BUSINESS to BUSINESS www.bayareahouston.com BAHEP extends its sincere appreciation for the continued support of THE DAILY NEWS through this monthly supplement. August 2019 BAHEP’s alliances, initiatives pay big dividends for education, Spaceport, and small businesses

In late July, the Bay BAHEP’s Political signed to provide federal share of Harvey $18,000 in 2010. This hurt Area Houston Economic Protocol Committee free technical expenses, including recov- the industry in , be- Partnership hosted a fo- develops legislative assistance and ery, hazard mitigation, de- cause people went to Flor- rum at South Shore Har- agenda speed transfer of bris removal and bridge and ida to purchase boats. bour Resort & Conference Prior to each legislative space technology road projects at a cost to Once purchased in Florida, Center featuring state leg- session, the Political Proto- to the private the state of $638 million, the boats remain docked islators who gave an over- col Committee of the Bay sector. By giving drawing down roughly $6.3 there. Florida, therefore, view of the 86th Texas Area Houston Economic free technology billion in federal relief. gets the added revenue Legislature which ad- Partnership, composed of assistance to small • Provides over $800 mil- from marinas, gas and die- journed on May 27, 2019. community leaders who are businesses, SA- lion to help Harvey- sel sales, and other services Sen. Larry Taylor, R- BAHEP members, spends TOP helps them impacted school districts. the vessels need, instead of Friendswood; Sen. Carol months developing a legis- solve their chal- • Initiates the development Texas. That doesn’t even Alvarado, D-Houston; lative agenda. lenges and in- of a statewide flood plan consider the dollars spent Rep. Dennis Paul, R- BAHEP’s Education & crease their and the construction of on tourism and recreation Houston; and Rep. Mary Workforce Development chances of suc- flood control infrastructure while the boats are docked Ann Perez, D-Houston, Committee is an integral ceeding. and critical dam repairs with in the Sunshine State. spoke at length about bills part of this process. Its TAS offers a a $990 million investment. The boating industry that were passed regarding members include the super- one-of-a-kind • Funds large-scale coastal supports nearly 1,800 busi- education and school intendents of Clear Creek BAHEP President Bob Mitchell experience for protections along the Gulf nesses in Texas that ac- safety, taxes, flood mitiga- ISD, Dickinson ISD, Texas high school Coast with $200 million in count for almost 26,000 tion, and development of Friendswood ISD, La Porte students to explore state funds (SABINE TO jobs, both directly and indi- the Houston Spaceport. ISD, and Pasadena ISD, as do what was necessary to the possibilities of a science, GALVESTON), leveraging rectly related to recreational Since the close of the well as the leadership of the locate the nation’s 10th technology, engineering or watercraft, ac- session, much has been College of the Mainland, spaceport in Houston. mathematics (STEM) re- cording to the written about school fi- San Jacinto College District, What was necessary meant lated major or career. Stu- National Marine nance reform found in and the University of Hous- long hours spent in numer- dents complete an extensive Manufacturers House Bill 3, as well as ton–Clear Lake. They work ous planning meetings and online course which enables Association. Sen. Senate bills 6, 7, and 8 together to craft a concise even longer hours devoted many of them to participate Larry Taylor related to Hurricane Har- agenda which outlines the to assisting HAS in its for- in a summer learning ex- stated that the vey, guidelines for hurri- priorities of these institu- mal license application with perience at NASA Johnson tax break could cane preparation, funding tions. the Office of Commercial Space Center. create up to 600 for flood-mitigation pro- BAHEP asserts that is Space Transportation, a Rep. , jobs in Texas, jects, and guidelines for vitally important to coop- branch of the Federal Avia- M.D., was instrumental this citing fuel pur- the first flood plan cover- eratively address legislative tion Administration. On legislative session in getting chases, equip- ing the entire state. issues that are necessary for June 30, 2015, the FAA these two important pro- ment sales and It was, without doubt, a the continued growth of the granted a spaceport launch grams placed into the Texas repairs that now very successful session Bay Area Houston region. site license to Ellington A&M University system as go to other which accomplished much. Airport. part of the Texas Engineer- states where While it is important to Committee sets forth For the past four years, ing Experiment Station Texans are buy- recognize the Herculean legislative agenda BAHEP has actively pur- (TEES). For 100 years, ing and then efforts of the state’s legis- The agenda set forth for the sued projects that would TEES has performed docking their lators who toiled for 140 86th in- ideally be suited for the groundbreaking engineering vessels. days under the pressure of cluded action items related expansion of the Houston research and developed BAHEP be- deadlines and constituent to: Education & Workforce Spaceport. For develop- technology to address state Bob Davee gan its Maritime advocacy, it is also neces- ment to continue as and national problems. This Jobs Preservation Development, State Fran- Legislative Forum Moderator sary to acknowledge the chise Tax, Supporting the planned, it was necessary provides a stable source of and Growth work funding for SATOP / TAS in 2010 in prepa- into the future. more than $4 billion in fed- ration for the 82nd Texas eral resources. Legislature the following Senate Bill 2212 For 10 years, BAHEP year. The organization has allows for public- has partnered closely with partnered with the Texas private partnerships Texas A&M University at Marine Industry Coalition