About > Our Mission & Vision

Connecting members, businesses, consultants, and developers to resources .

Leading the way for economic growth and progress on the island.

Our Mission & Vision

Leading the way for economic growth and progress on the island. The Galveston Economic Development Partnership supports existing and new businesses by providing the infrastructure to be globally competitive while creating an atmosphere that promotes knowledgeable citizens while preserving the aesthetic and environmental quality of life.

Our History

The Galveston Economic Development Partnership (GEDP) was created in 1999 by the Business and Community leaders of Galveston to support the expansion and diversification of Galveston’s Employment and Tax Bases.

Our Plan of Work

Priority areas of investment include those projects capable of expanding or enhancing the core industries for the Galveston economic base: Maritime, Tourism, Education, Healthcare, and Emerging Technologies. Maximizing Galveston’s human, natural, and financial resources, the GEDP remains committed to facilitating quality projects that work to expand Galveston’s employment and tax bases. Galveston is an island of opportunity and the GEDP looks forward to working with you on future projects.

Primary Initiatives

  • Business Development

  • Strategic Investment and Development

  • 4B Sales Tax for Economic Development

  • City Planning Efforts

  • Growth Initiatives for Galveston's Major Industries

    • Maritime & Support Services for Offshore Oil and Gas

    • Education, Healthcare & Emerging Technology

    • Sports Tourism 

  • Membership Services 

Secondary Initiatives

  • Disaster & Business Recovery

  • Housing Activities

What we do:

Providing Resources for Business and Community Development

Information Clearinghouse of demographic, socioeconomic, available properties, strategic investment areas, and an overall awareness for the economic climate of Galveston Island.

Site Selection Tools and Resources including real estate, utilities, incentives, workforce data, planning, project structuring and finance, regulatory and other services to aid in the project development/ implementation phases of generating new wealth.

Comprehensive database of specialized tools/ software for project development purposes including GIS and associated software, proprietary data utilizing customized databases for local and regional assessments/ comparisons and others.

Leveraging Assets, Resources, and Leadership

The GEDP has established a professional track record of collaboration and leveraging people, projects, and opportunities for more than 20 years. The strength of the GEDP is the direct result of the caliber of members and the leadership of the Executive Committee who volunteer in the effort of growing Galveston. These attributes have resulted in recognition over the years from both the Texas Economic Development Council and the International Economic Development Council.

Executing The Core Values Established the Day the GEDP was Organized, Remaining True Today…

  • Expand Employment Opportunities and Tax Base

  • Economic Impact of Supported Activities

  • Task Force Continuation

  • Comprehensive Economic Database Foundation

  • One-Stop Shop Delivery System

  • Proactive Business Climate

  • Realistic Incentive Base for Stimulating Private Sector Investment

  • Middle-income and Housing Expansion

  • Business Continuity and Disaster Preparedness Initiatives

  • Quantified Labor Pool for Workforce

  • Strategic Alliances with Local and Regional Entities