BUSINESS BRIEFS VOLUME 8, NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2015 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Business 2 Assistance Programs President’s Letter I am sometimes asked, rine industry job initiative, dia, as Marketing 3 “What exactly does BA- Ellington Field Joint Re- well as site consultants, to HEP do.” As someone who serve Base, storm surge showcase the opportunity has been involved in eco- protection, transportation for growth that the region Public 5 nomic development for funding, the state franchise offers. We also gave pres- Relations & many years, this question tax, the Spaceport Devel- entations on “Hot Projects” Media often surprises me. Much opment Corporation, the to various business groups Communications of BAHEP’s work “flies Spaceport Trust Fund Ex- to inform them of the out- under the radar”. There- pansion, the Texas Aero- standing retail and indus- fore, I can understand why space Scholars and the trial growth occurring lo- Special 6 someone would ask this. Space Alliance Technology cally. Initiatives BAHEP’s activities dur- Outreach Program. As you read through the ing the second quarter of At the request of Sen. following pages, you’ll get Bay Area 7 2015 reflect our commit- John Cornyn and Rep. a glimpse of what eco- Houston ment to each member city Brian Babin, D.D.S., BA- nomic development is all Advanced and industry sector in our HEP arranged meetings about and just what Technology region of service. with member aerospace “BAHEP does”. Throughout the recent executives to discuss their Consortium 84th Texas legislative ses- vision and concerns for Best regards, sion, we worked with our NASA’s human spaceflight Space 8 regional representatives in program in the future. Alliance support of education and BAHEP hosted repre- workforce development, sentatives from The Neth- Bob Mitchell Technology the Texas recreation ma- erlands, Germany and In- President Outreach Program The Citizens for Space Exploration’s 24th annual trip to Washington, D.C., included 95 travelers representing 23 states who conducted a record 376 congressional office meetings. See page 6! Membership 9 Our Partners 12 P A G E 2 Business Assistance Cargo; and #6 Ranked U.S. Container Programs Port by Total TEUs. The port’s economic impact on the state of Texas is $178.5 bil- lion, creating $4.5 billion in state and lo- th BAHEP Testifies before 84 cal taxes and 1,026,820 related jobs. Legislature in Support of Houston Spaceport PHA is governed by a seven-member BAHEP’s Dan Seal testified before the commission and owns or operates eight Senate Natural Resources and Economic public terminals. The port experienced Development Committee on behalf of the record growth in 2014, and future growth Houston Airport System in favor of Sen- will be driven by the energy renaissance, ate Bill 458, in regard to legislation gov- resin exports, population growth, the Pa- erning spaceports, including the Houston nama Canal expansion, and cargo diversi- Spaceport. Seal’s testimony on April 7, fication and trade opportunities, Longoria 2015, stated that the spaceport is an eco- noted. The port is also investing heavily Janiece Longoria, nomic development driver helping to keep in Barbours Cut Terminal making a 10- chair of the Port of the State of Texas a leader in space initia- year capital investment of $700 million. Houston Authority tives, and it is important for Texas’ legacy Over the next 10 years, $1 billion will be Commission in space to continue to support space- invested in the Bayport Container Termi- related initiatives. Sponsors of SB 458 nal expansion, as well. included Sens. Larry Taylor and Eddie Lucio and Reps. Greg Bonnen, M.D., Ellington Field Task Force Works to Wayne Faircloth and Sylvester Turner. SB Retain Jobs 458 passed, was signed by the governor Dan Seal of BAHEP attended a meeting at on May 22 and will become effective Ellington Field on June 23, 2015, to get an The Port of Sept. 1, 2015. update on the military missions and activi- Houston is the #1 ties at Ellington Field from new Ellington Port of Houston Authority Chair Field Joint Reserve Base (JRB) Com- U.S. Port by Addresses BAHEP Members manding Officer Col. Stan Jones. BA- Janiece Longoria, chair of the Port of HEP, through its Ellington Field Task Foreign Houston Authority Commission since Force, chaired by John Martinec of Aero- Waterborne January 2013, spoke about the ‘State of Sys, LLC, is continuing its collaboration Our Port’ to members of the Bay Area with Ellington Field JRB constituents to Tonnage. Houston Economic Partnership on April retain as many military jobs in the Hous- 29, 2015, at Lakewood Yacht Club in ton region as possible. Seabrook, Texas. Retention of jobs at Ellington Field is an The Port of Houston is the leading eco- important component of BAHEP’s eco- nomic engine for the greater nomic development initiatives, since these Houston region, and jobs benefit the entire region. The Hous- Longoria is the first woman ton region’s defense against the next