Economic development director reports fewer new businesses but more engagement; county hires consultant

Washington County’s economic development office on Thursday presented a quarterly roundup of 2024 activity and goals for 2025, reporting fewer new business registrations but increased outreach and several new initiatives.

Economic development staff reported 191 business registrations for 2024, down from 249 in 2023, and 309 building permits in 2024 with a higher total valuation despite fewer permits. The presenter said the registration number (referred to in the packet as an indicator for new businesses) is the best available county metric because the county does not charge a business license.

The office recently retained Marketing Alliance as a consultant to develop a targeted‑industries strategic plan; staff said the consultant will meet stakeholders in the coming weeks. Greater Brazos Partnership — a five‑county regional group with which the county has a no‑cost memorandum of understanding — has engaged a consultant to prepare a regional stakeholder engagement report and playbook; staff expect to share the report when available.

Staff outlined goals for the year including improving social‑media outreach, tracking business retention and expansion, conducting another commercial‑brokers luncheon, and offering a “lunch and learn” on PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) financing to encourage commercial energy upgrades. The presenter also said the office will begin limited testing of artificial intelligence tools to support economic‑development work and will work more closely with the Small Business Development Center on entrepreneurship programming.

“Marketing Alliance, who is the consultant that we chose to help us with our, targeted industries. We are starting to work on that,” the presenter said, describing an initial verbal meeting and upcoming stakeholder sessions.

The court praised the outreach work and encouraged continued engagement with existing businesses; commissioners said better retention and expansion metrics would help the court make budget decisions.

Why it matters: The office’s priorities — stronger retention tracking, targeted industry marketing, and regional coordination — shape how the county recruits and supports employers, and feed into the broader discussion about the county’s incentive policy.

No formal action was required for the presentation.