Courtland Holman, Executive Director, Wharton Economic Development

In an interview with Invest:, Courtland Holman discussed how Wharton is preparing for rapid growth, driven by infrastructure investments, industrial expansion, and Houston’s outward development. He highlighted the city’s focus on strategic planning, streamlined permitting, and long-term resilience to ensure sustainable growth. “We want smart growth. We don’t want to be run over,” said Holman.

What is your assessment of Wharton’s business climate today, and what changes are shaping the local economy?

Wharton is a growing community. It has historically been a rural, agriculture-based city, and while agriculture remains important, we are entering a period of significant transformation. One of the biggest catalysts is the conversion of Highway 59 into I-69, which is expected to be completed through our community within the next couple of years. We initially believed that project alone would drive growth, but what we are seeing now is an even broader wave of development.

Houston’s continued expansion is pushing residential growth farther from the urban core. In neighboring Fort Bend County, there are approximately 43,000 new homes under construction or in development, and that growth is steadily moving toward Wharton. We already have new housing subdivisions selling quickly, and that momentum has attracted several additional mixed-use developments ranging from roughly 300 to more than 600 acres.

We are also seeing strong industrial interest. Several major technology companies are locating data center projects within Wharton County, and new power generation and transmission investments are strengthening the electrical grid. Combined with our location along I-69 and the Canadian Pacific Kansas City rail line, these investments position us well for manufacturing, logistics, warehouse development, and industrial growth.

We expect Wharton to look different over the next six to 10 years. Our goal is to guide that growth responsibly. We want smart growth. We don’t want to be run over. That means updating our development regulations, evaluating zoning, investing in infrastructure, strengthening flood mitigation, creating a tax increment reinvestment zone for downtown, and ensuring both our existing neighborhoods and future development remain resilient.

What are companies looking for when they evaluate Wharton, and how do you position the community to meet those needs?

Most industrial prospects begin with the same questions. They want to know whether the site has highway access, available land, water, sewer, fiber connectivity, sufficient electrical capacity, and sometimes rail service. We work closely with our utility providers to confirm existing capacity and identify any upgrades that may be needed before a project moves forward.

If infrastructure extensions are necessary, we explore incentives that can offset development costs. Depending on the project, those may include Chapter 380 agreements, tax increment reinvestment zones, Opportunity Zones, or New Markets Tax Credits. Every incentive package ultimately goes before the City Council, but our philosophy is straightforward: we are open for business and want to help projects become operational as efficiently as possible.

From a workforce standpoint, we benefit from a labor pool of roughly 1 million people within about a 45-minute drive. Many of those workers currently commute toward Houston and could instead reverse commute to Wharton for quality jobs while enjoying a lower cost of living and a higher quality of life.

How are your educational partnerships helping prepare the workforce for future growth?

Wharton County Junior College is a tremendous asset because its main campus is located here in the city. The college already supports existing manufacturers in our community and is expanding its footprint to serve additional students.

Through programs such as the state’s Skills Development Fund, the college can train employees for new industrial, manufacturing, retail, and commercial employers locating here. Whether training takes place on campus or directly with an employer, these partnerships allow us to develop the workforce companies need while creating opportunities for local residents.

What makes Wharton stand out as a place to live and do business within the Houston metropolitan area?

Wharton offers something that is increasingly difficult to find within major metropolitan areas: space and accessibility. Residential lots tend to be larger, giving families more room while maintaining affordability.

People who enjoy outdoor recreation have easy access to hunting, fishing, rivers, and open space. However, we also remain close to major destinations. Houston is less than an hour away, the Gulf Coast beaches are nearby, and San Antonio is about a two-hour drive. That combination allows residents to enjoy a quieter lifestyle without giving up access to the amenities of larger cities.

For businesses, our location is equally advantageous. We sit along a major interstate corridor with rail access and proximity to Houston, making Wharton an attractive location for companies that want efficient transportation while avoiding the congestion and higher costs of the urban core.

What are your top economic development priorities over the next two to five years?

Our primary objective is attracting additional industrial development throughout both the city and Wharton County. Industrial investment creates quality jobs, which then supports housing demand, retail expansion, and eventually office development. Those elements reinforce one another and create a balanced local economy.

We are already seeing strong interest in mixed-use projects that combine residential and commercial development on hundreds of acres. Hotels are beginning to follow that growth as well, particularly because of our location along the I-69 corridor connecting Houston with the expanding trade routes toward the Texas-Mexico border.

Another priority is developing logistics facilities that capitalize on our transportation assets. Whether those projects locate on the east, west, north, or south side of the community, they will help position Wharton as an important logistics and distribution hub for the region.

Beyond infrastructure and incentives, what advantages does Wharton offer developers looking to move projects forward?

One of our biggest competitive advantages is speed. Our permitting process is significantly faster than many larger cities. While permitting can take well over a year in some communities, our goal is generally to complete the process within 60 to 90 days.

We want to operate at the developer’s pace, not the other way around. If delays occur, we want to identify and resolve them quickly.

To support that goal, we established twice-monthly predevelopment meetings led by the city manager. Developers meet with every department involved in the approval process so they understand exactly what information is required before submitting their applications. That coordination helps eliminate unnecessary delays and keeps projects moving efficiently.

Our philosophy is simple: developers should never feel that local government is slowing them down. We want them to have a positive experience, return with future projects, and recommend Wharton to others considering investment in our community.