Base Commissioner to hold this position in the Realignment and Closure (BRAC) action John Kennedy, 100-year history of the port. will involve a wide array of members of Port of Just how well is the port do- the community – elected officials (local, Houston ing? Longoria reported that, statewide, national), the Houston Military according to national rank- Authority Affairs Committee, the Ellington Field ings, the Port of Houston is Task Force, the Texas Military Prepared- the #1 U.S. Port by Foreign ness Commission, the governor’s office, Waterborne Tonnage – the Houston mayor’s office, the business 163M Tons; #1 U.S. Port in community, academia, interested citizens, Petroleum, Steel and Project and many others. BUSINESS BRIEFS VOLUME 8, NUMBER 2 P A G E 3 BAHEP’s Political Protocol Committee Hosts BAHEP Cares! Honored during “Salute to 84th Legislative Update Heroes” Event BAHEP’s Political Protocol Committee, chaired by The Sentinels of Freedom Gulf Coast Scholarship Foun- Marcy Fryday of the Lakewood Yacht Club, developed dation and BAHEP Cares! benefited from a concert fund- topics and questions for the region’s state legislators to raiser on April 9, 2015, at the South Shore Harbour Re- address during the 84th Legislative Update, held on July sort and Conference Center in League City. The scholar- 15, 2015, at the South Shore Harbour Resort and Confer- ship foundation benefits severely injured soldiers return- ence Center. Participating in the forum were Senators ing home, and BAHEP Cares! provides executive men- Larry Taylor and Sylvia Garcia; Representatives Greg toring to returning veterans seeking to re-enter the work- Bonnen, M.D.; Dennis Paul; Wayne Faircloth; Wayne force. Smith; Ed Thompson; and Gilbert Pena. The audience of more than 150 business leaders, educators and elected FAA Announces Approval of Spaceport License officials received updates on a wide range of legislative for Ellington Airport topics and issues, including education, storm surge pro- BAHEP President Bob Mitchell and staff members at- tection, Texas Wind Storm Insurance Association, border tended a press conference on June 30, 2015, held by the security and transportation. Houston Airport System (HAS) to announce the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) approval of the City of BAHEP Conference Room Renamed in Honor of Houston’s application for a spaceport launch site license David Braun at Ellington Airport. The license gives Houston approval The large conference room of the Bay Area Houston Eco- for horizontal takeoff and landing of suborbital aircraft. nomic Partnership was renamed the David Braun Confer- Elected officials and community leaders spoke about the ence Room in a dedication ceremony held June 9, 2015. positive economic impact of the spaceport, including Braun served as BAHEP’s aerospace marketing manager Mitchell who said, “This is a look at the future. The tech- from 2005 until his passing on Feb. 21, 2015, but he was nology is being developed that will transport people from so much more to his family, his BAHEP family, and the Houston to New York in 30 to 40 minutes or to Europe in community. Braun was a council member for the City of about an hour and half.” The Houston spaceport license Nassau Bay for eight years and mayor pro-tem for four is the 10th awarded by the FAA. years. Several elected officials attended the ceremony for “one of their own” and to present resolutions to Braun’s Marketing widow, Angela, and his son, Michael. Braun’s sister, Kathy McHale, was also in attendance. BAHEP Presents Economic Development Plan to Galveston County Commissioners BAHEP Hosts Netherlands Ministry BAHEP President Bob Mitchell and Executive Director Representatives for Special Initiatives Dan Seal presented a county-wide, BAHEP continued its collaboration with the Dutch gov- regional economic development plan to the Galveston ernment by hosting Janneke de Vries and Jan Peelen, County Commissioners Court Workshop on March 21, who work for the Ministry for Infrastructure and Envi- 2015. The plan provides an approach to promoting busi- ronment at the Netherlands Embassy in Washington, ness development and retention in Galveston County; D.C., on April 21, 2015. BAHEP discussed storm surge assisting regional entities in developing economic devel- protection technologies and programs with de Vries and opment plans and tools in promoting and encouraging the Peelen and gave a presentation to them on the storm formation of new business, retention and expansion of surge protection initiatives, including the Ike Dike Con- existing businesses; and the general diversification of the cept. economy in the county. P A G E 4 BAHEP Hosts In-bound Indian a positive viewpoint of the region’s econ- Delegation Seeking Business omy that can integrated into stories for Opportunities German news outlets. Working closely with Jagdip Ahlu- walia, executive director of the Indo- BAHEP Marketing and Prospect American Chamber of Commerce of Development Activities Greater Houston, and Dr.