Current News
TEXAS ADDS 133,100 JOBS IN LAST 12 MONTHS
COLLEGE STATION (Real Estate Center) – Texas' economy gained 133,100 jobs from August 2009 to August 2010, an annual growth rate of 1.3 percent.
During the same period, the U.S. economy added 278,000 jobs, an annual growth rate of 0.2 percent. The state's private sector posted an annual employment growth rate of 1.4 compared with 0.3 percent for the United States.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose from 8 percent in August 2009 to 8.3 percent in August 2010, while the nation’s rate in August decreased from 9.7 to 9.6 percent.
All Texas industries except the trade, construction and information industries had more jobs in August 2010 than in August last year.
Twenty-four Texas metro areas had positive employment growth rates for the year ending Aug. 31, up from 19 for the period from July 2009 to July 2010. Sherman-Denison ranked first in job creation, followed by San Angelo, Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, Odessa and Tyler.
The state’s actual unemployment rate in August 2010 was 8.4 percent. Midland had the lowest unemployment rate followed by Amarillo, Lubbock, San Angelo and Abilene.
For the complete set of August data, see the Monthly Review of the Texas Economy — September 2010 by Real Estate Center Research Economist Dr. Ali Anari and Chief Economist Dr. Mark G. Dotzour
The Woodlands is ranked No. 14 on Forbes’ America’s Top 25 Best Places to Move list.
Fifty-eight percent of residents in The Woodlands were born in a different state or abroad, according to the 2000 Census. Twenty-six percent of residents moved into the area within five years.
J. Patrick Homes, a family-owned homebuilding company active in 12 communities in the greater Houston area, has begun a homebuilding program in The Woodlands’ Village of Creekside Park. A model home is under construction in the neighborhood of Tupelo Green, which should open to the public in early July, according to Buck Driggers, vice president of residential sales and development for The Woodlands Development Company (TWDC).
J. Patrick Homes will be offering six different floor plans in Creekside Park, ranging in size from 3,132 – 4,400 square feet. Prices range from the low- to mid-$400’s. “J. Patrick Homes has been successful in many Houston area communities, and we look forward to offering this popular product in the Village of Creekside Park,” Driggers said.
J. Patrick Homes has been building homes in prime neighborhoods throughout the greater Houston area since 1990.
“We are thrilled to be starting our building program in the #1 master-planned community in Texas,” said Tim Drone, vice president of J. Patrick Homes. “The Woodlands is first-class all the way, and we look forward to being one of the quality homebuilders active in this incredible community.”
For more information about J. Patrick Homes in The Woodlands, visit www.jpatrickhomes.com or call 713-789-8004, ext. 15.
The Woodlands is a 28,000-acre master-planned community located 27 miles north of downtown Houston. It is a project of The Woodlands Development Company, a limited partnership of Morgan Stanley and General Growth Properties, Inc.
YMCA’s Grand Opening Celebration
of Creekside Outdoor Adventure Center Set For June 5
The South Montgomery County YMCA is coming alive with adventure as the staff and crew prepare to open the new Creekside YMCA Outdoor Adventure Center, located at 6464 Creekside Forest Drive in the Village of Creekside Park. The community is invited to come see and experience the new YMCA and to celebrate at the free “Forest Full of Fun Grand Opening Celebration” on Saturday, June 5 from 3:00 – 9:30 pm, beginning with a brief ribbon cutting ceremony.
Activities will include a petting zoo, camel rides, pony rides, archery, alpine tower, live entertainment on the outdoor stage, jousting, face painting, balloon art, mascots, moonwalk, climbing wall, wax hand booth, thumbprint art, caricature sketch artist, pottery art, RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon, magic show, puppet show, door prize drawings, guided tours, one day membership promotion, food and beverages and much more. The evening will conclude with an outdoor family movie in the amphitheater and s’mores in the outdoor fireplace beginning at 8:15 pm. Families will have the opportunity to decorate hand painted tiles that will later be hung as artwork throughout the facility as part of the Grand Opening Celebration. Grand prize drawings include complimentary 12 month YMCA Family Memberships. The first 500 families will receive a commemorative t-shirt – limit 2 per family.
In addition to the outdoor activities, there will be a vendor fair inside the YMCA Lodge. A variety of vendors including jewelry, arts/crafts, pottery, accessories, children’s gifts, sculptures, candles, YMCA Summer Program Information and more will be available for your browsing and shopping enjoyment. If you are interested in participating as a vendor, contact Roxanne Davis at rdavis@ymcahouston.org. For information on the Grand Opening, YMCA membership, summer day camp and summer programs, visit www.ymcahouston.org/south-montgomery-county or call 281-367-YMCA.