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Target Industries
Pasadena, Texas is an ideal location for any business looking to start or grow. With an available workforce of more than 2 million people, we have the talent necessary to compete in a global economy. Our convenient location in the Houston-metro and access to a deep-water port and international airports make Pasadena the city you want to be in.
These are some of the industries currently thriving in Pasadena.
Petrochemical Value Chain
Pasadena’s largest and most important economic engine. There are current opportunities for international business development, suppliers and service providers looking to support larger employers, along with high-growth firms in the cluster (e.g., engineering services) that employ high-wage professionals. Additional opportunities exist for companies manufacturing finished plastics products, many of which are currently produced outside the US, despite having petrochemicals as their primary inputs.
Logistics and Distribution
Pasadena’s multimodal transportation assets are ideal for logistics and distribution companies. The Port Houston’s Bayport Container Terminal, the Houston Ship Channel, and major highways (225, Beltway 8, 146) link the City to the surrounding region. Pasadena has a world-class Port system in its own backyard. When challenges have faced other major ports, Pasadena remains a steady and dependable source for distributing goods worldwide. The continued growth of e-commerce is another opportunity that is driving more demand for distribution facilities in our region - something Pasadena has the land to support.
Professional and Technical Services
The professional services industry is growing in Pasadena. This industry includes information technology, finance and insurance, real estate, legal services, accounting, architecture and engineering, advertising, and other business services. In Pasadena, the most promising opportunities are for engineering services and other professional firms that support the petrochemical cluster.
Retail, Restaurants, and Hotels
Pasadena’s retail sector is a high-performing economic engine. The data indicate stronger retail sales growth than the Houston area from 2015 to 2017, along with more sales at local stores than demand from local residents. Conversations with retailers and real estate brokers suggest that retailers in Pasadena outperform similar stores, not just in the region, but nationally. The continued growth of retail stores, restaurants, and hotels in Pasadena, especially along the Beltway 8 corridor, is an immediate opportunity for economic development over the next few years.
Aerospace Manufacturing, Research, and Product Development
Ellington Airport is the newest officially designated commercial spaceport in the US, with ambitious growth plans to include aerospace manufacturing, engineering, and research/testing facilities. The NASA Buoyancy Lab and NASA Johnson Space Center are critical assets for the regional and national aerospace sector. UH-Clear Lake and NASA have a longstanding, growing relationship with programs including the Center for Robotics Software and the Cyber Security Institute. All of these assets are located in or near Pasadena, making aerospace opportunities a promising growth target for the City.
Health Care
Pasadena’s existing hospitals and health care clinics are top-notch, providing high quality care to all our citizens. Our close proximity to the Texas Medical Center (the world’s largest) makes Pasadena an ideal location for small and mid-size medical device companies, health technology firms, and other service providers that would benefit from this proximity, but do not require a location immediately on or adjacent to the medical complex. The Texas Chiropractic College is another regional asset that could benefit healthcare companies.