Lake Houston Area

The Lake Houston area offers incredible natural beauty and amenities with quick access to the heart of Houston. Located just 20 miles north of downtown, the area boasts abundant green space, thanks to Lake Houston itself, the San Jacinto River, greenway trails and golf courses. The Lake Houston area is also seeing an increase in population and significant economic development action. We spoke with Lance Lacour, President and CEO of Partnership Lake Houston, about the area’s growth.

As newly appointed CEO, what are your goals in the first year and what expertise do you bring to Lake Houston from your previous position at Katy Area Economic Development Council? 

This year we will be focusing on maximizing experience and expertise in successful private/public partnership planning and implementation. We plan to fine tune Partnership programs and implement operational best practices which support our investors and support the vision for the region as the gateway where local business, global economy and quality of life come together.

How does Lake Houston contribute to the fabric of the Houston region? 

The Lake Houston area, or LHA, has many economic and strategic assets that contribute to the fabric of the Houston region. The chief assets of LHA are the Houston Airport System, which employs over 20,758 people; Lake Houston, which is the primary source water supply for the Houston region; the San Jacinto River; and Generation Park, which is a mixed-use development and business park encompassing 4,200 acres and a tax base of over $1 billon. LHA has over 8,300 growing businesses, $5.7 billion in consumer spending, a growing population of 294,000 people and over 150,000 people employed. 

What are some unique characteristics that really set this area apart? 

A few of our unique characteristics include the location and proximity to George Bush Intercontinental Airport, excellent access to the major transportation corridors of I-69 and Beltway 8 and multimodal transportation access (ground, air and water). We also have  a developing international trade corridor between IAH and the Ship Channel, as well as Generation Park, and a series of large industrial spec buildings. The City of Humble, highly educated residents, a wide array of housing choices and master-planned communities, strong school districts, and access to quality healthcare and higher education help round out what we offer.

Describe the business community in Lake Houston. What are some of the most active industry areas? 

There are over 8,300 businesses located in the Lake Houston area that employ over 150,000 people. The largest economic sector is services with 3,261 businesses, followed by retail with 1,848 businesses of which 590 are eating and drinking places. The most active growth industry areas include health care, distribution and logistics, manufacturing, energy services, life sciences and corporate headquarters. 

What attracts most businesses to relocate or expand in Lake Houston? 

Businesses relocate and expand here for our world class, highly educated, talented workforce of over 2.5 million within a 45-minute drive; our available buildings and sites; excellent access to major transportation corridors and multimodal transportation. They’re also drawn by  our strong school districts and access to higher education; our low cost of living (7.5% below the U.S. average), our exceptional livability and quality of life, which is ranked #1 neighborhood in Houston by Area Vibes. 

What are 4-5 signature spots to visit? Any hidden gems people need to know about?

In addition to Lake Houston and the San Jacinto River, the Lake Houston area is home to miles and miles of bikeways and trails, and six golf courses. It also has a growing brewery scene that offers fun for the entire family. A few worth checking out: Ingenious Brewing Company in Humble, Back Pew Brewing in Kingwood and Lake Houston Brewery in Huffman. In Humble, you’ll find the Humble Museum, the Charles Bender Performing Arts Center and the Green Oaks Tavern, which offers live music in the old Humble City Jail.

What’s the most exciting thing on the horizon for Lake Houston right now?

Generation Park is one of the most exciting things on the horizon. It’s a master-planned, 4,200-acre development located on Beltway 8. Generation Park is described as a multi-generational development designed with the flexibility to accommodate growth and filled with restaurants, shops, offices, an expanding trail network and  two college campuses, San Jacinto College and Lone Star College. These colleges have platforms designed to work directly with the industries located in the business park to develop curriculum that supports their needs, generating qualified new recruits and opportunities for advancement for existing employees. This month Unify Energy Solutions is expected to relocate its corporate headquarters to Generation Park, making it the 8th company to relocate its headquarters to the development. 
 

Learn more about Lake Houston and explore the greater Houston area.