Katy-area economic leaders expect KBR project to spur growth
Engineering company plans campus at I-10, Texas 99

By HELEN ERIKSEN
Chronicle Correspondent

Local business leaders are upbeat after KBR’s recent announcement that it would develop a campus in the Katy area, because they say it would generate new jobs, boost the economy and put Katy on the map.

During a meeting of the Katy Area Economic Development Council Tuesday, members praised Lance LaCour, council chief executive officer, for his guidance, leadership and effort in sealing the deal.

“I just can’t tell you how big an event this is for the community,” said council chairman Woody Mann. “I want to publicly acknowledge Lance and everything he did in that effort.”

The global engineering and construction company disclosed details of the development to the public in a recent press release.

LaCour said he was pleased that KBR had chosen Katy for its new west Houston campus and that the project would have a strong economic impact on the Katy area for many years to come.

Construction is projected to begin before year-end on the planned 910,000-square-foot facility, off the Grand Parkway and Interstate 10, with completion anticipated in 2010. The low-rise, tilt-wall structure will be designed within Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design specifications.

As the company moves to establish a presence in the Energy Corridor, KBR officials said the firm will also maintain corporate offices in downtown Houston. The new facility will house an estimated 4,000 employees.

“Not only will the new campus enable KBR to meet our future growth demands, but it will also provide the company with a more favorable location amongst its growing employee and customer base in the Houston metropolitan area,” William P. Utt, KBR chairman, president and CEO, said in the release.

Mann introduced a “trio of heavy hitters” who spoke at the council’s general assembly meeting Tuesday. Ann Hodge, chief executive officer of the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce and board chairman Steve Reichardt gave an overview of the chamber.

Katy Independent School District Superintendent Alton Frailey talked about the state of the school district, saying he was “very excited” about being in the district.

“There are so many wonderful things that are happening here that I don’t think folks truly appreciate it unless you’ve been other places,” he said. “I have been a few places and I have been an elected official. I would put Katy up against any place you can imagine.”

Hodge praised LaCour, saying the Katy EDC has done a great job of “putting Katy on the map” with the KBR announcement. But she said there is still one big challenge to overcome.

“Let’s face it: There are a lot of people who still think there’s nothing but rice fields out here,” Hodge said. “The bottom line is that we are all working really hard to help them to understand what a tremendous opportunity it is to live, do business and play in Katy.”

LaCour said he worked with KBR for more than a year to locate prime property to build a campus in the Katy area.

He said when the project was first conceived in 2007 it was dubbed “Project Goliath.” A confidential site selection process was managed by the Staubach Co., the same firm that assisted the council with the Rooms to Go deal, he said. Initially, about 15 Katy-area sites were considered and the list was narrowed in October.

The council developed an incentive program for the KBR relocation that included reimbursements from a municipal utility district, applications for training programs, work force recruiting assistance and the use of facilities at the University of Houston Cinco Ranch and LaCenterra for training and company events.

LaCour said the firm picked the Katy area because of its proximity to the Energy Corridor, an available talent pool, abundant land and the community’s strong interest in partnering with KBR.

helen.eriksen@chron.com