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Bexar County authorizes negotiations for H‑E‑B’s $700M expansion, citing 720 new jobs
Summary
Commissioners unanimously authorized staff to negotiate a tax‑payment agreement and exception to minimum job guidelines with HEBLP for a proposed $700M+ Foster Road expansion expected to add 720 jobs and retain roughly 1,389 positions. Officials said infrastructure upgrades (sewer, power) will be part of the incentive conversation.
Bexar County Commissioners Court voted May 26 to authorize staff to begin negotiating a tax‑payment agreement with HEBLP for a multi‑phase expansion on Foster Road that county staff said would include an industrial bakery, refrigerated warehouse and return‑goods center. Marshall Hoke, the county’s economic development coordinator, described the project as an expansion of H‑E‑B’s existing campus and said the proposal would require infrastructure upgrades and coordination with city and utility partners.
Ben Scott, H‑E‑B’s group vice president of real estate, told the court the project represents one of the company’s largest capital investments. “This project is the largest capital investment we've made in our supply chain, so over $700,000,000,” he said, and outlined an initial three‑phase plan with the bakery, refrigerated warehouse and return‑goods center as the first elements. County staff said the proposal includes 720 new jobs with a base hourly wage of $18.23 and an average annual salary of $52,778; the company also pledged benefit packages including medical, dental and 401(k) plans.
Judge Peter Sakai and multiple commissioners emphasized the economic-development and disaster‑response partnership history between the county and H‑E‑B in supporting the request. The court approved a motion to allow negotiation of a tax‑payment agreement and an exception to county tax‑abatement job minimums; commissioners said final incentive terms and any agreement would return to the court for formal approval.
The county asked staff to include details on required public infrastructure investments and any proposed SAWS sewer upgrades in the negotiated package, and to ensure that affordability and workforce commitments in the project materials match what was described at the hearing.