SB 2212, authored by Sen. Galveston to mitigate the and has continued to sup- Larry Taylor with Rep. destruction caused by storm port Maritime Jobs Preser- Dennis Paul as one of its surge and flooding caused vation and Growth work as sponsors, allows three by hurricanes. Much has part of its advocacy efforts drainage districts (Velasco been accomplished during for the maritime industry. Drainage District, Drainage that time, but the first District 7, and Orange shovel full of dirt has yet to Much accomplished – County Drainage District) be moved on behalf of the much to be done to enter into a project part- coastal barrier system. BA- The 86th Texas Legislature nership agreement with the HEP, along with its allies, was very productive in Army Corps of Engineers have been strong and re- many ways, and our state’s for projects identified in the lentless advocates region- legislators are to be con- Sabine to Galveston study ally, in Austin and Washing- gratulated for their note- Senator Carol Alvarado and Senator Larry Taylor that was completed in 2017. ton, D.C., on behalf of this worthy efforts. The legisla- This effectively allows them life-saving system. ture adjourned on May 27, to become the local part- 2019. That date marked the Region’s Healthcare System, critical role that Texas for the Texas legislature to ners. Maritime jobs score end of the session. It also Coastal Spine / Taxing Au- citizens and organizations modify and authorize the This bill also allows the big victory marked the start of prepa- thority, Space Alliance played in this session as process whereby a Space- districts to enter a public- House Bill 4032, which rations for the 87th Legisla- Technology Outreach Pro- they have in preceding port Development Corpo- private partnership for pur- takes effect in September, ture convening on Jan. 12, gram and Texas Aerospace sessions. ration could be created. poses of raising funds to states that the amount of 2021, not only for Texas Scholars Program, Space- This corporation would meet the local match re- sales tax charged for luxury senators and representa- port Development Corpo- then be eligible to receive quirement or cover opera- yachts as large as 115 feet tives but also for the Bay ration, Texas Ports / Texas BUSINESS to funding from outside tions and maintenance will be capped at $18,750. Area Houston Economic Enterprise Fund, Transpor- BUSINESS is a monthly sources. costs. It does not fund or Currently, boats in Texas Partnership. tation Funding, Maritime Bay Area Houston BAHEP leadership has provide money for the pro- are subject to a 6.25 percent Bob Mitchell, BAHEP Jobs Preservation and Economic Partnership close working relationships jects identified in the Sabine state sales tax plus local president, remarked, publication in partnership Growth, and Ellington with regional legislators and with THE DAILY Field Joint Reserve Base. has made several trips to NEWS. BAHEP is a BAHEP, along with its Austin during the last two member-driven organiza- partners the Clear Lake sessions to underscore the tion that provides the Area Chamber of Com- necessity of establishing a leadership to stimulate merce and the League City Spaceport Development regional economic devel- Regional Chamber of Com- Corporation, as well as the opment and employment merce, led a delegation of best means forward to do in southeastern Texas. Its more than 90 travelers to so. members include more Austin, Texas, on March 5, House Bill 303, authored than 265 business partners 2019, and held 140 sched- by Rep. Dennis Paul, was encompassing 14 cities, uled meetings with state passed and gives authority Galveston and legislators, the speaker of to a county, or a county and Harris counties, the Hous- the House, and the lieuten- a municipality, and now a ton Airport System, and ant governor to advocate municipality with a popula- Port Houston. for these priorities. tion of two million or more Following the trip, the For membership informa- to create a Spaceport De- Representative Dennis Paul and Representative tion, contact Membership travelers felt that the meet- velopment Corporation. Director Harriet Pilgrim ings were successful, espe- This was a crucial step for cially those related to public at 832.536.3250. future development of the to Galveston study. SB 500 sales taxes which add up to “Sometimes when a bill is education/higher education. Houston Spaceport. allocated $200 million for another 2 percent. An 8.25 passed, such as a number The bills that were eventu- Bay Area Houston part of the local match. percent, sales tax on a $3 of the bills that were passed ally passed by the legislature Economic Partnership SATOP / TAS given SB 500 included $3.5 million purchase amounts this last session, not all of proved this to be a very 18045 Saturn Lane new home at A&M billion in Economic Stabili- to $247,500 in sales taxes. the ramifications are appar- accurate assessment. Houston, TX 77058 The Space Alliance Tech- zation Fund (ESF), also Under the new law, the tax ent immediately. We’ll be

832.536.3255 nology Outreach Program known as the Rainy Day bill would drop to $18,750. monitoring the results of Development hurdle and Texas Aerospace Schol- Fund, to help the Gulf Luxury boat owners will these bills in the upcoming “Like” us on Facebook: passed for Houston ars Program have been im- Coast recover and rebuild benefit, no doubt, but the months and will definitely BayAreaHoustonEcon Spaceport portant programs in the from Hurricane Harvey and intent of the legislation is to meet with our regional Follow us on Prior to 2015, BAHEP State of Texas for 20 years. prepare for future disasters. revive the state’s marine representatives and mayors Twitter: @BAHEP worked closely with the SATOP, a program admin- • Assists devastated com- industry. Florida capped its to discuss potential amend- Houston Airport System to istered by BAHEP, is de- munities with the non- sales taxes on yachts at ments if necessary.”