Reducing Barriers to Business Growth

Fort Bend County may provide temporary property tax exemptions on the increased value of real property and tangible personal property for up to 10 years. These agreements are tailored to projects that demonstrate significant capital investment and primary job creation.

Under Texas Local Government Code Chapter 381, the County can negotiate performance-based grants or loans to stimulate business location and expansion. These incentives are often structured as rebates on new property or sales taxes.

County Assistance Districts are responsible for levying a sales tax within specific geographic areas. These districts collaborate with private developers through infrastructure cost participation agreements to support and encourage private development.

A TIRZ captures the tax increment to fund public infrastructure within a designated zone. This enables financing roads, utilities, and drainage systems that make large-scale developments viable.

This incentive exempts "goods in transit" from property taxes if they are shipped out of the state of Texas within 175 days. In the County, the exemption is offered by some municipalities, the Fort Bend Drainage District, and the school districts.

The TEF provides cash grants to companies considering a new project in Texas over an out-of-state site. To qualify, projects must demonstrate significant job creation, high wages, and a substantial capital investment. The TEF is a performance-based tool, meaning funds are disbursed only after specific milestones are met, ensuring that the state’s investment directly translates into long-term economic growth and primary employment for Texans.

Administered by the Texas Workforce Commission, the Skills Development Fund is an innovative grant program that provides customized job training to private businesses. Through partnerships with local community colleges and technical schools, businesses can design specialized curricula to upskill their employees. The fund covers training costs, enabling companies to bridge specific technical gaps and increase productivity.

FTZ #149 is a federally designated area in the Greater Houston region, covering Brazoria and Fort Bend Counties, where businesses can handle foreign and domestic merchandise without formal customs entry. Companies operating within the zone can defer, reduce, or eliminate costly customs duties on imported components.