Our History:

Freeport has a rich history. In 1528, Cabeza de Vaca landed in the area and named the river "Los Brazos de Dios."

In 1821, Stephen F. Austin and 38 men landed at the mouth of the Brazos River on the schooner Lively. Mr. Austin and his "Old Three Hundred" colonists settled the area and in 1831 founded Velasco.  It was the site of the Battle of Velasco in 1832. Velasco consisted of a single house until 1831, when Mexico set up a customs port there and dispatched troops to help the customs collector. More than 25,000 settlers entered through the port. The town was named for a Mexican general, as was Quintana, on the opposite side of the river.

In 1836 following the decisive battle of San Jacinto, Velasco was made the first capital of the Republic of Texas by interim President David G. Burnet.

Freeport was founded as a European-American settlement in November 1912 by the Freeport Sulphur Company. The population was 300. In 1929, the river was diverted south of town, leaving the Old Brazos riverbed as a protected harbor leading to the Gulf of Mexico and the population had grown to 3,500, and to 4,100 by 1939, influencing a steady increase of economic expansion in Freeport. 

Freeport's most substantial economic growth began with the construction of Dow Chemical Company facilities in the city during 1939. This company is the community's largest employer.  Freeport has the company's largest single manufacturing site in the 21st century.

Originally two towns, Velasco & Freeport, on opposites of the Old Brazos River, joined to become the City of Freeport in 1957. Freeport is a part of the Texas Independence Trail

Main Street

The City of Freeport is an affiliate community of the Texas Main Street Program, under the Texas Historical Commission and Main Street America. Freeport Main Street was originally accepted into the Texas Main Street Program from 2000-2012 and was recently recertified as a Texas Main Street community in January 2022.

The mission of Freeport Main Street is to economically revitalize and historically preserve the downtown area to foster an environment which celebrates our rich history and diversity and offers economic, social, and cultural opportunities.

The work of Freeport Main Street is driven by the National Main Street Four Point Approach of organization, economic vitality, design, and promotion. With our collective memory and a bright vision for the future of Downtown Freeport, Main Street is a vital asset in efforts to revive our local economy, preserve our history, and bring our community together for generations to come.

QUALITY OF LIFE

Freeport is home to the phrase "Where Fun Happens". You can find fun adventures of many kinds in our city limits.

Fishing

One of the most popular activities for Freeport's residents and visitors is the fishing.  Whether its standing on a pier and wetting your hook or going offshore deep sea fishing and battling the really big fish, Freeport is the spot you will want to choose.

The City hosts several fishing tournaments each year for children and adults.  Many fisherman choose to find one of the many piers on the Old Brazos River for a day of fishing without having to get on a boat.

Freeport's Bryan Beach

Freeport has approximately three miles of natural beach that is regularly maintained.  It's the perfect spot to camp, have a cook-out or do some shore fishing.

Most residents and visitors to Freeport's Bryan Beach come and enjoy a day of fun in the sun or a long stroll on the beach looking for sea shells. If you need a place to relax, this is it.  If you need to release some energy, maybe jet sking or wind surfing is more your speed. 

Whatever you are looking for, you'll find it on Bryan Beach.

Boating

If boating is your hobby, Freeport is the perfect spot for you! Within minutes of the Gulf of Mexico, you can be offshore fishing and relaxing. Another option is water skiing or sailboating in the Old Brazos River. Whatever your pleasure, Freeport has it.

Located within minutes from the open water, Freeport is the perfect spot to store your boat.  Our marina offers boaters a protected harbor.  Contact Freeport Marina for more information on renting a boat slip in a protected harbor.  Bridge Harbor Marina and surrounding community, also located in Freeport, offers a lifestyle that many dream of. 

INDUSTRY

The Dow Chemical Company’s Freeport site is the largest integrated chemical manufacturing complex in the Western Hemisphere. Founded in 1940, Texas Operations was home to the world’s first-ever plant to mine the ocean for magnesium, making Dow one of the largest suppliers for the Allies in World War II. Today the site employs more than 7,000 people and has 65 manufacturing units working together to produce 44 percent of Dow’s products sold in the United States and 20 percent of the Company’s products sold globally. Recently, Dow announced it would be taking advantage of increasing supplies of U.S. shale gas by building a world-scale propylene plant in Freeport and expanding an existing ethylene cracker there. These large investments combined with other projects, including the building of a world-scale chlor-alkali facility, will create hundreds of positions and thousands of construction jobs. Texas Operations is also in the running for another world-scale ethylene cracker to be built at the site.

Port Freeport

Port Freeport is the smallest (geographically) deep-water seaport along the U.S Gulf Coast. Located in Freeport, Texas (United States). It has rail access, represents both private and public facilities. It is ranked 10th in the nation for chemicals, 19th in the nation for total tonnage, 26th in the nation for container traffic, handles over 100,000 vehicles per year and has more than 1,000 ships per year.^[2] Forbes magazine (2017) ranked Port Freeport as one of the top 10 fastest growing seaports for exports in the U.S.

Port Freeport serves its customers and stakeholders through the development and marketing of competitive world-class navigational capabilities, technically advanced marine and multimodal terminal services and port-related industrial facilities, while achieving profits and creating jobs as a leading economic catalyst for the district and the Texas Gulf Coast.

