cluster analysis and Gulf Coast Workforce Solutions’ high growth areas,

shown in the following table, Lake Jackson is positioned to take advantage of the growing core,

transforming, and emerging economies.

Table 22: Lake Jackson Opportunities Based on Regional Growth Projections

Lake Jackson Opportunities Based on Top Fastest Growing Industries 2012‐2022

INDUSTRY NEW JOBS

% CHANGE

Lake Jackson Opportunity Category

Outpatient Care Centers 5,280 67.20% Transforming

Machinery & Equipment Rental & Leasing 3,680 55.10% Transforming

Warehousing & Storage 3,890 42.30% Transforming

Oil & Gas Extraction 21,230 39.40% Declining

Individual & Family Services 5,710 39.30% Transforming

Home Health Care Services 17,920 38.50% Transforming

Offices of Physicians 16,900 36.40% Transforming

Services to Buildings & Dwellings 16,140 36.30% Transforming

Utility System Construction 10,470 35.80% Growing Core

Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing 5,240 35.10% Growing Core

Employment Services 24,950 34.80% Transforming

Agriculture, Construction, & Mining Machinery Manufacturing

14,060 34.50% Growing Core

Office Administrative Services 6,870 34.00% Transforming

Freight Transportation Arrangement 3,230 33.50% Transforming

Computer Systems Design & Related Services 9,020 33.40% Emerging

Residential Building Construction 2,940 32.40% Growing Core

Restaurants & Other Eating Places 61,410 32.20% Growing Core

Wholesale Electronic Markets & Agents & Brokers 5,740 30.70% Transforming

Nursing Care Facilities, Skilled Nursing 5,070 30.40% Transforming

Offices of Other Health Practitioners 3,210 30.40% Transforming

Source: Workforce Solutions Gulf Coast Region, 2012, and Cluster Analysis


Downtown Development and Retail Sectors A retail leakage study or supply and demand analysis helps to indicate how well local residents retail

needs are being met, discovering where unmet demands and possible opportunities lie, and identifying

the strengths and weaknesses of the local retail sector. From the study it can be seen which store types

have a leakage and which store types have a surplus.

The following figure indicates the difference between the potential for sales and actual sales in different

retail categories in a certain area. A negative number indicates fewer sales than possible are being

made, referred to as a leakage. A positive number is the opposite, indicating more sales than the

potential are being made, or a surplus of sales. As can be seen from the chart below, in the majority of

categories, Lake Jackson runs a surplus of sales indicating they are attracting people from the

surrounding areas to come and shop in Lake Jackson versus the surrounding area. They also run a

surplus in many more categories than the entire Lake Jackson Trade Area, again signaling Lake Jackson’s

strength in retail sales. The City’s strongest retail areas are:

General Merchandise Stores

Sports/ Hobby/ Book/ Music Stores

Health and Personal Care Stores

Clothing/ Accessory Stores

Building/ Garden Equipment/ Supply Stores

Electronics & Appliances Stores

The areas with the most potential for Lake Jackson to add new stores and attract even more sales are

the categories in which both Lake Jackson and the Lake Jackson Trade Area run a retail leakage. A

leakage in both signals that people are not only going outside of Lake Jackson for certain items, but they

are also going outside the Trade Area to find these items. These untapped areas are:

Furniture & Home Furnishing Stores

Food & Beverage Stores: Includes grocery stores, specialty food, and beer/wine/liquor stores

Motor Vehicle & Auto Parts Dealers

In particular, grocery stores had the largest retail gap and no dedicated beer/wine/liquor stores were

found in Lake Jackson. By adding stores in all the above areas, Lake Jackson could capture the unmet

demand and further exert their retail dominance of the area. Already Lake Jackson has taken steps

forward with the opening of HEB in Lake Jackson and a nearly complete Kroger in nearby Clute to help

capture some of the demand in the food and beverage sector. Quality grocery stores such as these can

be an influencing factor for people choosing a place to live and will have a positive impact on the local

economy.

