Community Chamber of Commerce of EMC | Porter - New Caney - Splendora - Community Chamber of Commerce of EMC....Come Grow With Us!

Quality of Life

Residents and visitors enjoy the diversity of lifestyles found in the East Montgomery County area. The moderate climate, natural resources of parks and nearby lakes, as well as the gulf coast enhance year-round outdoor recreation opportunities.

Close proximity to the cultural and social amenities of the City of Houston, as well as the recreational opportunities of Lake Conoe, Lake Houston and Lake Livingston, provide area residents with a wide range of opportunities.

Health Care

The area has strong medical services. Kingwood Medical Center and its associated operations comprise the largest medical entity in the area. Northeast Medical Center in Humble, and Cleveland Regional Medical Center in Cleveland also serve area citizens. The East Montgomery County Community Clinic in Splendora sees patients seven days a week.

Education

Three highly respected independent school districts provide public school education – New Caney ISD, Splendora ISD, and the Caney Creek feeder zone of Conroe ISD. Higher education opportunities are available through Kingwood College, Montgomery College, North Harris College, and the University Center, all part of the Lone Star College System (formally North Harris Montgomery Community College District (NHMCCD)). All four of these higher education campuses are within easy driving distance of the area. Each of the educational institutions are growing and responding to the needs of that growth by expanding their facilities. The campuses of  the Lone Star College System are continuing to grow, with record enrollment experienced during fall 2005.

New Caney voters passed a $48 million bond referendum in 2004 to meet their increased student capacities. Splendora ISD is also planning for the future, with a facilities study committee determining the direction the district should take for the next several years. Conroe ISD voters passed a $280 million bond referendum in 2004 to keep up with its growth. All area public schools are conscious of the challenges and future demands that come with growth and are planning today to meet those demands.

Students in the area can also attend private schools as well as home schooling.

As the East Montgomery County area continues to grow, the need for additional school facilities will need to be addressed once again. Each of the three school districts recognize both the need for the highest quality curriculum, as well as providing an environment conducive to learning. The Chamber has consistently supported these initiatives.

The Academy of Lifelong Learning, associated with Kingwood College and housed at the EMCID complex, is open to adults age 50 and older. An annual membership fee of $10 allows members to attend unlimited classes and programs. ALL membership continues to increase and stands at over 600 today.

The Mission, a local community non-profit agency, offers GED classes as well as English as a Second Language classes to area citizens.

We are very proud of each of our educational institutions.

Recreation

In August 2006, ownership of the 4,919.5 acre Lake Houston State Park was transferred to the City of Houston and is now operated as one of its city parks in cooperation with Montgomery County Precinct 4. A master plan is currently being written to develop the park as a major tourist attraction, as well as a park local and regional citizens enjoy.

The area has several health clubs and exercise facilities to help citizens maintain a healthy lifestyle. The proximity to Houston affords citizens easy access to additional opportunities within the city and surrounding region. There are several recreational vehicle parks that accommodate RV’s and travel trailers.

Montgomery County actively supports youth sports programs and provides numerous fields for their leagues. Additional fields have been built at the Splendora complex, and a complete new baseball/softball park is being built in New Caney. The existing baseball fields at Sallas Park will be converted to football and soccer fields.

East Montgomery County Close Up

Market Access   |   Transporation   |   Labor and Employment   |   Development
Utilities   |   Governance   |   Major Employers   |  Demographics  |    Retail Sales Tax   |   Property Tax

Eight distinct communities make up what is often called East County. The communities of Porter, New Caney, Splendora, Roman Forest, Woodbranch Village, Patton Village, Grangerland, and a portion of Kingwood are located in the area.

Market Access

• More than 60,000 people live in the trade area.
• The major markets of Houston, Conroe, and The Woodlands are less than 30 minutes away.

Transportation

U.S. Highway 59 is the main north/south roadway running through the area with state highways 242 and 105 along with FM roads 1314, 1485, and 2090 traversing the area east and west. Highway 59 has often been called the busiest non-interstate roadway in the country and it brings East County within close proximity to downtown Houston, Bush Intercontinental Airport, and to the Port of Houston. The final environmental impact statements for the proposed Grand Parkway (Highway 99) around Houston have been developed with construction schedules still to be determined. Major rail line service runs through the area as well.

