The Woodlands, TX - The South Montgomery County Woodlands Economic Development Partnership (EDP) recently concluded its annual employee count survey of local non-retail employers. Companies with 100 or more employees are surveyed each year to determine job growth trends in the area.
As part of the services the EDP provides to the community, the Partnership compiles an annual report on top non-retail employers in South Montgomery County. In addition to providing information on which companies are growing, the EDP also looks at growth trends in various business sectors including Banking, Distribution/Transportation, Education, Energy, Healthcare, Hospitality, Life Science, Professional/Specialty Services and Public Agencies.
According to Gil Staley, CEO of The Partnership, “This information benefits not only local companies, but it is also is the most requested data from employers who are considering relocating to this area. Currently there are close to 50 companies in South Montgomery County who employ more than 100 people. There are 11 companies who now employ more than 500 people.”
The 2010 job count revealed encouraging news for The Woodlands and South Montgomery County. Employee numbers at the larger companies in January of 2010 show to be up by 230 jobs from 2009. This year’s tally shows that close to 23,000 people are employed by major, non-retail companies. According to DemographicsNow®, there are 75,020 employed in our area, making South Montgomery County a significant employment destination.
“In the midst of an economic downturn, we are most pleased to see positive job growth with our major employers,” says Staley. He added, “After evaluating the companies with job gains, we found that Healthcare and Education continue to be significant growth industries in this community.”
EDP- Jobs Growth Report – January 2010 (add 1)
The company topping the list of creating new jobs in South Montgomery County this past year is St. Luke’s Episcopal Healthcare. St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital which opened in April of 2003 now has 980 employees, up from 884 in 2009. In addition, the new St. Luke’s Lakeside Hospital opened in September of 2009, creating 143 more jobs, bringing their total employment to 1,123.
The economic impact of a new hospital goes far beyond the jobs created. St. Luke’s Lakeside Hospital represents a $55 million dollar capital investment in the community. Over 120 physicians are credentialed to practice at the new hospital. W. S. Bellows Construction, general contractor of the new facility reports hiring 44 separate subcontractors during the year-long design and construction phase of Lakeside Hospital. These contractors in turn hired 300 people.
To further enhance Healthcare’s strong presence in South Montgomery County, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands recently opened an emergency care center in the west side of The Woodlands. The hospital also plans to break ground during the first half of 2010 on a seven-story patient tower on its 20-acre medical campus. The expansion will include eight surgical suites, along with space required for surgery patients before and after their procedures.
With the continuing population growth in our county coupled with the maturing of the baby boom generation creating additional demand for healthcare services, along with the necessary medical technology upgrades required to practice medicine, the opening of a new hospital, or the expansion of an existing facility, continues to be a great economic boost to the area for years to come.
In the Education employment sector, Lone Star College System currently employs 1,011 in South Montgomery County, up from 844 in 2009. The System, which has employees at Montgomery College, the University Center, as well as at their system offices in The Woodlands, is seeing unprecedented growth.
Lone Star College System, has reached another milestone with more than 62,000 students enrolled for the Spring 2010 semester. Enrollment is up more than 25 percent from 2009. As of January 26, one week after classes began, LSCS reported a record 62,353 students in classes, nearly 13,000 more students than last year at the same time.
Staley concluded, “We are fortunate to have great employers, including outstanding healthcare and educational partners in South Montgomery County. Quality healthcare and education are critical to the growth and wellbeing of any community, and the jobs they continue to create make these organizations even more significant to our area. Companies looking to move or expand their corporate operations place the availability of quality healthcare and education at the top of the list of ‘must-haves’. “
For more information on this announcement, please contact Gil Staley, CEO, at 281 363-8135 or e-mail gil.staley@edpartnership.net.
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