BUSINESS BRIEFS INSIDE THIS VOLUME 9, NUMBER 3 WINTER 2016 – 2 0 1 7 ISSUE: Business 1 Assistance Programs President’s Letter Bob Mitchell Storm Surge 3 Protection The Bay Area Houston Economic Part- portant role that NASA Initiative nership is successful due to its many and plays in both our economy and our leader- diversified partnerships. Our greatest as- ship position on the world stage. Our Citi- Marketing 4 set, however, is our members. zens for Space Exploration / Texas will be Throughout 2016, these members vol- part of a much larger delegation visiting Public 5 unteered an unknown number of hours in Capitol Hill again in May. Relations support of this organization. They helped These committees and BAHEP’s other & Media us to stage a truly incredible 40th Anni- committees — the Aerospace Advisory Communications versary Celebration. We received input Committee, Small Business Committee, from over 400 individuals in the develop- International Maritime Advisory Commit- Special 6 ment of our 2017-2021 Strategic Plan, and tee, Education & Workforce Development Initiatives we are so grateful to those who served on Committee, Health Care Committee, the Strategic Planning Committee. Space Center Volunteers, Team NASA, Bay Area 7 As we get settled into the new year, we the Quasar Award Banquet Committee, Houston are making preparations to travel to Aus- and Ellington Field Task Force — are the Advanced tin to present our legislative agenda to the engines that drive the BAHEP machine. Technology 85th Legislature. BAHEP’s Political Pro- Their efforts to make Bay Area Houston a Consortium tocol Committee has spent months work- wonderful place to live, work and play are ing on the agenda, which addresses issues truly appreciated. Space 9 that are so important to this region. Alliance We’re also gearing up to travel to Technology Washington, D.C., in February to meet Outreach with freshmen congressional representa- Bob Mitchell Program tives to help educate them about the im- President Membership 9 agenda will be presented to the governor, Our Partners 12 Business Assistance Programs lieutenant governor and key committee members during scheduled meetings at the State Capitol on Feb. 28 – March 1, BAHEP Hosts State Legislators 2017. Feedback from the legislators’ re- at Meeting to Review view has been incorporated into the legis- 85th Legislative Agenda lative policy papers in preparation for the BAHEP and its Political Protocol Com- trip to Austin. BAHEP, along with the mittee hosted eight local state legislators Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce for a review of the 85th Legislative and the League City Regional Chamber of Agenda on Oct. 26, 2016. The legislative Commerce, will jointly present the policy P A G E 2 papers to the legislature. Leg- Space Subcommittee, which has legislative islators participating in the jurisdiction and congressional oversight review were: authority over all matters relating to U.S. Sen. Larry Taylor (Dist. 11) national space policy, including NASA and Sen. Sylvia Garcia (Dist. 6) space commercialization. Rep. Greg Bonnen, M.D. (Dist. 24) Congressman Babin covered a lot of Rep. Wayne Faircloth (Dist. ground in his insightful, informative 23) speech. In part he stated, “Politics always Rep. Ana Hernandez (Dist. plays a role in space policy. Protecting 143) NASA human spaceflight budgets and ex- Rep. Dennis Paul (Dist. 129) ploration budgets are my top priorities. Rep. Gilbert Peña (Dist. 144) NASA needs to stick to its primary purpose Rep. Ed Thompson (Dist. 29) of human spaceflight and exploration, or it will continue to suffer unnecessary set- The legislative topics are provided below. backs.” The complete legislative agenda is avail- able upon request. He spoke of the ongoing testing of the Education and Workforce Orion crew module and the SLS launch Development system saying, “These are truly exciting Texas Maritime Industry Jobs times for us, which is why it is critical that Initiative NASA’s human spaceflight programs be Ellington Field Task Force Initiative THE funding priority within NASA.” The State Franchise Tax congressman also supports keeping the Healthcare Initiative International Space Station, ISS, flying for Storm Surge Protection as long as possible saying, “It’s important Texas Spaceport Trust Fund for Congress to fully fund this program.” Texas Aerospace Scholars & Space Alliance Technology Rep. Babin spoke of the Texas Space Con- Outreach Program gressional Caucus, which he established and co-chairs along with Rep. John Culber- Congressman Babin Speaks son. The caucus’s principal aim is to bring on Deep Space Exploration focus to the Johnson Space Center pro- Congressman Brian Babin, D.D.S. (TX- grams that are essential to the center. He 36) spoke on “The Reality of Deep Space said, “I believe that a strong JSC leads to a Exploration – Leadership, Policy, Plan- stronger human spaceflight program and a ning, Resources and Partnerships” at the more robust overall space industry.” Oct. 26, 