Over 70,000 cars per day pass through the intersection of Highway 59 and FM 1314 each day, with 51,000 per day at Highway 59 and FM 1485. Approximately 142,000 cars cross the Harris/Montgomery County line area.

Improvements to Highway 59, FM 1314 and FM 1485 are underway, with Highway 59 being built to interstate standards. Highway 59 will include four traffic lanes in each direction, with three lane feeder roads along each side. FM 1314 in Porter is being widened to four lanes from Loop 494 to Highway 242. FM 1485 is being widened to four lanes from Loop 494 to Kidd-Cemetery Road in New Caney.

The Montgomery County Toll Road Authority was formed in 2007 to establish and build additional toll roads in the county. Four initial projects have been identified, including a direct connector at Highway 242 and Interstate 45, a north/south connector to the Grand Parkway (two phases), and establishing toll lanes adjacent to the lanes of Highway 242.
 

Labor and Employment

The area’s labor force is one of its primary assets, with an abundance of workers with strong work ethics in a broad range of professions. A Wal-Mart Distribution Center is located in the area, as is Administaff.

Development

Close proximity to Houston is a prime reason for a number of new residential and commercial projects currently underway. These projects will have a significant impact on the area and its future. Prime sites for future development are still available along major corridors.

Utilities

Resident and industrial customers receive reliable, dependable electric and natural gas service with attractive rates. The county’s future water resources are under study, with conservation and management of those resources being key factors.
The area is served by the following utilities –

Electricity........Entergy Texas
 
Natural gas.......Center Point Energy
 
Telephone.......AT&T, EMBARQ, and Consolidated Communications
 
Water and sewer ....... various municipal utility districts, Porter Special Utility District

Governance & Public Safety

The cities of Patton Village, Roman Forest, Splendora and Woodbranch Village are incorporated cities with their own police departments that provide patrol and response within their respective jurisdictions. All other areas are unincorporated and under the governance of Montgomery County. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s office and Constable Precinct 4 provide public safety resources. Ambulance service is provided by the Montgomery County Hospital District. Fire safety is provided by Montgomery County Emergency Services Districts 6 and 7, as well as the Splendora Fire District. Permitting is through Montgomery County, with some areas falling under the jurisdiction of the City of Houston.

 

Major Employers

	Product/Service
Administaff	professional employment organization
Brookshire Brothers	groceries and pharmacy
Clarksville Refrigerated Lines	transportation
Conroe Independent School District	education
Flying J Travel Plaza	fuel and convenience items
Home Depot	building materials
Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse	building materials
New Caney  Independent School District	education
Lone Star - Kingwood College	education
Kingwood Medical Center	health care
Royal Purple	synthetic oil manufacturer
Splendora Independent School District	education
Wal-Mart Distribution Center	grocery distribution
Wal-Mart Supercenter	department and groceries

Retail Sales Tax

City of Splendora*                                                1.00% 
 East Montgomery County  Improvement District*     1.00%
 State of Texas                                                    6.25%
   
 Montgomery County   
      Emergency Services Districts 6 and 7                 0.50%
      Total for most of area                                     7.75%

*EMCID rate does not apply within the city limits of Splendora

Property Taxes

All rates are per $100 valuation 

 Conroe ISD...........$1.76
 New Caney ISD...........     $1.79
 Splendora ISD ...........    $1.69
 Montgomery County ........... $0.4963
 North Harris Montgomery
       Community College District ........... $0.1207
 City of Patton Village...........  $0.5000
 City of Roman Forest........... $0.5198
 City of Woodbranch Village........... $0.4919
 Montgomery County Hospital District........... $0.0850
 New Caney MUD ...........   $0.5376
 Porter MUD ...........    $0.5150

Demographics

Population*
Zip Code	Area	1990 Census	2000 Census	2006 Estimate	2011 Projection
77357	New Caney	12,574	17,056	20,874	24,074
77365	Porter	10,723	15,614	20,556	24,647
77372	Splendora	7,154	9,600	11,899	13,824
Population		30,452	42,269	53,329	62,545
Total households		9,973	14,357	17,921	21,025
Median household income		$28,242	$38,855	$43,440	$47,253
Average household income		$31,716	$46,820	$50,745	$43,501
Source: DemographicsNow

 