In 2015, the Centennial Real Estate Company, Atlantic Creek Real Estate Partners, LLC and The North

Shore Properties Group, LLC purchased the Brazos Mall located off of SH 288 and Oyster Creek Drive in

Lake Jackson. Unlike other enclosed malls in the US which struggle to remain open, the Brazos Mall had

92% of its 680,951 square foot space occupied at the time of sale and was assessed at $21.6 million in

2015. This mall contributes to Lake Jackson’s status as the area’s retail hub because it is the only

enclosed retail center in the Brazosport Area and features the only movie theatre of its kind within 40


miles. Additionally, its presence and success encourages the development of new restaurants and hotels

nearby that will strengthen Lake Jackson’s force as an economic magnet.

Source: Business Analyst Online, Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI), 2015

The majority of expenditures in 2014 were spent on housing and local transportation. Few expenditures

were spent on dining out and entertainment, which reflects back to the cluster analysis that described

this combination as a transforming industry. The category “Other” includes a variety of other

expenditures, including legal services, pet expenses, and special hobby expenditures. Areas with fewer

expenditures offer opportunities for growth in that sector.

Source: US Census Bureau, Census Business Builder, 2014

‐80 ‐60 ‐40 ‐20 0 20 40 60

Food Services & Drinking Places

Miscellaneous Store Retailers

General Merchandise Stores

Sports/Hobby/Book/Music Stores

Clothing/Accessories Stores

Health and Personal Care Stores

Food and Beverage Stores

Bldg/Garden Equip/Supply Stores

Electronics & Appliance Stores

Furniture/Home Furnishing Stores

Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers

Retail Leakage/ Surplus

Lack Jackson Trade Area Lake Jackson, TX

Figure 50: Retail Leakage in Lake Jackson

Dining Out4% Entertainment/Recreation

Financial Investments3%

Healthcare7%

Household services2%

Housing30%

Personal care products and services

1%Local transportation15%

Travel3%

Other30%

2014 Lake Jackson Expenditures

Figure 51: Consumer Expenditures in Lake Jackson for 2014


Bibliography

The following resources were used in the creation of this assessment:

Alteryx

Applied Geographic Solutions

Aspen Institute

Blakely, E. J., & Leigh, N. G. (n.d.).

(2013). Planning local economic

development: Theory and practice.

Brazoria County Appraisal District

Brazoria County

Brazosport Center for the Arts and

Sciences

Brazosport College Board of Regents

Brazosport College Economic

Forecasting Center

Brazosport College Registrar

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Business Analyst Online Software

BusinessWire

City of Lake Jackson, TX

Compare College TX

Dow Chemical Company

Dow’s Impact Publication

Fly2Houston

Greater Houston Partnership

Google Maps

Gulf Coast Bird Observatory

Gulf Coast Center

Hoover’s

Houston Business Journal

Mammoth Lake Waterpark

National Association of Realtors

Real Estate Center Texas A&M

University

Research360

Sea Center Texas

Sites on Texas 2.0

Source Strategies, Inc.

Sperling’s Best Places

Texas A&M Transportation Institute

Texas Department of State Health

Services

Texas Education Agency

Texas Gulf Coast Community Colleges

Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport

Texas Higher Education Accountability

System

Texas Labor Market Review (January

2016 Edition)

Texas Parks and Wildlife

Texas State Library and Archives

Commission

Texas Workforce Commission, Labor

and Career Information Tracer

The Alliance – Economic Development

for Brazoria County

The Brazoria County Appraisal District

The Wilderness Golf Course

Tour Texas

Union Pacific

US Census Bureau

USLegal

Workforce Solutions

WorldCity Trade Numbers

Photo Sources

www.austinchronicle.com

www.maptechnica.com

www.bizjournals.com




P.O. Box 40006College Station, TX 77842-4006

877.833.9638teex.org

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Lake Jackson, Texas