BAY AREA HOUSTON ECONOMY

The Friendswood/Bay Area Houston economy is comprised of well over 12,000 business establishments. The population of the service area, defined by parts of Harris and Galveston counties and nine municipalities including Friendswood, southeast Houston, Kemah, La Porte, League City, Nassau Bay, Pasadena, Seabrook, and Webster is approximately 350,000. The Friendswood/Bay area regional economy has become more diverse featuring aerospace, biotechnology, chemical products, recreation, and tourism.

Aerospace

The Friendswood/Bay Area Houston region is home to NASA – Johnson Space Center and its numerous aerospace contractors. The service area represents 92 percent of all aerospace jobs in metropolitan Houston, even though it accounts for just 4.5 percent of total Houston jobs.

Biotechnology

Bioscience and biotechnology represent a strong technology cluster for Bay Area Houston with more than two times the national average activity. There are approximately 2,900 people employed in Bay Area Houston’s bio sector. There is a concentrated representation of medical device, biometrics and basic bio-research operations in the area.

Chemical Products

Another large and relatively stable business cluster is the petrochemical refining and specialty chemical industry. One of the nation’s largest privately developed industrial facilities, Bayport, is home to approximately 65 operating specialty chemical plants employing 9,000 to 10,000 workers.

Recreation and Tourism

The fourth economic sector combines boating, recreation, and tourism on Texas’ Gulf Coast. About 24 marinas provide 8,000 boat slips of all sizes and dockage facilities for the power and sail boating enthusiast. The area offers amusement parks, like Space Center Houston, and the Kemah Boardwalk, as well as ecotourism, upscale shopping and fine seafood restaurants. Conservative estimates reveal that 2-3 million tourists visit Bay Area Houston annually.