CURRENT PROJECTS

Volkswagen

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.announced Port Freeport as the new major Gulf Coast hub for its future vehicle logistics port operations, in collaboration with Port Freeport and developer PRP and KDC. With a 20-year lease agreement, Volkswagen Group of America aims to further improve vehicle logistics efficiency and increase importation capacities to serve nearly 300 dealers in the United States. The new port facilities are set to be operational in early 2024.

Volkswagen Group of America, Port Freeport and developer KDC aim to break ground on the new location in late 2022 and expect for the facility to be operational in early 2024. Current VWGoA port operations in Houston and Midlothian (TX) will be consolidated into the new hub at Port Freeport.

Developing Port Freeport will enable Volkswagen Group of America to import approx. 140,000 vehicles per year, primarily from its production hubs in Mexico, as well as imports from Europe. Port Freeport will allow utilization of low-emission LNG vessels, supporting Volkswagen Group’s goal to improve the environmental footprint of its global logistics. Volkswagen Group of America’s future operations at Port Freeport are anticipated to create 113 jobs directly at the terminal facility plus many more indirectly through related fields such as trucking and rail, vessel unloading, vessel pilots, and more.

Starbucks

The Freeport Economic Development Corporation executed a performance agreement with a developer to bring Starbucks to Freeport, TX. This Starbucks opened in July of 2023 and brought 15 new jobs to the community and $750,000 per annum in sales.

Taco Bell

The Freeport Economic Development Corporation negotiated a deal with a developer to bring in Taco Bell. In exchange for a $80,000 tax rebate over a four-year span, the franchise has agreed to invest a sum of $1.9 million into the project and will be held to a set of wage requirements to exceed the standard minimum wage rate. This project is projected to create 21 new jobs and bring in $1.7 million in annual sales.

LJA Engineering was instrumental in developing the theming documents for the revitalization of the downtown waterfront area of Freeport. Utilizing an existing river channel as an amenity-rich attraction, the development is expected to create a unique recreational destination.

LJA prepared a comprehensive vision study for Freeport’s proposed new river walk to be created from the city’s most prominent natural asset, a two-mile, pristine river channel running from the Gulf of Mexico through the heart of Freeport. Fronting the inner harbor and the downtown district, the feature is expected to reinvigorate the area and spur economic growth, while creating industrial opportunities and a recreation destination.

DEMOGRAPHICS

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INCENTIVES

Property Tax Abatement

The City of Freeport is committed to the promotion of high-quality development. On a case-by-case basis, the city will give consideration to providing tax abatement on the increment in value added to a particular property by a specific development proposal which meets the economic goals and objectives of the city.

Tax abatements may be offered on improvements to real property owned by the applicant and/or on new personal property brought to the site by the applicant. Tax abatement will not be ordinarily considered for projects which would be developed without such incentives unless it can be demonstrated that higher development standards or other development and community goals will be achieved through the use of the abatement.

380 & 381 Program

Local Government Code authorizes municipalities and counties to promote state or local economic development and to stimulate, encourage and develop business location and commercial activity in the county. Specifically, it provides for offering loans and grants of city/county funds or services at little or no cost to promote state and local economic development and to stimulate business and commercial activity.

Tax Code Chapter 313: Value Limitation Tax Credits

An appraised value limitation is an agreement in which a taxpayer agrees to build or install property and create jobs in exchange for:

§ An eight-year limitation on the taxable property value for school district maintenance and operations tax (M&O) purposes.

§  A tax credit.

§  This application is submitted directly to the Freeport Independent School District

Freeport EDC Grants

The FEDC has the ability to issue grants and loans to qualified businesses on a case-by-case basis.

The purpose of this program is to promote the development and expansion of new and existing business enterprises within the City Limits of Freeport, Texas and enhance the economic welfare of the citizen of the City by securing and retaining business enterprises and maintaining a higher level of employment, economic activity, and stability. All grants are 50% matching grants.

1.  Façade Improvements; up to $10,000

2.  Sign Improvements; up to $3,500

3.  Property Improvements; up to $10,000

4.  Landscaping Improvements; up to $10,000

5.  Fire Suppression Improvements; up to $25,000

6.  Mega Grant; up to $30,000*

*Can be a combination of Grant Type 1-4 or can stand alone. This is a competitive grant that will give priority to those business that are within our Downtown.

Texas Enterprise Zone

Employers who commit to creating or retaining permanent jobs, make capital investment ranging from $5 million to $250 million, fill at least 25% of their new jobs with individuals who are either economically disadvantaged or residents of an enterprise zone can receive state sales and use tax refunds on items purchased for their project site. A local public action nominating a company an EZ project before a state application can be submitted.

Energy Incentive

CenterPoint Energy has an incentive program to reduce energy cost but will need to be in on the planning stages to certify site. Visit the CenterPoint Energy website to find out more on their programs.

Renewable Energy Incentives

Various tax exemptions, franchise tax exemptions, and franchise tax deductions are available for renewable energy equipment and systems. Renewable energy encompasses solar, wind, ethanol, and biodiesel energy. Detailed information on a variety of renewable energy exemptions and deductions is available at the State Energy Conservation Office.

Pollution Control Equipment Incentive

A Texas constitutional amendment providing an exemption from property taxation for pollution control was approved in 1993. The intent was to ensure that compliance with environmental mandates, through capital investments, did not result in an increase in a facility's property taxes.