Spotlight On: Nick Long, Mayor, League City
August 2024 — In an interview with Invest:, Mayor Nick Long of League City, discussed the city’s rapid growth, infrastructure projects like the Grand Parkway, unique characteristics, strategies for sustainable development, and small-business support amid legislative challenges.
What has been the impact of your office on League City and the Greater Houston metro over the past 12 months?
League City has experienced rapid growth. When I was growing up here, the population was around 30,000, and now it’s over 125,000, with projections to reach 250,000 in the next two decades. The growth has been primarily in high-end residential developments, driven by the petrochemical and aerospace industries, including NASA subcontractors. This creates a unique blend with our maritime industries, contributing significantly to the local economy.
What have been the key initiatives or projects that League City has undertaken over the last year?
A major initiative has been preparing for the completion of the Grand Parkway. The recently completed Keenan Bridge over the Keema Channel and the upcoming Segment B of the Grand Parkway are significant. Segment B will connect League City to Brazoria County, Pearland, and Sugar Land, facilitating development on the southwest side of the city. This project, a decade in the making, will also enhance connectivity between the ports of Galveston, Houston, and Freeport, serving as a crucial artery for regional development.
What are some unique characteristics that make League City stand out in the region?
League City’s unique geographical position on both Clear Lake and Galveston Bay makes it distinctive. It hosts one of the largest recreational ports in the United States, ranking third after Fort Lauderdale and San Diego. This provides exceptional sailing and water-based recreational opportunities while being just 25 minutes from downtown Houston. The presence of the aerospace industry adds to its uniqueness, where it’s common to have an astronaut as a little league coach or live near a rocket scientist, which enriches the local culture.
What strategies are you implementing to ensure sustainable growth in League City?
As League City grows, maintaining its cultural identity amid expansion is a priority. The city now spans three school districts and two counties, which presents challenges in preserving a unified community character. Our goal is to retain a small-town feel despite having over 100,000 residents and to prevent becoming homogenized within the broader Houston metro area. We are focused on thoughtful planning to manage this growth
What are the education and workforce development initiatives in League City?
League City benefits from a well-educated populace, with many residents working in aerospace and petrochemicals. Clear Creek ISD, although independent from city governance, is a strong educational foundation for our community. To support workforce development, we aim to attract businesses that align with our skilled workforce. We prioritize sectors like chemical engineering and white-collar industries over heavy industries. Our largest company, American National Insurance, along with the North American headquarters of BASF, the world’s largest chemical company, exemplifies our targeted industry strategy.
What legislative issues are you closely monitoring that could directly impact League City?
We are actively supporting a bill proposed by Sen. Mayes Middleton to ban taxpayer-funded lobbying. This practice has been detrimental by pitting the government against its citizens and promoting increased spending, which negatively impacts League City. Our funds are being used by quasi-government organizations to lobby against our interests. Sen. Middleton’s bill aims to end this and restore the power to the people to advocate for their values without facing organized opposition.
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How do you view the role of small businesses in League City, and what initiatives are in place to support them?
Small businesses are vital to our community’s economic health. We’ve seen numerous success stories where small startups, especially in engineering and technology, have grown significantly. To support these businesses, the city has utilized underused buildings as business incubators, offering space at reasonable rates to help entrepreneurs focus on development without the burden of high overhead costs. This initiative has successfully helped businesses grow to the point where they employ hundreds and contribute innovative solutions across industries.
What is your outlook for the city, and what are your top priorities over the next couple of years?
Looking forward, sustainable growth is our main focus. This is about more than just environmental sustainability, but about creating self-sustaining infrastructure that doesn’t overburden taxpayers once integrated into the city. Our approach involves implementing strong ordinances and ensuring that new developments include properly planned infrastructure. Moreover, we are promoting deliberate, not rapid, growth to prevent issues like severe traffic and inadequate water supply. We believe in developing high-quality, beautiful subdivisions that will be sustainable in the long term.
Our strategic position between the major Gulf Coast ports — Houston, Galveston, and Freeport — offers substantial opportunities, particularly with the completion of the Grand Parkway, enhancing our potential as a logistics hub and attractive location for corporate headquarters. This is supported by our high-quality housing, excellent schools, and central location, which are further complemented by our slightly more inland position, reducing the impact of hurricanes.
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