NAVASOTA, Texas (KBTX) - Grimes County commissioners unanimously approved a reinvestment zone and tax abatement Tuesday for Evapco, a worldwide cooling and refrigeration manufacturer planning a new facility just outside Navasota.

The five-year, 100-percent abatement starts in 2028 - but with pilot program payments of $120,000 a year built into the deal, the effective rate is closer to 30 percent.

Grimes County Judge Joe Fauth said the project is about more than just a tax deal."It's an opportunity for the county to take unutilized land that's sitting there doing nothing... and generate opportunities for the citizens of Grimes County, the students of Navasota High School and all of our other school districts," Fauth said.