2016, general membership meet- ing of the Bay Area BAHEP Participates in Trade and Houston Economic Economic Roundtable Partnership held at with Congressman Randy Weber Lakewood Yacht Club BAHEP President Bob Mitchell and other in Seabrook, Texas. business leaders from around the region More than 125 elected met with Congressman Randy Weber (TX officials, business lead- Dist. 14) on Sept. 19, 2016, for a roundta- ers and educators at- ble discussion of issues involving trade and tended the event. the economy and how they affect the Bay Area Houston region. The roundtable was Elected to Congress in hosted by the League City Regional Cham- 2014, Rep. Babin is ber of Commerce. chairman of the House BUSINESS BRIEFS VOLUME 9, NUMBER 3 P A G E 3 BAHEP Supports the Galveston County of the nation’s only export credit agency have been urg- Transportation Summit ing congressional lawmakers to restore the bank’s full The inaugural Galveston County Transportation Summit, lending powers during the lame-duck session. Business organized by Bix Rathburn, Ph.D., director of Economic leaders have been making one last push to convince Con- Development, Galveston County, was held on Sept. 1, gress to pass a provision that would temporarily lower a 2016. This event brought together more than 600 atten- quorum requirement so the agency can approve loans of dees to hear updates on a full array of highway, transpor- more than $10 million. The bank now has only two con- tation and construction activities that are currently under- firmed board members, which means that one more is way in Galveston County and the region. BAHEP spon- needed to approve larger transactions that are in the pipe- sored this event by purchasing a table and hosted State line. Senator Larry Taylor, U.S. Congressman Randy Weber, Kemah Mayor Carl Joiner, Seabrook Mayor Glenn Royal Storm Surge Protection Initiative and other guests. Bob Mitchell Testifies at Public Hearing Seabrook Economic Development Summit on Coastal Barrier System Addresses Highway 146 Expansion Project BAHEP President Bob Mitchell was invited to testify BAHEP President Bob Mitchell, Membership Director before the Texas Legislature’s Joint Interim Committee Harriet Lukee and Marketing Manager Barbara Cutsinger to Study a Coastal Barrier System, co-chaired by Sen. attended the Seabrook Economic Summit held at the new Larry Taylor and Rep. Joe Deshotel, on Oct. 5, 2016. Tookie’s Seafood on Nov. 2, 2016. While over 50 eco- nomic development professionals, elected officials and Mitchell told the committee that BAHEP believes that the other community leaders enjoyed a delicious lunch, coastal spine alternative is the best available storm surge Mayor Glenn Royal gave an update on the City of Sea- protection system for the Houston Ship Channel, Galves- brook’s new developments and new branding initiatives. ton Bay and surrounding region. He said that storm surge Seabrook’s Economic Development Director Paul protection is so important to BAHEP that the organiza- Chavez and City Manager Gayle Cook followed Mayor tion has been working on the issue since Hurricane Ike Royal with interesting information on available commer- devastated portions of the region in 2008. Mitchell cited cial real estate, business incentives and Seabrook’s State the many initiatives undertaken by BAHEP to help facili- Highway 146 expansion project. Included in the presenta- tate the construction of a coastal spine. tion by Chavez and Cook was a Geographic Information System (GIS) schematic depicting the SH 146 expansion. Testimony was also provided by Texas A&M University at Galveston, Rice University, East Harris County Manu- BAHEP Hosts 2017 Legislative Tour Planning facturers Association, the General Land Office, Galves- Meeting ton Bay Foundation, Dannenbaum Engineering and the BAHEP’s Jimmy Spence and Harriet Lukee met with Gulf Coast Community Protection and Recovery District. Jackie King of Sen. Larry Taylor’s office, Fay Picard of Rep. Greg Bonnen’s office, as well as Kathryn McLaurin BAHEP Works with Congressional Staffers of the NASA JSC Legislative Affairs Office on Nov. 3, on Future Funding for the Coastal Spine 2016, to begin planning for the 2017 legislative tour of BAHEP President Bob Mitchell hosted a meeting with Bay Area Houston region, which will take place on staff members from the offices of Congressmen Pete Ol- March 9-11, 2017. This legislative tour will give BAHEP son, Brian Babin and Randy Weber to discuss future leg- the opportunity to familiarize Texas lawmakers with im- islation for funding the construction of the coastal spine portant initiatives that BAHEP supports in the region, protection system. such as a fully-funded NASA budget and construction of a coastal spine for storm surge protection. BAHEP Speaks on Storm Surge Protection BAHEP Executive Director for Special Initiatives Dan BAHEP Participates in Export-Import Bank Seal participated in Council Member Dave Martin’s local Conference Call on Reauthorization of Full Town Hall meeting on Oct.