 

  
 

 

 

 

Race and Ethnicity	1990 Census	2000 Census	2006 Estimate	2011 Projection
Am. Indian, Eskimo, Aleut	146	242	180	135
Asian	98	189	317	419
Other	559	2,184	2,094	1,997
Black	259	518	707	827
White	29,390	38,392	49,326	58,538
Hispanic	1,618	5,118	8,887	11,885
Source: DemographicsNow
Housing Units	1990 Census	2000 Census	2006 Estimate	2011 Projection
Owner-occupied	8,196	11,612	14,562	17,189
Renter-occupied	1,780	2,745	3,359	3,836
Source: DemographicsNow

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elected Officials

Montgomery County

County Judge Alan B. Sadler	(936) 539-7812
Tax Assessor/Collector J.R. Moore, Jr.	(936) 539-7897
Sheriff Tommy Gage	(936) 760-5872
Commissioner Precinct 4 Ed Rinehart	(281) 577-8919
Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 James Oren Metts	(281) 577-8970
Constable Precinct 4 Kenneth "Rowdy" Hayden	(281) 577-8985

State of Texas

Governor Honorable Rick Perry PO Box 12428, Austin 78711	Office (512) 463-2000 Fax (512) 463-1849
Texas State Senator Honorable Tommy Williams PO Box 8069, The Woodlands 77387	Office (281) 364-9426 Fax (281) 364-9473
Texas State Representatives Honorable Brandon Creighton District 16 326 1/2 N Main, Ste 110 Conroe 77301	Office 936-539-2455 Fax 936-539-0068
Honorable John Otto District 18 PO Box 965, Dayton 77535	Office (936) 358-7575 Fax (936) 258-7190

United States

United States Representative Honorable Kevin Brady 200 River Pointe Drive, Suite 304, Conroe 77304	Office (936) 441-5700 Fax (936) 441-5757
United States Senators Honorable Kay-Bailey Hutchinson 1919 Smith, Suite 800, Houston 77002	Office (713) 653-3456 Fax (713) 209-3459
Honorable John Cornyn 4 Greenway Plaza, Houston 77046	Office (713) 572-3337 Fax (713) 572-3777

Economic Development | EMCID

Open for Business 

More than 60,000 people live in the trade area, and the major markets of Houston, Conroe, and The Woodlands are less than thirty minutes away.  The area’s labor force is one of its primary assets.  An abundance of workers with strong work ethics in a broad range of professions are available.  

Montgomery County’s economy is very strong and continues to strengthen each year.  The continued growth of the entire county and especially the anticipated growth in East Montgomery County is very exciting.

Montgomery County is ranked as the 5th fastest growing county in Texas and 28th in the nation with its populations more than doubling in the last twenty years.  With a growth rate of between five and six percent per annum the current population of approximately 425,000 and is projected to top 800,000 in the next twenty-five years.  The entire greater Houston region is experiencing this same growth with a projected 1.4 million new households and 1.5 million new jobs over the next twenty-five years. 

The East Montgomery County area is fast becoming one of the focal points for development in the greater Houston region.  Considering its close proximity to Bush Intercontinental Airport, the Port of Houston, downtown Houston and other regional economic centers the area has seen rapid growth in the last two years. 

While this is exciting, it also requires planning.  Regional planning is being led by the Houston Galveston Area Council (HGAC) and involves citizens from across the region meeting to discuss growth issues.  Infrastructure and particularly transportation planning is critical to the future of the region.   Montgomery County voters overwhelmingly passed a $100 million bond referendum in 2005 to upgrade designated roads throughout the county.  In addition $60 million was approved to improve numerous county roads throughout the county.  US Hwy 59 and Interstate 45 are also being improved to meet the increased demands with Hwy 59 soon to be completed to interstate standards. 

Several new projects, both residential and commercial, are currently being developed.  Instrumental in these projects are regional developers such as Friendswood Development Company, The Signorelli Company, Marlin/Atlantis, Hendricks Interests, and others.  Projects include residential subdivisions, commercial tracts, or both in several cases.  Home prices range from the $90’s to the $800,000’s.  Significant among these residential developments are Oakhurst at Kingwood and Valley Ranch.  The Valley Ranch Town Center project will give Porter/New Caney a “downtown” that will attract visitors from surrounding areas.  Numerous nationally known home builders are currently building in these area developments.  Here is a sampling.

