Spotlight On: Stephanie Smith, Executive Director, Walker County Economic Development Corporation
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August 2026 — In an interview with Invest:, Stephanie Smith, executive director of the Walker County Economic Development Corporation, discussed the organization’s first year of operations, its strategy for positioning Walker County as a competitive business destination and the investments needed to support long-term growth. “We do not want to change the fabric of who we are or our history. We want to bring quality jobs into Walker County, and we want to be intentional about it, focusing on industries that provide competitive wages, long-term career opportunities, and strengthen our economy for generations to come,” Smith said.
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How has your vision for Walker County evolved during the EDC’s first year, and what have been your top priorities?
This first year has really been about building the foundation for long-term success. We are a brand-new organization. We opened our doors on July 1 and officially launched on Sept. 4.
Economic development had previously been handled at the city level, but not at the county level, so we had to educate the public that we are now one organization serving the entire county. The city moved its economic development efforts into our office, as did the county.
Our priorities have been establishing the organization, growing our investor base, and strengthening partnerships with municipalities, the county, utilities, and Sam Houston State University. We also wanted to increase Walker County’s visibility among site selectors at the regional, state, and national levels.
We launched marketing initiatives, improved our website, and added market intelligence tools. We have also tried to be transparent with our citizens. Walker County is steeped in history, and some people do not fully understand what economic development is. What I tell them is that growth is coming. It’s how we want to capture this growth. We do not want to change the fabric of who we are or our history. We want to bring quality jobs into Walker County, and we want to be intentional about it, focusing on industries that provide competitive wages, long-term career opportunities, and strengthen our economy for generations to come.
What differentiates Walker County within the Greater Houston region?
One of our biggest advantages is that we have an abundance of land. The challenge is that we do not yet have all the infrastructure needed to make it fully competitive, but the opportunity is there.
We also offer a high quality of life with beautiful natural amenities, a historic downtown, great restaurants, and a welcoming community. Sam Houston State University is another tremendous asset because students can pursue everything from certifications and degrees from associate degrees to doctoral degrees. Logistically, we are positioned between Dallas and Houston, which makes this location a real advantage. We also have the Union Pacific rail line running through Walker County and the Huntsville Municipal Airport. The airport recently rehabilitated its 5,000-foot runway, and there are plans to pursue funding to expand it to 6,000 feet, which would make us even more competitive for aerospace opportunities.
Which industries represent the greatest opportunities for Walker County’s future growth?
Manufacturing is our largest opportunity, particularly advanced manufacturing. That includes sectors such as aerospace manufacturing and biopharmaceutical manufacturing, both of which we would like to attract.
Walker County is well-positioned to grow its life sciences and biopharmaceutical manufacturing sector, anchored by Sam Houston State University; they provide a strong foundation for growth through research, workforce development, and a pipeline of highly educated talent. Our largest employers today are state government and education. They have provided stability because they are less susceptible to oil and gas cycles, but our responsibility is to bring more high-paying private-sector jobs into the community.
Sam Houston State University enrolls more than 20,000 students each semester. Many of those graduates leave because there are not enough opportunities locally. Our goal is to diversify our economy by attracting employers that provide quality careers and retain that talent.
We also want companies that fit our community. If a project does not provide quality jobs or creates challenges that outweigh its benefits, it is probably not the right fit. We want employers that become long-term community partners.
How are you strengthening Walker County’s workforce pipeline?
Sam Houston State University is one of the founding members of Walker County EDC, so we have ongoing conversations about workforce needs and industry trends.
We have connected prospective employers with the university, and one company recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Sam Houston State University for workforce training.
The university regularly brings us into conversations about new academic programs because it wants to understand which industries we are targeting and where workforce demand is headed. It recently launched its polytechnic program, and one of its strengths is that Sam Houston State University keeps its thumb on the pulse of industry and adjusts programs to meet changing needs.
We also participate in quarterly workforce discussions with local employers and maintain regular conversations with Huntsville Independent School District and New Waverly Independent School District. Strengthening workforce development will be one of our biggest priorities moving forward because we already have the right partners at the table. Now it is about becoming more proactive and promoting the strengths we already have.
What infrastructure investments are most critical to supporting future growth?
Walker County and the city of Huntsville have done an excellent job securing grants for water infrastructure, and we will continue pursuing those opportunities.
We also submitted six Opportunity Zone applications and requested that the entire county be considered because we believe Walker County meets the qualifications. Even if only those six areas are approved, it would strengthen our ability to attract investment.
Our biggest need is site readiness. We need shovel-ready sites, additional industrial buildings, and expanded infrastructure so we can compete for larger projects.
We have landowners willing to make acreage available for major employers, and we have already identified utilities such as natural gas, electrical capacity, and water capacity for several of those sites so we can respond more quickly.
Since July 1, we have received 114 requests for information. We were unable to pursue many of those opportunities, largely because we lacked existing industrial square footage. I track every one of those projects, including the industries, capital investment, square footage, and employment potential. Those data help demonstrate where demand exists and where investment would have the greatest impact.
How does regional collaboration strengthen Walker County’s economic development efforts?
The Houston Region Economic Development Alliance is one of my strongest sources of support. I have been involved with the organization for more than 20 years and recently had the opportunity to chair it.
Walker County is the northernmost county within the Greater Houston Partnership territory, and we firmly consider ourselves part of the Greater Houston region.
The culture among economic developers is highly collaborative. If one community secures a project, it is viewed as a win for the entire region. We share best practices, bring in site selectors from around the world, and work together to educate them about the strengths of Southeast Texas.
As a two-person organization, we do not have the research resources of larger economic development organizations, so those regional relationships are invaluable. When we need additional research or support, we often work with either Sam Houston State University or the Greater Houston Partnership. That collaboration has been one of the region’s greatest strengths.
What are your top priorities for Walker County over the next two to three years?
The conversations we are having through our economic development workshop and business conference will help shape a two- to three-year strategic plan. I do not want to develop a long-term plan that cannot adapt because Walker County is on the cusp of significant growth, and our priorities will continue to evolve.
Over the next few years, we will focus on improving site readiness, expanding industrial development, strengthening workforce partnerships with Sam Houston State University and our local school districts, and continuing to invest in infrastructure.
Our ultimate goal is to position Walker County to compete more effectively, diversify the economy, attract quality employers, provide higher-paying jobs, and retain the talented people who are already coming to our community.
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