Pearland's folly

Pearland, the biggest and fastest-growing municipality in Brazoria County, has money to burn.

It's got a Starbucks now. And a Baskin-Robbins. A new Whataburger. A Hampton Inn. And a lot of other new stuff, furthering its view that the rest of Brazoria County is populated by hayseeds while Pearland, despite its name, is a happenin' town, a cosmopolitan town, a town worthy of becoming a tourist and convenioneers destination.

If the people only knew what awaits them. With "about 10 lodging facilities" located in and around Pearland, there are plenty of overnight accommodations, and to draw the people there, the city and its chamber of commerce have formed and funded a convention and visitors bureau.

They've hired a convention and visitors coordinator from Shreveport, La., paid him 38 grand a year and told him to get busy.

Really, the town sells itself, but someone's gotta steer the ship.

"My responsibility is to build a positive image for Pearland," he told the Houston Chronicle's Zen T. C. Zheng.

The Pearland Chamber of Commerce president told Zheng, "We don't know if we can compete with Houston, but we can certainly attract smaller conventions."

Yup.

[This Week In Brazoria County]