houstonsemipro Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 Your tax dollars helped bring new jobs to Houston areaABC13 Eyewitness News(10/28/04 - THE WOODLANDS, TX) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pineda Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 09/15/2004 County commissioners approve seven-year, $7 million abatement By: BURTON SPEAKMAN , HCN/Courier staff Montgomery County commissioners approved a seven-year abatement worth more than $7 million per year for Huntsman LLC during Monday's meeting. Montgomery County commissioners approved a seven-year abatement worth more than $7 million per year for Huntsman LLC during Monday's meeting. This is one more step toward Huntsman relocating as many as 670 new jobs to South Montgomery County, said Damon Palermo, the development manager hired by Huntsman to oversee the development of the company's new research and development facility. The abatement approved only states there will be 180 new jobs."The company has been evaluating facilities in five other states to consolidate the facility," he said. "This abatement is a crucial element in Huntsman's choice."Other states with current facilities being considered for the consolidation are New Jersey, New York, Michigan and California. If the facility is relocated to south Montgomery County these facilities would be closed. This is part of the company's efforts to reduce costs by placing all research and development in one location, Palermo said.The abatement will help the company hold down the occupation costs of a new research and development facility, he said. "Because of the nature of research and development, companies pay particular attention to the costs to operate."From an employee standpoint, the abatement would allow the company to become entrenched in the community, Palermo said."It would also lower the overall costs associated with research and development," he said. "The abatement is an excellent tool to stabilize the occupancy costs."Huntsman has grown primarily through acquisitions creating redundancy, spokesman Don Olsen said."We'd like it to be in Texas, and more specifically, we'd like it to be in South Montgomery County," Palermo said.The company is waiting to see whether it is approved for additional assistance from the Texas Enterprise fund, Olsen said. The application is in process and pending.The majority of the new jobs that would be created are not mentioned specifically in the abatement agreement, Palermo said. It specifically contains the creation of 180 new jobs that would have a combined annual payroll of more than $10 million.After construction is completed, Huntsman would create $7,273,550 in new taxable nonabated value for the county, said J.R. Moore, tax assessor/collector.Huntsman plans to remodel an existing 70,000-square-foot building in The Woodlands and construct another 70,000-square-foot building, he said.Palermo said the facility would either be the two buildings or one larger building. It would be located next to Huntsman's current location at 8302 New Trails Drive in The Woodlands. This location is at the northeast corner of New Trails Drive and Gosling Road.This increased value comes to the county with no costs to county, Moore said. The first year of the agreement would be the remodeling and construction of the new facilities, he said. The agreement would abate 100 percent of the improved value that can be abated until 2011.The total taxable value of the property when the abatement expires would be $18,050,000.Development of the new facility would extend over some time, Palermo said. The consolidation should be finalized by next summer.Huntsman already has started transferring some office employees to The Woodlands from Houston, he said."This move has nothing to do with the abatement."Precinct 3 Commissioner Ed Chance said the abatement is an excellent deal for the county."It would be great for them to locate their facility here," he said. "I'm excited about it. It will be a real asset to the community."The county has been working on the agreement for approximately 20 weeks, Chance said.This is a large abatement and one that could bring a lot of new jobs to the area, he said."I'm comfortable they'll relocate here," Chance said. "Hopefully everything else will be worked out."Huntsman makes products in the petrochemical industry as well as products for the chemical, plastic, automotive, construction and health care industries. Burton Speakman may be reached at bspeakman@mail.hcnonline.net. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pineda Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10/28/2004 State to help Woodlands company By: Burton Speakman, HCN/Courier THE WOODLANDS - Huntsman LLC will relocate its research and development department to The Woodlands in a move that will create 326 new jobs. A total of 730 jobs will be brought to Texas because of the department. Gov. Rick Perry came to the Huntsman office in The Woodlands Wednesday to announce the company would receive $2.75 million from the Texas Enterprise Fund to help with the new facility. The company already has purchased land for it at 8302 Dove Trails Drive. The company received a seven-year abatement from the Montgomery County Commissioners Court. It abates 100 percent of the approved value of the property until 2011. Perry said the state's low taxes, skilled work force, clear legal system, reasonable regulatory climate and good schools were reasons Huntsman is interested in relocating to Texas. Companies understand that if they are willing to risk their capital in Texas, they will have the opportunity to prosper, the governor said. The new jobs at the Huntsman research and development facility will be high-tech positions with an average salary of more than $100,000, Perry said. Precinct 3 Commissioner Ed Chance said it is a great opportunity to bring a company such as Huntsman into Montgomery County. "The level of the jobs they are bringing is phenomenal," Chance said. The ancillary companies that could move to the area along with Huntsman could be a real asset to the community, he said. Competition for this project was tough, Perry said. "The return on our investment is tremendous." The relocation of Huntsman's research and development facility moves jobs from California, New Jersey, New York and Michigan to Texas, said Huntsman founder and chairman, John Huntsman. This research and development facility could help create a job cluster in which many of these high-tech jobs come to this area, allowing them to share resources, ideas and talent in one geographic area, Perry said. "The economic platform we are building here is something that other countries are trying to take away," said Huntsman CEO Peter Huntsman. Good paying jobs are a catalyst for economic growth, he said. This is about keeping jobs in American and expanding the economic impact. Texas is building an economic platform for new jobs, said U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands. "These types of jobs don't just happen." The state has fought every day against every other state to get these types of jobs to come to Texas, he said. State Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, said, "This is a great day for our county." The county and state have shown great diligence in pursuing the new facility, he said. The enterprise fund helps put Texas in the running for every new job in the country, said state Rep. Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands. "This has been a real team effort." "Creating an environment for job growth, opportunity and prosperity for the people of Texas is among my chief priorities as governor," Perry said. "And I am proud that our state is on the leading edge of economic development." Huntsman LLC is the largest privately owned chemical company in the United States. Burton Speakman can be reached at bspeakman@mail.hcnonline.net. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 They're only moving the headquarters to the Woodlands. They're not putting up a plant there. There are lots of energy companies in the Woodlands, and probably more than a few have done environmental damage. What makes this one protest-worthy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pineda Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 Who's protesting? Tax abatements ain't nothin' new around here. I just think that description of "reasonable regulatory climate", otherwise known as lax to non-existent, almost self-governing TCEQ is pretty damn funny! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
houstonsemipro Posted October 28, 2004 Author Share Posted October 28, 2004 BRING MORE TO HOUSTON! HOUSTON KEEP IT COMING BABY!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bachanon Posted October 29, 2004 Share Posted October 29, 2004 They're only moving the headquarters to the Woodlands. They're not putting up a plant there. There are lots of energy companies in the Woodlands, and probably more than a few have done environmental damage. What makes this one protest-worthy?they're consolidating their research and development in the woodlands as well. they will be renovating a genetic research facility vacated by valentis.the ceo, peter huntsman, already resides in the woodlands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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