Waller County, TX – Waller County Economic Development Partnership (WCEDP) has been selected as a winner under the “Community Impact” category for the Ross Stores project. Trade & Industry Development, a leading publication dedicated to site selection for businesses, has named the winners of its 2021 Corporate Investment/Community Impact Awards (CiCi Awards). The honor was presented at the WCEDP Annual Planning Meeting on January 14th by the Office of Governor Abbott’s representative Ms. Betty Russo, PCED. “This award for the Waller County Economic Development Partnership is a testament to Texas’ one-of-a-kind business model and status as an economic powerhouse,” said Governor Greg Abbott. Investments from companies like Ross Dress for Less and Grundfos Pumps Corporation in Waller County mean more jobs, improved infrastructure, and greater opportunity for the region. The Lone Star State is proud of the Waller County Economic Development Partnership for their hard work to bring economic prosperity to their community, and I congratulate them on winning Trade & Industry Magazine’s CiCi Award.” The Business and Community Development Division, which is a part of Economic Development & Tourism (EDT) within the Office of the Governor, submitted the Ross project on behalf of Texas and Waller County. The Governor’s EDT team keeps track of projects announced throughout the state. Each year projects which best meet the criteria for the CiCi award are selected and submitted. “I want to thank Governor Abbott’s office for submitting the Ross project for this great honor. Ross has already made a huge impact in our community and they deserve this recognition for their investment in Texas,” stated Waller County Judge, Trey Duhon. Trade & Industry Development serves executives within specific vertical industries. Their mission is to help companies perpetuate success by providing clear and crucial insight into the challenge of site selection and facility planning. For the 15th annual CiCi Awards or Community Impact, Trade & Industry Development recognized 15 projects that demonstrated how site selection can make a difference in the community where the company has chosen to locate. The collective capital investment for the 15 winning projects totaled over $1.9 billion and these incentives will create more than 13,000 new jobs. This winning project is a new ~1.8-2M square foot distribution center for Ross Stores,Inc. Ross is an S&P 500, Fortune 500, and Nasdaq 100 company that specializes in affordable clothing and household goods. This new distribution facility is their first in Texas and will make them the largest private sector employer in Waller County with an estimated 1300 new full-time jobs. Vince Yokom, Executive Director for the WCEDP added: “We are very excited about this prestigious award. Ross has made a significant impact through their investment in Waller County and I am happy to see them receive this recognition.” To learn more about the Trade and Industry Development’s CiCi Awards, visit //www.tradeandindustrydev.com/industry/cici-awards-2021-community-impactawards-17436.