Carlos Guzman, Director of Economic Opportunity & Development, Fort Bend County

In an interview with Invest:, Carlos Guzman, director of economic opportunity and development for Fort Bend County, outlined plans to manage rapid growth with major infrastructure projects and targeted industry attraction. He highlighted the county’s diverse talent pool and strong regional partnerships. Guzman emphasized staying ahead of growth to maintain quality of life.

What trends or changes over the past year have most impacted Fort Bend County’s economic development efforts?

Fort Bend County is one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation. We’re expected to double our population in about 20 years. Most of the growth people associate with the “Texas miracle” — people moving to Texas — happens in the DFW, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston regions. For us, that growth is coming right into Fort Bend County.

People continue to make Fort Bend County home because of our strong quality of life, excellent schools, and overall community feel. The challenge is keeping up with that growth and ensuring what makes this place special stays special. We’re investing heavily in infrastructure — expanding major toll roads like the Fort Bend Toll Road and Grand Parkway — to keep people moving efficiently, whether they’re getting to work, shopping, or spending time with family.

We’ve completed a strategic plan and identified our targeted industries. We’re working hard now to attract those sectors, plant the seeds for future growth, and make sure we get development right the first time. Once an area is fully built out, it’s hard to go back and change development patterns, so we’re staying ahead of the curve.

What makes Fort Bend County an ideal location for businesses today?

What makes Fort Bend special is our people. We’re one of the most diverse counties — if not the most diverse — in the nation. Our population is almost equally split among African American, Latino/Hispanic, Caucasian, and South Asian communities.

This diversity comes with a highly educated, talented workforce. Businesses know they’ll find the talent they need right here. Many of our residents already commute 30 to 40 minutes to jobs in Houston. If a company sets up in Fort Bend County, that commute could drop to 5 or 10 minutes, which is a huge benefit for employers and employees alike.

Our international flavor is another draw. Foreign direct investment companies see Fort Bend as a natural fit because of the connections and communities that already exist here. We’ve had projects come to us specifically because they want to be part of this community. 

Which industries are you focused on attracting?

Half the county is almost fully developed, and the other half is where the next million residents will live. Different areas have different strengths. For example, Sugar Land has a cluster of bio-technology companies because of its proximity to the Texas Medical Center. On the other side of the county, cities with large rail-served sites are a natural fit for industrial, logistics, and distribution companies.

We have the ports, airports, and rail connections companies need, and we’re working to deliver public infrastructure that shortens timelines. When a project is ready, we want them to be able to turn on the lights quickly. It’s all about being prepared.

What major projects are helping maintain the quality of life as the region grows?

Fort Bend County is one of the few counties in Texas with a countywide library system — typically, cities handle that. We also invest heavily in parks and green space.

On the infrastructure side, the county has revamped its toll road authority. We’re expanding the Grand Parkway and the Fort Bend Toll Road to open up new areas for development. For example, there’s a 4,200-acre development underway, and another project is planned at around 15,000 acres. Right now, it’s just open land, but when the new toll roads are complete, that area will be about 25 minutes from the Texas Medical Center, one of the largest employers in Houston. We know growth is coming, and we’re doing everything we can to stay ahead of it.

What services are most in demand from your department?

When companies reach out to us, they’re looking for guidance — whether they already have a site in mind or they just know they want to be in Fort Bend County. We’ve seen interest from major international firms. For example, we recently spoke with a company in Egypt that wants to set up here. It wasn’t the right fit for us, but it shows the level of interest.

Workforce is always top of mind. Incentives can be part of the discussion, but they rarely make or break a deal. What companies want to see is the workforce data that proves they’ll have the talent they need. We help provide that, along with connections to local partners. If incentives help close a deal, that’s great, but they’re just one piece of the puzzle.

How do you partner with other stakeholders to support this growth?

The secret sauce in Texas is collaboration. Economic development here happens at the local level. We work hand in hand with our cities.

We also collaborate regionally through the Greater Houston Partnership, the state, chambers of commerce, higher education institutions, and other stakeholders. If a company locates here, they’re not just dropped off and left on their own. There’s a whole ecosystem ready to help them succeed, from workforce training to navigating utilities.

What’s your outlook for Fort Bend County’s economy in the next few years?

We’re fortunate to be part of the Texas Triangle, where so much growth is happening. Our population is on track to double from 1 million to 2 million over the next two decades, so the growth is coming; that’s not in question. 

Our focus now is on keeping up with that growth and delivering the infrastructure needed to support it. We’re working closely with our partners to leverage all our assets and maintain the quality of life that brings people here in the first place. We’re optimistic about Fort Bend County’s future.