Tomball Economic Development Corp. is working to position the city for further business investment by acquiring more land while another manufacturer sets up shop.

The EDC acquired nearly 30 acres off of Mechanic Street near the city’s business district, Colliers announced Tuesday. Also on Tuesday, Klauer Manufacturing Co. announced the opening of a new location in Tomball, where it will eventually manufacture residential building products.

Klauer will open its 40K SF facility, where it will create and warehouse residential roof flashing products, this month and launch full manufacturing capabilities early in the fourth quarter, the Iowa-based company said. The expansion into Tomball is a response to the growing demand in South and Central Texas for roofing accessories, it said in a news release.

Klauer’s investment follows Walsh & Albert Co. and Metal Zinc announcing a new 195K SF office and commercial HVAC manufacturing complex in Tomball in April.

Walsh & Albert Co. specializes in furnishing commercial HVAC ductwork for office buildings, hospitals, schools, hotels, labs and prisons. Metal Zinc is a sister company established to provide HVAC sheet metal products for commercial and single-family residential markets.

That facility is in the Tomball Business & Technology Park, a 100-acre property owned by Tomball Economic Development Corp.

As that center fills up, the EDC is increasing its land coffers. The 30-acre purchase is the second land acquisition the EDC has made this month. The corporation acquired 16 acres on South Chestnut Street, Colliers announced Aug. 4.

Tom Condon Jr. of Colliers represented Tomball EDC in both transactions, which had closing coordinated by Jane Mathews of Stewart Title - Tomball. The seller of the Mechanic Street property, Martin Marietta Materials Southwest, represented itself.

“The acquisition of nearly 30 acres advances the Tomball Economic Development Corporation’s commitment to strategic investment in and around Old Town Tomball,” Tomball EDC Executive Director Kelly Violette said in a statement.

“Together with our recent South Chestnut Street purchase, these sites position the TEDC to catalyze future development and create lasting opportunities for Tomball.”

Tomball, which was largely a rural agricultural community until around the turn of the millennium, saw its population grow 19% from 2019 to 2022.