Communities in the Coastal Bend region support major industrial growth like the Bishop Industrial Park with many incentives including Tax Abatements, Economic Development Sales Tax, Enterprise Zone, and Foreign Trade Zone designations. Tourism and convention visitors continue to bring outside dollars into the Coastal Bend market. About 5 million people a year visit this area, making it the second most frequented vacation destination in Texas, according to Smith Travel Research. Popular attractions include Padre Island National Seashore, Mustang Island State Park, the King Ranch and the Lexington Museum on the Bay. Expected growth in the tourism arena will increase with the completion of a cruise ship terminal currently under construction in the Port of Corpus Christi.
Agriculture continues to be a stable force in the local economy.
Nueces County has lead Texas in sorghum production nine of the past ten years and is among the top 25 cotton producing counties in Texas. This area is also the regional agri-service center for the Coastal Bend of Texas. The Coastal Bend is also home to several military installations and defense-related facilities with Naval Station Ingleside, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, the Corpus Christi Army Depot, and Naval Air Station Kingsville. These facilities provide employment for 11,500 military and civilian employees. Health care service continue to grow.