Oakhurst at Kingwood

Oakhurst at Kingwood encompasses some 1,400 lots and is located south of FM1314 and just north of Northpark Drive.  The development’s homes range in price from the $150,000s to the $800,000s.  Also located within the development is the beautiful and challenging Oakhurst Golf Club.  Privately owned and separate from the development the course is a daily fee course open to the public.  The development also features a community pool and club building that is open to the residents.  Several well known home builders are actively building in this development.  Oakhurst at Kingwood is a development of Friendswood Development Company. 

Valley Ranch

The Valley Ranch project includes over 3,000 lots, 300 plus apartment units, and 1,200,000 square feet of retail space and will give Porter/New Caney a “downtown” that will attract visitors from surrounding areas.  D R Horton is currently the exclusive builder in Valley Ranch.  Central to the development of Valley Ranch is the construction of the Grand Parkway or Hwy 99.  The Grand Parkway will be the third loop around Houston and provide quick access (13.7 miles) to Interstate 45.  Construction of Segment G (from I-45 to US Hwy 59) is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2012.  Homes in the development currently range in price from the $140’s to the $400’s.  The project covers some 1,300 plus acres located from north of the proposed route of the Grand Parkway to just north of FM 1314 in Porter.  The acreage surrounds New Caney ISD’s sixth grade campus as well as Valley Ranch Elementary and the football and baseball stadiums.  The Villas at Valley Ranch, a luxury apartment complex, opened in the fall of 2008.  Valley Ranch is a project of The Signorelli Company of Conroe. 

The growth in East Montgomery County also has an impact on the regional economic well being as many of the homes that are being built will be purchased by people who will work in Harris County, and at the same time, many of the new jobs being created will be manned by people who live in neighboring counties and commute into East Montgomery County to work.  Growth and development throughout the north Houston region has a significant impact on our area.  By working together with our friends and neighbors we can accomplish much!

East Montgomery County Improvement District (EMCID)

The East Montgomery County Improvement District (EMCID) was created by special legislation in 1997.  Upon approval by the state legislature the voters within the boundaries of New Caney and Splendora school districts passed a referendum to create the district and for them to collect a one cent sales tax on applicable goods and services.  The district, commonly known as EMCID, uses those funds for both economic and community development projects.  The district has enjoyed many successes since its creation and proudly counts the location of the Wal-Mart Distribution Center among its successful efforts.  Their industrial park encompasses some 400 acres and is now the home to several light industrial businesses including businesses from Mexico and France.  EMCID continues to actively market the area by attending national trade shows and industry shows to share the great things that are happening in East Montgomery County. 

The most significant project underway is Global Earth Quest Ventures which will include an interactive theme park, hotel/convention center, numerous restaurants, residential development and other amenities, plus a dinosaur museum/institute (Earth Quest Institute), this $1.5 billion project alone will change the economic model for East Montgomery County.  Global Earth Quest Ventures will be built in phases with phase one beginning in the summer of 2010.  This project will bring some 2,700 jobs in just phase one.  The entire project is centered around “green” technology.

The retail development in Earth Quest coupled with the development of the Valley Ranch Town Center and other local retail centers the area will become a hub for retail sales.

Graduating seniors from New Caney and Splendora schools, local home schooled students, private school graduates (within the EMCID district) and adults receiving their GED (and live within EMCID’s district) are eligible for $1,000 college scholarships.  These funds can be used at any accredited college, technical school, or university in the country.  These funds come from the community development dollars.  The EMC Scholarship Foundation (a 501c3 non-profit education foundation) has been established to administer these dollars and scholarships. 

Community development grants to local organizations are also considered twice each year.  An application for funds is required as well as various reporting requirements if funds are received.  During the fiscal year 2008-2009 a total of $369,000 in community development grants were awarded.

Incentives can also be granted by EMCID to eligible businesses for both start up or existing businesses.  In cooperation with Montgomery County these incentives assist in the recruitment of new and expanded businesses to the area.

EMCID is governed by an eight member board, elected by the voters within New Caney and Splendora school district boundaries.  Directors serve four year staggered terms.  To reach EMCID, call 281-354-4419 or visit their website at www.emctx.com