March 17, 2005

Economic Alliance Port Region

The Economic Alliance Houston Port Region on Wednesday held its annual membership meeting to provide its members a report of its progress over the last year.

Alliance member cities in the Houston Port Region include Channelview, Deer Park, Galena Park, Jacinto City, Morgan’s Point, South Belt-Ellington, Seabrook, Sheldon, South Houston, North Shore, La Porte, Pasadena, Pearland and Shoreacres.

Leaders of each task force gave presentations on their accomplishments during 2004 and their goals for 2005.  Mayor Robin Riley of Seabrook, Mayor Tom Reid of Pearland, and Mayor Wayne Riddle of Deer Park attended the meeting.

Jan Lawler, president of the Alliance, highlighted three of the organization’s primary goals for 2005: retaining jobs, marketing the region and advocacy for the region.

“We thank all of you for the time that you contribute to our community,” Lawler said.  “And when I say community, I mean as a whole, north and south of the ship channel.”

Jimmy Burke, chair of the Alliance’s board of directors and a commissioner for the Port of Houston Authority, thanked members and staff and for contributing to the success of the organization and expressed hope for the future.

“The restructuring, the re-branding and the new governance approach have provided very positive movement during the last several months,” Burke said.

Terry Sims of the Deer Park Chamber of Commerce and Judy Whitehurst of the Small Business Development Center presented the progress and goals of the Alliance’s Small Business Task Force.  The task force has worked to network business ideas through area chambers of commerce and plans to hold two networking meetings per year, the first of which will be held on Thursday, May 26.

The meetings will give each small business owner time to “sell” his or her business to others. 

“We think the format is really going to bring everybody together and bring some business into the region,” Whitehurst said. 

Dave Johnson shared the goals of the Industry Task Force.

“We came together because of the recognition that there is a common group of issues facing the ship channel,” Johnson said.

The Industry Task Force hopes to continue its partnership with the State of Texas to execute a 100-question survey that will help the Alliance achieve a complete, unbiased view of  industry trends.

The Alliance has received federal funding through Congressman Tom Delay's office to hire economists to complete the survey and evaluate trends, and will provide the resulting data to local community colleges, cities and organizations.

Debra Brooks Feazelle, city manager for the City of La Porte, chairs the Leads Task Force.  Feazelle said that her group strives to help the Alliance provide new business leads to member cities by facilitating the entire process, from screening new businesses to producing press releases for those businesses.

Gina Manlove of the Quality of Life Task Force identified numerous historical destinations throughout the port region, and said that she hopes to use those amenities to market the region as a whole.

“In about three years, the only veteran’s museum in the United States will be right here in our area,” Manlove said.

John Horan, who heads the Trade Development Task Force, announced the Alliance’s 2005 Symposium and Annual Banquet, to be held on October 20.

“We are looking forward to participating and making a positive impact,” Horan said. “We are delighted to be a part of this organization and to help out wherever we can.”

Dennis Winkler outlined the goals of the Transportation Task Force.  In 2004, the task force worked to support the San Jacinto Rail Line, and in 2005, Winkler hopes to create a transportation strategy that goes beyond rail to “a broader perspective of transportation.”

Founding members of the Alliance were also recognized.

Photos and audio excerpts will be posted on The Online News Station.

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Gulf Coast E-news is a publication of Guidry News Service, with offices at 1818 Church in Galveston, covering posted public meetings in Galveston County, Jefferson County and Harris County.  For additional information, or to order a free, one-week complimentary subscription to Gulf Coast E-news, email News@guidrynews.com.   Telephone (409) 763-6397 (763-NEWS)

For photos and recordings of meetings and special events, visit The Online News Station at www.guidrynews.com.