Vince Yokom, Executive Director, Waller County Economic Development Partnership

In an interview with Invest:, Vince Yokom, executive director of the Waller County Economic Development Partnership, discussed the county’s rapid rise as a hub for advanced manufacturing, logistics, and industrial investment in the Greater Houston region. “Businesses consistently tell us that projects move much faster here than they would in neighboring counties,” Yokom said.

What is driving Waller County’s strong economic performance, and how do you sustain that momentum as the county grows?

Federal Reserve data put Waller County’s GDP at about $5.7 billion in 2023. In 2018, it was about $2.4 billion, so we more than doubled our GDP in five years. Based on the projects that have landed since then, I expect we are now above $6 billion.

When you compare that level of output with a population of roughly 80,000, it shows how productive the county is. That performance reflects the quality of the companies located here. Population is just one metric. What really matters is the strength of the businesses operating in the county and the level of capital investment they bring.

Our strategy has always been to be selective about the companies we support. If we are going to provide incentives or public support, we want to make sure the company will create real value for the community, whether that is through quality jobs, capital investment, or long-term partnership.

Tesla’s Megapack battery manufacturing facility is one of the most visible recent wins. It brought a great deal of attention to the county, but it is not the only one. Another major project is TMEIC, the Toshiba-Mitsubishi joint venture that produces inverters, motor drives, and controls for industrial uses. They are operating in an existing facility while also building a new manufacturing plant of about 200,000 to 250,000 square feet.

Those types of projects reinforce our efforts to attract advanced manufacturing. Logistics and distribution are also strong here and continue to grow organically because of our location along Interstate 10, but our recruitment focus has long been on manufacturing because it creates higher-value jobs and more economic output. Right now, we are working with around 15 active prospects representing approximately $2 billion to $2.5 billion in potential investment, and most of those are in manufacturing or energy-related sectors.

For those who may not be familiar with Waller County, what makes it stand out within the Houston region?

The Houston region is a strong and competitive market, so every surrounding county has advantages. We are fortunate to be part of that environment. However, Waller County also has several qualities that make it distinct.

The first is land availability. Many counties closer to the urban core are already built out, while Waller County still has thousands of acres available for development, especially along the Interstate 10 corridor between Katy and Brookshire. Just as important, that land remains competitively priced.

The second is our regulatory climate. County leadership believes in supporting a low-regulation, business-friendly environment. Outside of our core obligations around health, safety, and welfare, we are not interested in putting unnecessary obstacles in front of companies. Businesses consistently tell us that projects move much faster here than they would in neighboring counties.

A third advantage is our workforce culture. We are still a largely rural county with strong agricultural roots, and that means people here are used to working hard. Companies tell us they see that reflected in the reliability and integrity of the local workforce.

The fourth is infrastructure. Along I-10, we have highway access, rail, an airport, and strong proximity to the broader Houston market. That gives us a multimodal advantage that is highly attractive to manufacturers and logistics operators.

What role will the U.S. 290 corridor play in the county’s next phase of growth?

The 290 corridor will develop more slowly than I-10, but it will still be an important part of Waller County’s future. There are already several projects positioning that corridor for meaningful industrial growth.

Near Hempstead, the Beacon Hill development will be a major catalyst. It includes both residential and industrial uses, and infrastructure improvements in that area should help unlock more activity. Prairie View also has a significant industrial proposal moving through the process, while in the city of Waller, there are additional industrial land purchases that should translate into development over the next few years.

Hempstead also benefits from the RCR Rail Park, one of the county’s key rail-served industrial sites, which offers important capabilities for companies that need rail access or transload services. So while 290 may not move as quickly as I-10, the foundation is clearly being put in place for substantial development over the next two to three years.

As more residential growth moves west from Houston, how do you balance industrial recruitment with quality of life, housing, and schools?

That is one of the central issues we think about. Counties in Texas do not have the same authority as cities, especially when it comes to zoning, so we cannot simply designate land uses the way a municipality can. We have to guide growth through strategy, incentives, and coordination with developers.

Early on, we identified Interstate 10 as the county’s primary industrial corridor. By working with developers who shared that vision, we encouraged the creation of industrial parks in the right locations. Once a developer commits a site to industrial use, that effectively helps organize growth in a way that keeps heavy industrial activity from conflicting with residential neighborhoods.

We also recognize there are areas better suited for housing. We do everything we can to encourage industry to locate where it makes sense and to avoid situations where industrial uses are placed in the middle of residential growth areas.

Residential development, in many ways, follows job creation. Our role has been to focus first on building the industrial base, because once strong companies and good jobs come in, housing demand naturally follows. That is exactly what we are seeing now. The county is attracting major employers, and that in turn is supporting master-planned communities and additional neighborhood development.

We projected years ago that Waller County could double in population by the early 2030s, and based on what we are seeing today, we are well on track for that.

How are you preparing the workforce to meet the needs of advanced manufacturing and other technical industries?

Workforce development is probably the biggest long-term issue we are working on right now. Our local school districts are doing good work with career and technical education. Royal ISD, for example, has strong programs and award-winning welding efforts. Waller ISD also has a broad set of career and technical offerings, and other districts are continuing to build in that direction.

The challenge is that there is often a gap between what schools are able to provide and what industry specifically needs. Manufacturers have different skill demands depending on what they make. One company may need plastic molding expertise, while another may need electronics integration or specialized maintenance skills.

That means we have to think in layers. We need core skills that can be applied across industries, and then we need more targeted training for specific sectors. We see two main paths to solving that. One is apprenticeship programs that allow companies to train workers directly. The other is the development of a local technical training center.

Right now, the closest major provider is Texas State Technical College in Rosenberg. We would love to have something similar in Waller County. If we can establish a local training center, it will make us much more competitive and give employers greater confidence that the workforce pipeline is here.

In the meantime, companies are drawing workers from across the broader region. Over time, as more housing and amenities come into the county, many of those workers will relocate closer to where they work. That transition is already beginning.

Is there anything else you would like to add about Waller County’s economic outlook?

Our slogan is Waller County: a real Texas star, and I think that reflects what is happening here. We are attracting some of the best companies in the world, and that is not by accident.

We are already home to organizations such as Tesla, Amazon, Grundfos, Coloplast, Mayekawa, and Igloo. Those companies show that Waller County can support world-class operations across advanced manufacturing, logistics, and distribution.

If a company is looking for available land, a low-regulation environment, strong infrastructure, and a place where projects can move quickly, Waller County should be on the list. We have a track record of closing strong deals, supporting the right companies, and helping them succeed once they arrive.

That is what gives us confidence about the future. We are not just talking about opportunity. We are already proving that Waller County can deliver it.