What WALLER COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP INC does

Waller County Economic Development Partnership, Inc. (WCEDP) is a Texas 501(c)(6) non-profit corporation founded in 2002 and headquartered at 519 9th St., Hempstead, TX. It operates a public-private partnership model with approximately 83 paid partner members organized into Associate ($1,500/year), Trustee ($3,500/year), and Foundation ($15,000/year) tiers, governed by a board that includes private partners, local EDCs, city members, and Prairie View A&M University. The organization delivers no-cost economic development services to companies considering relocation or expansion in Waller County, including site selection research, incentive qualification (tax abatements, Chapter 380/381 agreements, Freeport exemptions), permitting navigation, workforce development referrals, Foreign Trade Zone #84 support, and Opportunity Zone facilitation. It also operates the G-TECH Innovation Center, a co-location industrial facility near Houston's Energy Corridor in Katy offering serviced offices, workshop space, and temporary industrial storage on short-term leases. WCEDP maintains a second office in Berlin (Kurfürstendamm 29, c/o TBIC) opened in 2021 to court European foreign direct investment.

WCEDP's revenue is derived from two streams: tiered membership dues and a contract with Waller County that funds its no-cost services to businesses; total revenue is not publicly disclosed. GTM is sales-led and relationship-driven, leveraging direct outreach, partner referrals, content marketing on its website, and participation in economic development conferences. Marquee project wins — credited to the partnership's facilitation role rather than to paying customers — include Tesla's Megapack facility, Igloo's headquarters, Grundfos Water Utility Global HQ, Goya's North American Processing Center, TMEIC's UPS/mid-voltage drive plant, Elin Energy's US headquarters, MAN Energy Solutions' North American HQ, Burckhardt Compression's API 618 assembly plant, Explorer Aircraft's relocated HQ, and the Houston Executive Airport. As of December 2025 the organization reports $12.25 billion in cumulative taxable value, 8,000+ jobs added across 52 completed projects, $327M in total tax revenue generated, and a 2,767% annual ROI for the county. The organization has won four TEDC Excellence Awards (2013, 2015, 2018, 2024), an IEDC Bronze Award (2020), the Trade & Industry Corporate Investment and Community Impact Award (2021), and an SEDC Excellence Award (2025).

Name

WALLER COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP INC

Legal name

Waller County Economic Development Partnership, Inc.

Website

https://wallercounty.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Waller County Economic Development Partnership is a Texas 501(c)(6) non-profit that delivers no-cost site selection, permitting, incentive, and workforce services to companies relocating or expanding into Waller County, west of Houston. It operates as a public-private partnership with ~83 dues-paying partner members and a Berlin office for international FDI.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hempstead

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Three-tiered membership model (Associate $1,500, Trustee $3,500, Foundation $15,000) providing access to partner meetings, networking, board participation, and project referrals
2. County Contract Services: Services provided at no charge to businesses through contract with Waller County, funded by public sources

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Waller County Economic Development Partnership (WCEDP) provides no-cost economic development, business support, and incentives assistance services to companies seeking to relocate to or expand within Waller County, Texas. Its core deliverables are tailored business support services (site selection, funding resources, streamlined permitting, workforce development collaboration) delivered under a public-private partnership model that also operates the G-TECH co-location industrial innovation center.

Product overview

Waller County Economic Development Partnership (WCEDP) operates as a single integrated service offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The organization provides a comprehensive suite of economic development services including business support, site location assistance, incentive qualification, permitting guidance, workforce hiring connections, and facility design resources. These services are delivered through tiered membership levels (Associate at $1,500, Trustee at $3,500, and Foundation at $15,000 annually), with higher tiers gaining access to board participation and executive committee advisory roles. The organization also facilitates Foreign Trade Zone operations and Opportunity Zone investments as part of its core economic development mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Support Services Tailored business support services including site selection, funding resources, and streamlined permitting for companies ranging from startups to established enterprises seeking to relocate to or expand within Waller County, TX.
• Site Location and Research Assistance Comprehensive site identification and research service that analyzes available properties and industrial parks within Waller County to match company operational needs with optimal locations.
• Incentive Qualification Assistance Eligibility analysis and qualification support for local and state incentives including tax abatements, Chapter 380/381 agreements, Freeport Tax Exemptions, and related state incentive programs.
• Permitting and Local Codes Guidance Regulatory navigation service guiding businesses through local permitting processes and compliance with county codes when developing facilities in unincorporated parts of Waller County.
• Workforce Hiring Services Recruitment and training connection service connecting businesses with workforce partners including Workforce Solutions, Texas A&M Engineering Extension Services (TEEX), and Texas State Technical College (TSTC).
• Relocation and Expansion Assistance Coordinated relocation and expansion support service assisting companies planning to move to or scale operations within Waller County, integrating site selection, permitting, incentives, and workforce connections.
• Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ #84) Support Assistance for companies establishing Foreign Trade Zone operations under Port Houston FTZ #84, enabling customs duty deferral, reduction, or elimination on imports and exports as part of Waller County's FTZ network.
• Opportunity Zone Facilitation Investor facilitation service supporting capital gains reinvestment within designated Opportunity Zones, with approximately 3/5 of Waller County's land area qualifying under federal Opportunity Zone designations.
• G-TECH Co-location Industrial Space Industrial co-location facility near Houston's Energy Corridor in Katy, Texas offering serviced offices, workshop spaces, and temporary industrial storage with short-term leases for startups and manufacturing companies entering the market.
• Associate Membership Entry-level paid membership at $1,500 annually providing access to partner meetings, networking opportunities, speaker events, and discussions on organizational and community issues.
• Trustee Membership Mid-level paid membership at $3,500 annually providing all Associate benefits plus board participation with voting privileges (D&O insurance included), project presentations access, and direct project referrals.
• Foundation Membership Premium paid membership at $15,000 annually providing all Trustee benefits plus eligibility to serve on the Executive Committee advisory board after two years, targeting businesses highly invested in community and corporate social responsibility.

