Investing for the Future

On Friday, Nov. 22, Ric Campo, Chairman of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority, delivered his State of the Port address to the Greater Houston Partnership. He noted that the Houston Ship Channel had just celebrated its 110th anniversary as a deep-water port in November and that the channel is the foundation of the thriving international city Houston is today.

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Ric Campo, Chairman of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority, delivered the 2024 State of the Port Address to the Greater Houston Partnership in November. He encouraged the sold-out audience of Houston-area business leaders in attendance at the Marriott Marquis to be just as committed to the stewardship and resiliency of the Houston Ship Channel as the Houston visionaries “who built the port that built the city" more than a century ago. (Photo: Business Wire)

His message was clear: for Houston’s continued job growth and prosperity, Port Houston’s leaders, along with all Houston business leaders of today, must be just as committed to the stewardship and resiliency of the channel as the Houston visionaries “who built the port that built the city," more than a century ago.

Spelling out the Houston Ship Channel's no. 1 rankings across multiple categories and continued success, Chairman Campo emphasized that the Houston region is growing, and "big growth equals big opportunities." During his address, he highlighted infrastructure investments to support continued channel industry growth, including an update on the status of Houston Ship Channel Expansion – Project 11.

Over the past five years, Port Houston has invested $1.54 billion in land and waterside infrastructure, and “we are not done investing," said Chairman Campo. More than $1.7 billion is planned in landside infrastructure over the next five years to increase capacity for the continued growth Port Houston expects at its facilities. He also shared that Port Houston’s work on Project 11 is on schedule and on budget.

Highlighting Houston's "can do" spirit and understanding of the importance of the expansion for the safety of the channel and continued job growth for the region, Chairman Campo pointed to Port Houston’s partnership with terminal industry leaders to share the financial commitment to complete Project 11 and provide its many benefits with speed and efficiency.

Chairman Campo also used the occasion to introduce Port Houston CEO Charlie Jenkins to the sold-out crowd of business leaders in attendance at the Houston Marriott Marquis. During their “fireside chat,” both Campo and Jenkins stressed the enduring responsibility of Houston leaders – to maintain a spirit of collaboration and vision of stewardship for the channel and community, and its legacy, for the continued growth of jobs and prosperity for the Houston region and nation.

The Port Houston Strategic Plan 2025 Update, a collaborative effort including more than 165 business and community leaders was also discussed and is available here: https://porthouston.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Strategic_Plan_2025Update_Final_2024.10.28.pdf.

About Port Houston

For more than 100 years, Port Houston has owned and operated the public wharves and terminals along the Houston Ship Channel, including the area’s largest breakbulk facility and two of the most efficient container terminals in the country. Port Houston is the advocate and a strategic leader for the Channel. The Houston Ship Channel complex and its more than 200 private and eight public terminals is the nation’s largest port for waterborne tonnage and an essential economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas and the U.S. The Port of Houston supports the creation of nearly 1.5 million jobs in Texas and 3.37 million jobs nationwide, and economic activity totaling $439 billion in Texas and $906 billion in economic impact across the nation. For more information, visit the website at PortHouston.com.

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