For more information please contact: Sabrina Schwertner C. B. "Bix" Rathburn, Ph.D Executive Director of Economic Development Director of Economic Development Hitchcock Industrial Development Corporation Galveston County Sabrina@hitchcockidc.com Rathburn@co.galveston.tx.us 409.795.1974 O:409.766.2541 | C: 409.370.7897

Major Industrial Manufacturing Firm RedGuard chooses Hitchcock, TX

HITCHCOCK, GALVESTON COUNTY, TX | January 26, 2016 — The Hitchcock (TX) Industrial Development Corporation and the Galveston County Economic Development Division in association with the Greater Houston Partnership are proud to announce the successful recruitment of RedGuard to the historic Blimp Base Industrial Park in Hitchcock. At full operation, RedGuard expects to employ over 50 individuals in a variety of technical and support positions through the new Hitchcock location. “We are excited and honored that RedGuard has selected Hitchcock as the location for its new facility,” Galveston County Judge Mark Henry said. “As the newest member of our growing industrial family, we look forward to a long and rewarding partnership.” RedGuard manufactures blast resistant modular buildings for the petrochemical industry and is the leading authority in blast resistance. RedGuard provides safe, customizable and scalable modular buildings for a variety of industrial settings. The Wichita, Kansas based company has annual revenues exceeding $50 million annually and looks forward to expanding their customer base from their new Hitchcock location. Galveston County Director of Economic Development, Dr. C. B. "Bix" Rathburn said the site for the new facility on FM 2004 in Hitchcock was chosen by RedGuard because of its strategic location, which is close to over $50 billion in industry expansion projects that are currently underway. The location also provides access to the industrial and petrochemical corridors between Freeport, Texas City and the Houston Ship Channel. "RedGuard is the perfect fit for Hitchcock and the new Hitchcock Industrial 2004 Corridor,” Rathburn said. "Hitchcock provides reasonably priced land that is strategically located near the rapidly expanding petrochemical industry and progressive city leadership willing to partner with business and industry for mutual benefit.” RedGuard President Darren Hillman and Greater Houston Partnership Chief Economic Development Officer Bob Pertierra echoed those sentiments. “We could see the benefits of the Hitchcock site providing a centralized hub for most of our Industrial partners,” Hillman said. “We will be able to service our Texas Gulf Coast region more efficiently and effectively from this strategically chosen location.” “We are pleased to join Hitchcock and Galveston County in welcoming RedGuard to the Houston Region,” Pertierra said. “RedGuard will complement our position as one of the top manufacturing centers in America.” The Hitchcock location was selected in May 2015 after a national site selection process lead by the Next Move Group, a New Orleans based site selecting firm led by CEO Chad Chancellor. Chancellor said he immediately became interested in the historic Blimp Base property in Hitchcock after working with such a professional team. “Sabrina Schwertner, Executive Director of the Hitchcock Economic Development Alliance, is a star in the making,” Chancellor said. “She answered our RFP diligently and provided prompt solutions to all our needs, I cannot tell you how impressed I am with her. Additionally, Bix Rathburn with the Galveston County Economic Development Alliance was a steady voice of calm as we worked through numerous issues, and he is to be commended. Finally, I must praise the Greater Houston Partnership and Texas Economic Development for all of their support. They made Redguard feel very wanted during the entire process. I encourage all of my site selection friends to take projects to Galveston County and Hitchcock, Texas.” RedGuard anticipates beginning operation of their new facility in Hitchcock immediately.