Quantifiable outcome

• $12.25 billion in estimated accumulated taxable value to date
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Houston Executive AirportcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Foundation member partner - Houston area's newest and only privately-funded general use business aviation facility spanning over 1,200 acres with commercial and private hangars
• City of KatycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Foundation member partner - municipality bordering Waller County contributing to regional economic development
• IgloocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Foundation member partner - world-renowned beverage cooler manufacturer with headquarters in Waller County since 1979
• KDWcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Foundation member partner - Houston-based design/build general contractor specializing in facilities for manufacturing
• Parkside CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Foundation member partner - real estate development firm managing industrial developments including TradePoint 290 in Waller County
• TwinwoodcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Foundation member partner - developer of Twinwood Business Park, a 650-acre business park in Brookshire
• Prairie View A&M UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Foundation member partner - historically Black university with College of Business and College of Engineering supporting workforce development
• Stream RealtycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Foundation member partner - commercial real estate firm developing Empire West industrial facility in Brookshire
• CenterPoint EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Foundation member partner - electric and gas utility provider serving Waller County area
• GrundfoscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Foundation member partner - global leader in advanced pump solutions with Global Headquarters for Water Utility in Brookshire
• IDV InvestmentscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Foundation member partner - investment firm contributing to economic development in Waller County
• TMEICcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Foundation member partner - Japanese technology company manufacturing uninterruptible power supplies and medium voltage drives
• UrbancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Foundation member partner - company with operations in Waller County
• TeslacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Foundation member partner - Megapack manufacturing facility operator in Waller County
• Workforce SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development partner providing recruitment assistance, training programs, and funding for qualifying businesses
• Texas A&M Engineering Extension Services (TEEX)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce training partner providing custom training solutions and assistance with skills development grant applications
• Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Prairie View A&M UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness profitability enhancement partner offering low-interest loan assistance, business plan development, and one-on-one counseling
• Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center (TMAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProcess optimization and efficiency improvement partner helping businesses streamline operations and implement lean manufacturing
• Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) at Texas A&McoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDepartment of Energy-supported partner offering in-depth energy analyses to identify energy savings opportunities
• Texas State Technical College (TSTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical workforce training partner recognized as one of the top technical schools in the US
• Port HoustoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaller County is part of Port Houston FTZ #84 network - one of the largest Foreign Trade Zones in the US, providing streamlined application process and duty savings for qualifying companies
• Cooperative Extension Office at Prairie View A&M UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated to develop comprehensive long-range strategic plan for Waller County through community meetings
• Texas Engineering Extension Service at Texas A&M UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in strategic planning effort to finalize and formalize Waller County's strategic roadmap

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Greater Houston Partnership: The Houston region's primary public-private economic development organization. While larger in scope (multi-county Houston MSA), GHP pursues the same mission of business attraction, retention, and expansion that WCEDP executes at the county level — making it the most analogous peer in the immediate geography.
• McAllen Economic Development Corporation: South Texas county-level EDO with a strong manufacturing and international trade focus (notably Mexico cross-border activity). Comparable to WCEDP in its reliance on FTZ-style advantages and foreign-investment outreach, though operating in a different sub-region.
• Lubbock Economic Development Alliance: Mid-sized Texas regional EDO with a comparable mix of site selection, incentive packaging, and workforce development. Similar scale of staff and budget to WCEDP, providing a useful benchmark for operating efficiency and project pipeline metrics.
• Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce (Economic Development): Regional EDO delivering site selection, workforce, and incentive services in central Texas. Similar customer mix of advanced manufacturers and logistics users, and comparable scale of project wins relative to operating budget.
• Amarillo Economic Development Corporation: County-level Texas EDO combining public funding with private membership support to recruit manufacturing, energy, and logistics employers. Same operating model and similar reliance on infrastructure (rail/highway) and incentive packaging.

Others

• International Economic Development Council (IEDC): The international industry association for economic developers. WCEDP is a 2020 IEDC Bronze Award winner, and IEDC credentials (including the CEcD held by Executive Director Vince Yokom) are the dominant professional standard for the field.
• Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC): The statewide professional association of Texas EDOs. WCEDP has won four TEDC Awards for Excellence, and TEDC sets the standards, training, and advocacy posture that govern how county EDOs like WCEDP operate.
• Southeastern Economic Development Council (SEDC): Regional industry association whose 2025 Award for Excellence was awarded to WCEDP. Functions as a peer benchmarking and best-practice network for economic developers across the southeastern U.S.

Regional players

• Katy Area Economic Development Council: County-adjacent EDO serving the Katy/West Houston micro-area that directly competes with Waller County for the same west-of-Houston tenant pool. Same manufacturing/logistics target segments and shared access to I-10 and the Energy Corridor make it the closest head-to-head competitor.

Broad incumbents

• San Antonio Economic Development Foundation: Larger, more established Texas EDO with a much broader portfolio of corporate relationships and incentive resources. Comparable economic development mission but at metropolitan scale, making it a useful benchmark for what WCEDP could evolve into.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/waller-county-economic-development-partnership-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WALLER COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP INC