Regional
Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (SATOP)
Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program is a cooperative program sponsored by the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, NASA, and key contractors.
The SATOP program is designed to assist small businesses through technology developed from space exploration. However, it does not have to be a space-related industry or problem. Thousands of NASA’s ideas and inventions can be applied to industry, and SATOP’s goal is to accelerate the transfer of these ideas and inventions to small business owners by offering free assistance from NASA technical teams.
The teams can explore engineering, process evaluation, design work or applications, computer programming, etc. for any type business. SATOP has helped companies with rotor failures, medical inventions, assembly techniques, and other issues.
Gulf Coast Economic Development District
The Gulf Coast Economic Development District assists and advises elected officials by making recommendations on issues related to economic development.
The GCEDD provides oversight to H-GAC’s economic development planning programs in the Gulf Coast planning region.
The GCEDD was incorporated in the State of Texas as a non-profit corporation on June 10, 1988. The EDA officially designated the GCEDD as an Economic
Development District (EDD) in January 1991, and the District became an IRS 501(c) (3) in 1995.
The Houston-Galveston Area Council provides administrative and operational staff support for the District. Their work is directed by the District’s Board of Directors,
which is composed of 28 representatives from local governments, businesses, economic development organizations, and minority interests.
The Board of Directors meets quarterly and the Board’s five-person Executive Committee meets monthly.
If you have any questions concerning GCEDD activities, policies, or documents, please contact Josh Owens at joshua.owens@h-gac.com.
More InformationFranchise Tax Credits for Economic Development Projects
Franchise tax credits for economic development were enacted in 1999 by the 76th Legislature and include a research credit, job creation credit, and investment credit to help large and small-sized businesses. A business locating in Galveston County may qualify for these credits if their firm is primarily engaged in computer services or research, manufacturing, warehousing, or wholesale distribution.
