From The President

We have had some very gratifying weeks as we approach the Christmas holidays. The word trifecta comes to mind to describe three events that began on the evening of October 23rd. I happened to be in New Orleans, and on Bourbon Street, when I was texted about the passage of the bill that authorized the deepening of the Sabine Neches Ship Channel. A vote of 417-3! Fourteen years of memories came to mind starting with the initial meetings with then Sen. David Bernsen. The discussions were about raising the local funds to initiate a required study to determine the feasibility of a channel improvement project. I then thought about the years of study, especially with the environmental clearances that went through an approval phase only to be completed again by an independent group as a result of a new bureaucratic requirement. I thought about the visits to Washington in which members of Congress looked blankly at the mention of the Sabine -Neches Waterway, making us realize we needed a major branding and marketing effort to educate key stakeholders. I thought about visits to Austin with the same blank looks and recognition that work needed to be done there too. While on Bourbon Street, I took a telephone call from KBMT newsroom and responded to questions about what the bill passage meant to Beaumont. Yes, there still needs to be a conference between the Senate and the House, and yes the President will have to sign a compromise bill. However, with votes of 417-3, and 84-14, surely we will get there. I ended the night with a glass of wine and toasted what I believe is the end of a long journey that will make a major impact for the future of Southeast Texas. It was said that without a Congressman with the stature of Jack Brooks, we would not get there. We lost our Congressman Ted Poe to redistricting. Still we got our language included through the work of Congressman Randy Weber, committed lobbyists, especially a young man named Milam Mabry, and the campaign to brand and market the waterway on its merits.

The second event occurred November 6th. I was in Washington the two days previous attending a meeting of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council. I attempted to determine our fate on an application for accreditation, which was to be voted on the morning of the 6th. No one gave a hint about the outcome ahead of the vote. The Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce has been accredited for decades. Every five years you have to re-apply. The work to complete an application takes months. It involves all the staff and board members assigned to the various sections. Tina Marshall completed an application with supporting documentation on every standard. We wrote dozens of essays to describe what we do and why. I never had any doubt about the outcome. It was the desire to get the highest possible rating, which is five stars. This was the second accreditation effort during my tenure. I viewed the first effort more of a task to be completed without giving much weight to what it meant. This time was different. It was validation of a number of improvements, especially with finances, technology, planning and advocacy programs. It was about listening to other Chamber executives brag about their operations and thinking, 'We do all of that and more!' So I am being honest to tell you that five stars really mattered this time. The call came after landing at Jack Brooks Regional Airport - "Accreditation was awarded with five star distinction. Congratulations." Then followed congratulatory emails, which eventually included some of the five star chambers of commerce in Texas, Irving, Longview and Lubbock. We are now one of six in Texas, and one of 79 in the United States! As I sat in a local restaurant with my wife, Kathy, it was time for another glass of wine.

The third event occurred November 21st with an arranged press conference at the Chamber offices. Gov. Rick Perry announced the grant to close the deal on Project Firewater. Economic Development projects use code names until the company is ready and willing to announce who they are and their intentions with investors and community leaders. Project Firewater was years in the making with numerous meetings; an economic impact study; negotiations for local tax agreements; meetings in Austin with the lieutenant Governor, speaker of the House, and the Governor. There was a delay due to events in the home country of the owner, and there was an offer but a request for more time. The morning of November 21st, included Secretary of State John Steen coming to share the news of the agreement. This is first time the Texas Enterprise Fund has been used for a Beaumont project and the largest investment in Beaumont's history! Some large capital projects don't come with many permanent jobs, but this one includes 240 with the company alone and multiple spin offs and additional jobs. Yes, it feels good. It was gratifying to see the faces of the people who have worked on the deepening project. It was gratifying to congratulate the staff and board members who were devoted to completing the accreditation process, and it was gratifying to watch the elected leaders and economic development specialists who contributed to Project Firewater smile. It was the trifecta to enter the season of Thanksgiving and to give thanks for tremendous blessings. It calls for another glass of wine.