Pictured, Grant Foulkman at Devasco International tests a piece of welding equipment. Devasco was a beneficiary of the Tomball EDC's grant program. Photo by Justin Elbert.

In an unheralded routine action earlier this month, the Tomball City Council helped create dozens of jobs in the city when they approved three projects of the Tomball Economic Development Corporation (EDC).

The EDC provides “financial assistance to qualifying new, expanding or relocating business for projects that create or retain primary jobs” in Tomball. At its March 16 meeting, the council approved three such projects with Compass Instruments, BL Technology and a new Holiday Inn hotel.

Tomball EDC Executive Director Betty Reinbeck estimates that BL Technology and Compass Instruments could create up to 50 new jobs in Tomball, with several more created by the opening of the Holiday Inn.

In just three months in 2009, Reinbeck says the EDC has helped bring in more than 200 new jobs to Tomball.

“The types of jobs we are seeing run the gamut, from light industrial, to light mechanic, and many others,” she said.

In addition to the many blue collar jobs being created in Tomball, the city is seeing an influx of new medical facilities around the Tomball Regional Medical Center complex. The retail industry also could be seeing a slight boost in 2009. Last week Weingarten Realties announced that a 27,000-square foot Ross clothing store will soon open in the Tomball Marketplace shopping center on FM 2920 and SH 249.

Reinbeck believes that the amenities that Tomball provides is the primary reason the job market isn’t as grim here as it is other places.

“We’re close enough to Houston to enjoy all of the amenities,” she said, “but we’re still far enough out. They can be at the beltway in under 20 minutes, if you go to the east or west you’re going to have Highway 290 or I-45.”

Not only do the new companies opening in Tomball create jobs for local citizens, they also create an infusion of tax dollars for the city, with those working in Tomball often shopping in Tomball.

Reinbeck said the Tomball job market is linked closely with the market in Houston.

“As the Houston economy goes, so goes ours,” she said. “The Houston region has created 17,000 jobs. Only three metroplexes in the U.S. can make that claim. We’re fortunate.”

While the unemployment in rate in Texas continues to slowly tick upward, the outlook here isn’t quite as bad as it is in other states.

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) announced earlier this month that the unemployment rate in Texas rose to 6.4 percent, while the U.S. unemployment rate climbed to 7.6 percent.

According to the TWC, through October of 2008, the state’s job growth “far surpassed every state in the nation at 161,000 jobs.”

However, TWC Chairman Tom Pauken is not so optimistic.

“The national economic crisis is beginning to have a serious, negative impact on our Texas economy,” he said.

The TWC recently reported jobs in manufacturing and trade, and transportation and utilities sectors are down 38,100 and 26,600 jobs respectively.

But more jobs in Tomball may be on the way. Reinbeck said that the EDC is currently working with three other businesses to either open or relocate in Tomball.

That announcement could come as early as May.

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