Office Readiness Application

Interested applicants are highly encouraged to start compiling the required application documents and meet with program staff prior to submitting an application. To request a meeting with program staff, please email EcoDev@sugarlandtx.gov.

PURPOSE
The Sugar Land Office Readiness Program is designed to refresh vacant and underutilized office buildings by supporting tenant improvements and infrastructure upgrades that attract high-quality employers. This performance-based program leverages Type A economic development funding and is tied directly to verified job creation and capital investment.

The program includes two paths of eligibiity:

Property Owner Path – Incentives for landlords/property owners making substantial capital investments to modernize aging office buildings.
- Capital Investment Requirement - Minimum $2,000,000 in eligible building modernization or infrastructure improvements.
- Program will reimburse up to 50% of eligible improvements.
- Occupancy & Job Retention Requirement
  - Property owners must maintain at minimum the baseline occupancy rate and associated jobs verified at the time of application.
  - Within 60 days of the end of each year of this agreement, Owner will provide to the SLDC a spreadsheet that shows each tenant’s name, primary job employee count and sq footage leased to each tenant during the prior year of this agreement.
  - Tenant employment levels must be maintained per the term of the agreement.
- Lease Commitment
  - Property owners must demonstrate efforts to secure primary job tenants with a minimum 5-year lease term.
  - Tenants should operate within Sugar Land’s targeted industries—information technologies, business and professional services, or life sciences—or serve as a regional or national headquarters, to align with the program’s objectives.

Tenant Path – Incentives for new and existing employers making significant tenant improvements and investing in the growth and stability of their operation in Sugar Land.
- Capital Investment Requirement - Minimum $750,000 in tenant improvements.
  Program will reimburse up to 50% of eligible improvements.
- Job Creation & Retention Requirement
  - Tenants must commit to creation or retention of primary jobs in Sugar Land at or above the following minimum thresholds:
    - Life Sciences Companies: At least 10 new or retained primary jobs.
    - Targeted Industry Companies (corporate HQ, professional services, technology, etc.): At least 50 new or retained primary jobs within the first three years.
  - Annual job verification required through payroll and/or TWC data.
- Lease Commitment
  - Minimum 5-year lease term in an eligible office building.
  - Tenants should operate within Sugar Land’s targeted industries—information technologies, business and professional services, or life sciences—or serve as a regional or national headquarters, to align with the program’s objectives.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Office-Only Priority: Incentives apply only to professional office space — buildings primarily designed and used for professional, administrative, or corporate office functions.
Location: Must locate in the eligible office corridor as defined by the Sugar Land Office Readiness Program boundaries map; within Sugar Land city limits.
Minimum Annual Average Salary Requirement: $61,240 (verified via Texas Workforce Commission reporting and/or through internal payroll data).
Statutory Compliance: Qualifying projects include projects related to the creation or retention of primary jobs under Local Government Code Section 501.101 or projects related to certain infrastructure improvements under Local Government Code Section 501.103.
- Under Local Government Code Section 501.101,eligible improvements may include land, buildings, equipment, facilities, expenditures, targeted infrastructure and improvements that are for the creation or retention of primary jobs and that are found by the SLDC Board to be required or suitable for the development, retention, or expansion of:
  - regional or national corporate headquarters facilities.
- Under Local Government Code Section 501.103, “project” includes expenditures that are found by the board of directors to be required or suitable for infrastructure necessary to promote or develop new or expanded business enterprises, limited to: (1) streets and roads, rail spurs, water and sewer utilities, electric utilities, or gas utilities, drainage, site improvements, and related improvements; and (2) telecommunications and Internet improvements.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Applications will be accepted on an on-going basis. Funding is limited and awarded subject to availability. Applicants are encouraged to start compiling the required application documents and meet with program staff prior to submitting an application. To request a meeting with program staff, please email Ecodev@sugarlandtx.gov.

Path Selection (Required)*

Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements for the selected path. The city reserves the right to verify eligibility and request additional information.

Legal entity name*

DBA (if applicable)

Applicant Type*

Your Name (Primary Point of Contact)*

Your Title (Primary Point of Contact)*

Email*

example@example.com

Phone Number *

Please enter a valid phone number.

Organization Mailing Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Building Name (if applicable)

Must locate in the eligible office corridor as defined by the Sugar Land Office Readiness Program boundaries map; within Sugar Land city limits.

Physical Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Year built

Property Owner Name

Property Owner Contact

Property Owner email/phone

Detailed Project Description / Scope of Work*

In the description, please identify as much information as you can about the proposed project. Your project description and attachments should provide clear details about the scope of the improvementt(s)

Proposed Construction Start Date*

Estimated Completion Date*

Has construction begun?*

Estimated Total Cost of Proposed Project*

Total Rentable Square Footage of Property

Current Occupied Square Footage of Property

Current Vacant Square Footage of Property

Square Footage to be Improved

Broker engaged?

Describe the impact of your project. More specifically, please explain in detail how your project improves the building’s market competitiveness, including its anticipated economic impact (e.g., increased occupancy, tenant attraction or retention, enhancement of the office inventory, or long-term contribution to the City’s tax base)*

Describe your business operations.

NAICS Code

Total number of employees that would occupy space upon project completion.

Square Footage to be Improved

Lease term (proposed)

Jobs to be retained:

Jobs to be created :

Describe the impact of your project. More specifically, please explain in detail how your project supports your company’s operations and workforce in Sugar Land, including its anticipated economic impact (e.g., job creation or retention, operational growth, relocation, or long-term presence in the community).*

Please upload the following supporting documentation:

Proof of ownership or lease agreement (Required)
Owner authorization letter (Required: tenant applicant)
Baseline Occupancy Spreadsheet: Tenant Name, Primary Job Count, and SF leased to each tenant (Required: property owner path)
Photos of the property or tenant space showing existing conditions prior to any construction, renovation, or improvements. (Required)
Site plans that include clear photos and/or renderings of the proposed project (Required)
Itemized Work Estimates/Quotes showing the total cost of the proposed project (Required)
Project Scheudle (Required)

Any additional documentation not listed that the applicant can provide to strengthen the application is recommended.

Supporting Documentation

By submitting this grant application, the undersigned hereby certifies and understands the following:

I hereby declare that all information provided in this application is true, correct, complete, and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I acknowledge that the City of Sugar Land and/or the Sugar Land Development Corporation may request additional information and/or documentation related to this proposed project at any time during the review process.

I understand that not all properties and/or projects that meet the eligibility requirements of the program will receive reimbursement grants. Eligibility and award determinations are made at the sole discretion of the City of Sugar Land and/or the Sugar Land Development Corporation. I further understand that this program is discretionary and reimbursement-based, and that any approved reimbursement may be awarded in an amount up to fifty percent (50%) of the total eligible project costs.

I acknowledge that the proposed project has not commenced prior to application approval and understand that all work on a qualifying project must begin only after approval by the Sugar Land Development Corporation, execution of a project agreement, and receipt of a formal notice to proceed from the City. I understand that any project work initiated prior to these approvals will result in the project being wholly disqualified from reimbursement.

I further acknowledge and agree that I am responsible for obtaining all required permits, approvals, and inspections, and certify that I am current on all City of Sugar Land taxes, fees, and financial obligations. I understand that participation in the program requires compliance with all applicable program guidelines, requirements, and conditions.

Your Name and Title

Signature

APPLICANT INFORMATION

APPLICANT INFORMATION

PROPERTY INFORMATION

Ownership/Authorization

Project Summary

Path-Specific Information

Property Owner Path

Tenant Path

Acknowledgement