Jasper

About a two-hour inland drive from downtown Houston are the tall pines and clear lakes of deep East Texas, where cities such as Jasper (population: 8,500 and growing) are building on their natural attractions to expand business and industry development opportunities.

"It's a different kind of environment here. We've got a good labor force. We're less than two hours from Houston, four hours to Dallas and four hours to New Orleans. But typically, Jasper doesn't find itself in competition with the big cities. We've got cost advantages and living advantages. It's rolling hills and pine trees and huge lakes," said Leo Connor, director of the Jasper Economic Development Corp.

While known for its timber and oil industry roots, the area is quickly diversifying with 85-acre and 100-acre industrial sites, and a variety of industrial and commercial buildings easily accessible by major highways, rail spurs and a municipal airport. Airport expansion work also is under way.

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