HCA HOUSTON HEALTHCARE CELEBRATES GRAND OPENING FOR CENTER FOR CLINICAL ADVANCEMENT

On June 27th, HCA Houston Healthcare celebrated the grand opening of its Center for Clinical Advancement in Pearland Town Center. The PEDC and city officials began recruitment efforts for this project with HCA Houston Healthcare and CBL & Associates in 2018 when they were evaluating locations in the Gulf Coast region. The 48,400 square-foot, state-of-the-art training center houses high-fidelity hospital simulation labs, connected classrooms and de-briefing rooms, where the health system’s nearly 7,000 nurses will receive ongoing clinical education and training.

PEDC CHAMPIONS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT STUDY

One of the seven focus areas in the Pearland Prosperity Strategic Plan is Workforce and Talent, specifically to connect and enhance Pearland’s talent pipeline though a collaborative approach. After consultations with the PEDC Board of Directors, the Pearland Prosperity Implementation Committee and the Pearland Chamber of Commerce Workforce Committee, PEDC is partnering with Thomas P. Miller and Associates (TPMA) to create a Workforce Development Plan for the community. The plan will address workforce skills gaps, career planning and work-based learning opportunities, diversity and inclusion, and development of young professionals and the final strategy will provide Pearland with the methodology to achieve those initiatives.

The process is being led by a Steering Committee of individuals from local employers, K-12 and higher education, community-based organizations, workforce development and other areas. TPMA is currently conducting stakeholder interviews with local businesses, business associations and workforce & education partners to identify how efforts can be better aligned, identify challenges and opportunities for collaboration and shared interest.

The study is expected to be completed in early 2022.

 

CONSTRUCTION NEARING COMPLETION ON STATE HIGHWAY 288 FRONTAGE ROAD

PEDC, along with the City of Pearland, TxDOT and Brazoria County have partnered on the construction of a northbound frontage road on State Highway 288 between Magnolia and FM 518 (Broadway). The frontage road, which is expected to be complete in October, will help address congestion and safety issues at one of Pearland’s busiest intersections and provide two new entries into the Silverlake Shopping Center, home to Target, Kohl’s, Randall’s and many other stores.

The state-funded project wasn’t originally scheduled for construction for approximately five years, however PEDC contributed $750,000 in funding in 2018 to assist with moving the project forward. In addition, the City contributed $410,000, Brazoria County contributed $1.5 million and TxDOT also provided construction management and materials testing for the project. 

RICE DRIER AREA REDEVELOPMENT CONTINUES WITH RECONSTRUCTION OF HALIK ROAD

The SH 35 Corridor Redevelopment Strategy identified the Rice Drier/Halik area as a potential project, as part of Catalyst 2 Business Park North, to create more investment by better positioning the properties in the area for investment. As the City has grown, the area has developed into a light industrial area that creates heavy demands on the narrow asphalt roads that they were not designed to accommodate. Both Halik Street and Rice Drier Road needed to be upgraded from asphalt to concrete with improved stormwater drainage to handle the growth of light industrial traffic. Recent developments in the area include ERS-CAT’s 40,000-square-foot facility that opened in 2019 and Tractor Supply's store that is currently under construction.

The third and final phase of this project, the reconstruction of Halik Road is now underway. The PEDC Board approved the construction contract at its June 24th meeting and City Council approved at its July 12th meeting. The contractor is expected to mobilize in September and the project should be complete in spring 2022.

The reconstruction of Rice Drier Road was completed in 2020, improving the surrounding condition and appearance of the area by replacing the waterline and the open roadside ditches with curb and storm sewer and adding pedestrian access with a sidewalk and decorative paver strip. Street lighting is planned to be installed later this year. The total cost of the road project was approximately $3.6 million and was funded by PEDC.

IMPLEMENTATION CONTINUES ON PEARLAND PROSPERITY STRATEGIC PLAN

Since the adoption of the Pearland Prosperity Strategic Plan in early 2020, the plan’s Implementation Committee continues to make progress on each of the plan’s focus areas. The Implementation Committee has met quarterly since the plan’s adoption to guide the plan’s implementation. Highlights from the first year of implementation include the development of a business model for an entrepreneurship Hub for Pearland, continued implementation of the 288 Corridor Master Improvements Plan, the SH 35 Corridor Redevelopment Plan and the Broadway Corridor Development Plan.

CONTINUED PROGRESS ON PARKS AND AMENITITES IN PEARLAND

The City adopted a new Parks Recreation, Open Spaces and Trail Master Plan in January 2021. This plan serves as a blueprint for the community to continue its efforts to develop signature park improvements and trail and bicycle/pedestrian connectivity projects.

Through a collaboration between America Modern Green (AMG), the City, PEDC, and the Lower Kirby Pearland Management District (LKPMD), a public park and trail system are being incorporated into the Ivy development in Lower Kirby. The Ivy development is located in the Lower Kirby District at the southwest corner of South Spectrum Blvd. and SH 288’s frontage road.

Construction is complete on the public park and amenities surrounding the East Conveyance Pond at the Ivy District, including a trail along Clear Creek, which will serve active and passive recreation needs of those who live, work, or visit within the District.