City of Sugar Land and Fluor Enterprises, Inc. Reach Agreement
on Long-Term Development and Land Deal
Sugar Land, TX - Sugar Land and one of its long-time, major employers, Fluor Enterprises, Inc., a subsidiary of Fluor Corporation, has reached an agreement to remain in Sugar Land for the foreseeable future. Fluor Enterprises, Inc. is the primary operating subsidiary of Fluor Corporation, a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company. Fluor is in the process of purchasing additional land in Sugar Land and developing a long-term plan to remain in the City. The land is located in the Telfair commercial development, not far from the company’s current facilities in Sugar Land.
Fluor Corporation is the largest U.S.-based, publicly traded engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance services firm, working in such diverse industries as chemicals and petrochemicals, commercial and institutional, government services, manufacturing, oil and gas, renewable energy and transportation infrastructure. The company employs more than 45,000 employees worldwide and has offices in over 25 countries. Fluor is headquartered in Irving, Texas.
Due to Fluor’s current lease in Sugar Land expiring in 2021, the company has been in the process of reviewing its long-range facility needs based on its current operational functions and business efficiencies. As part of the process, Fluor reviewed numerous options in the greater Houston area before choosing Sugar Land.
The City competed against other communities in order to be selected as the preferred location for Fluor’s long-term strategy. In order to remain competitive, an incentive package was offered. On July 3, City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Fluor Enterprises, Inc. that outlines the terms of incentives offered prior to entering into a land purchase agreement for a project site of approximately 50 acres at southeast corner of U.S. Highway 59 and University Boulevard. In exchange for the incentives, the terms of the MOU require the company to make significant capital investment and maintain a workforce of at least 2000 jobs at the facility. The City would also provide assistance with relevant State incentives. The terms also address a time line that allows for long-range facility and site planning as well as the construction of a multi-facility campus.
“Fluor has been fortunate to call Sugar Land home since the early 1980s,” said Richard Meserole, vice president & general manager of Fluor’s Sugar Land office. “Sugar Land is great place to work, raise families and be involved in the local community. We look forward to being part of the local economy and community for years to come.”
“Fluor is one of Sugar Land’s longest existing corporate partners,” said Mayor James Thompson. “We are extremely pleased that the company’s long-range planning includes remaining in Sugar Land. We look forward to working together to ensure our public private relationship continues for many years to come.”
Next steps include Fluor’s finalization of a land purchase agreement with Newland Communities and formal applications for the incentives outlined in the MOU in order to formalize the understanding into binding agreements.
The City of Sugar Land is an award-winning community 20 miles southwest of Houston. This master-planned community has achieved its sustainable, strong local economy through a strategically focused and aggressive economic development program creating new wealth and jobs. As a regional employment center, the City is home to numerous high-profile regional and international corporations housed in over 22 million square feet of commercial space, including Minute Maid, Schlumberger, Fluor Corporation, Bechtel EO and Aetna.
Sugar Land has also uniquely positioned itself as a hub for premium shopping, dining and entertainment. Venues such as the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land, Constellation Field, as well as the future concert/performing arts center and Sugar Land Heritage Museum will further establish the community as a cultural and historical destination.