For more than two decades, Fort Bend County has accrued national accolades for economic development, job growth and quality of life. Newly released data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) continues the trend, reporting that Fort Bend County ranks eighth for employment growth out of the 323 largest counties in the United States for the third quarter of 2011.
Fort Bend County, and part of the 10-county Greater Houston Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), is forecast to continue to lead the region in job creation, averaging more than 3% growth per year through 2015.
“These statistics back up what we’ve known for a long time about Fort Bend,” said Jeff Wiley, president of the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council. “When you cultivate a business-friendly climate, prioritize educational systems and protect quality of life, you attract top-notch companies and employees.”
In addition to economic development including job growth and corporate expansions and relocations, Fort Bend County has been recognized for its high quality of life and educational attainment.
Among recent accolades: the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute released a study last month showing that Fort Bend County has the healthiest residents in the Greater Houston area; Fort Bend is home to five of the top 20 master planned communities in the nation, according to Metrostudy; U.S. Census Bureau results show the County to be a regional leader in educational attainment with 40% of residents having a bachelor’s degree or higher; USA Today, drawing upon U.S. Census Bureau results, named Fort Bend the fastest growing and most diverse county in the Greater Houston area; and the County unemployment rate is 6.3%, lower than both the State of Texas (7.0%) and national (8.2%) unemployment rates, according to the most recent figures released for March 2012.
“Fort Bend County leaders are dedicated to smart growth,” said Wiley. “We’ve created a business culture that attracts great companies, and have supported the resulting business and population growth with high-performing schools, new roads, national and international transit options, and solid infrastructure. Not only are we experiencing healthy growth now, Fort Bend County is poised for continued success in the future.”