Fluoro-Seal International, L.P. to

Fluoro-Seal International, L.P. to
12-May-2006

May 9, 2006 (Katy, Texas) The Katy Area Economic Development Council (KAEDC), Waller County and Fluoro-Seal International, LP (Fluoro-Seal) announced today that Fluoro-Seal will be building a new 60,000 sq ft. facility at Stonegate Business Center. The new facility will entail a capital investment of about $3.5 million dollars, house 40 employees which includes the company’s corporate headquarters, research and development and one of its 11 manufacturing facilities.

Senior Vice President and Katy area resident Paul Banks detailed the project at the Katy Area Economic Development Council General Assembly meeting. “We have worked with the KAEDC on this project for over two years and appreciate their assistance with site selection, permitting and tax abatement. I would also like to thank Judge Owen Ralston and the Waller County Commissioners for granting tax abatement for the project”.

Banks noted that the company initially had planned to build a facility on a 35 acre site about a mile away on the east side of Pedersen Road near Pavestone. However, the company struck a deal to purchase Stonegate Business Center (40 acres) and plans to move this facility plan there. The company will develop the remaining 30+ acres in Stonegate for industrial use.

Fluoro-Seal is a world leader in surface modification of plastics. Since 1983, Fluoro-Seal has been treating polyolefin bottles for enhanced barrier properties. Fluoro-Seal has treated over 1.5 billion plastic bottles and containers as well as articles of all shapes and sizes from sheets of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene to medical devises to bolts of fabric to geosynthetics. In addition to its 11 U.S. manufacturing plants, the company has joint venture or licensed international sites in Canada, England, France, Germany, Australia and Mexico.

“We are pleased that Fluoro-Seal has chosen to locate in Waller County and the Katy area”, said Judge Owen Ralston, Waller County Judge. “Waller County provided the company a four year tax abatement with decreasing abatement rates through the seventh year”, noted Ralston.

KAEDC President/CEO, Lance LaCour thanked Waller County for their efforts. “The KAEDC and the Waller County Commissioners Court are aggressively pursuing quality businesses like Fluoro-Seal. We look forward to working with Judge Ralston and the Waller EDP to aggressively recruit more quality companies to Waller County and the Katy area”.

Mayor Doyle Callender also welcomed the company and offered the City’s assistance in the relocation transition. Ann Hodge, President of the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce welcomes Fluoro-Seal to the area as well.

The Katy Area Economic Development Council is a non-profit 501(c) 6 incorporated in October 2003 with the mission of establishing the Katy area as the premier location for families and business through planned economic growth. The Katy Area EDC provides site location, business data, and incentive facilitation assistance to qualified expanding and relocating companies. Located west of Houston on Interstate 10, the Katy area is serviced by two major transportation thoroughfares (I-10 & Grand Parkway) providing excellent regional connectivity. Award winning master planned communities and the highly rated Katy ISD public school system set the foundation for a superior quality of life which Katy families enjoy. The highly educated workforce, large labor pool, available sites, and abundant utilities position the Katy area for prime business development and residential growth.

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For more information, Contact:
Lance LaCour, President / CEO
Katy Area Economic Development Council
P.O. Box 970 Katy, TX 77492
Ph. (281) 396-2200