Montgomery County is taking a step toward unified economic development by applying for a grant to fund a new position aimed at improving economic mobility, housing, transportation, and workforce opportunities.
On June 10, Montgomery County commissioners decided to apply for a grant that would pay for a new Economic Mobility and Opportunity Special Assistant. This person would help organize and speed up efforts to improve the county's economy.
We worked on the grant application with the help of Grant Administrator Rebecca Ansley and sent it to the International City/County Management Association. The plan states that the new job would help address long-standing economic issues in the county, including a lack of affordable housing, limited transportation options, poverty in rural areas, and unequal access to education and job training programs.
"Residents of Montgomery County, Texas, face several significant barriers to moving up the economic ladder," the application says. "To deal with these problems effectively, we need to work together."
In this job, one person could communicate with local governments and economic development groups, helping them ensure that their plans and resources are aligned and effective.
After talking with The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership (EDP), Precinct 3 Commissioner Ritch Wheeler came up with the idea. He emphasized the importance of improved teamwork.
The EDPs do not talk to each other, Wheeler said. "This job will be like a cape over all the EDPs, letting us bring in big projects for the whole county."
Jevon Gibb, CEO of The Woodlands Area EDP, supported the plan. "Economic development is a team sport at its core. The more we work together across jurisdictions, the more opportunities we can create," he said. Gibb also discussed the potential in unincorporated areas, which comprise almost 80% of the county and often lack specific growth plans.
The suggested special assistant would work on making more affordable housing available, attracting blue-collar jobs, and improving access to public transportation and education. These are all critical goals that commissioners believe could significantly strengthen the county's economy overall.
If the county receives the grant, they plan to quickly fill the job and start laying the groundwork for a more unified and inclusive approach to regional growth.
