HOUSTON, April 23, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Port Commission of The Port of Houston Authority (PHA) received results of a study of the Port of Houston's economic impact, based on 2006 data and prepared by Martin Associates, showing a dramatic effect on the region, at its April 23 regular meeting. According to the report, in 2006, the Port of Houston impacted 785,049 jobs in Texas (including 198,983 direct, induced and indirect jobs), $117.6 billion of total economic activity in the state (including $8.1 billion in direct business revenue), and $3.7 billion of state and local taxes (including $1.3 billion of direct, induced and indirect state and local taxes). The full report, "The Local and Regional Economic Impacts of the Port of Houston, 2006," as well as a PowerPoint presentation highlighting the results, "The Economic Impact of the Port of Houston-2006," are available on the PHA Web site.
2006 2000 CHANGE
JOBS
DIRECT 58,142 54,730 3,412
INDUCED 61,714 34,980 26,734
INDIRECT 79,127 53,203 25,924
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TOTAL 198,983 142,913 56,070
PERSONAL INCOME (1,000)
DIRECT $2,833,500 $2,274,306 $559,194
RE-SPENDING/CONSUMPTION $7,448,705 $2,813,771 $4,634,934
INDIRECT $3,148,069 $2,124,843 $1,023,226
---------- ---------- ----------
TOTAL $13,430,274 $7,212,920 $6,217,354
DIRECT REVENUE (1,000) $8,084,680 $6,872,322 $1,212,358
LOCAL PURCHASES (1,000) $5,912,995 $3,992,811 $1,920,184
STATE AND LOCAL TAXES
(1,000) $1,262,446 $649,163 $613,283
BAYPORT MATTERS
(Agenda G4) Commissioners approved a $3.49 million construction contract to Ursa Corporation dba Great Bear Construction for Fill Placement at Bayport.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
(Agenda G7) The Commission approved a professional services contract for $250,000 to Columbia Environmental Services, Inc. for soil remediation at the Beltway 8 Dredge Material Placement Area project.
(Agenda G8) The Commission approved a $149,197 contract to INTERA Incorporated for professional services to assist in achieving TCEQ voluntary cleanup program closure at the Beltway 8 Dredge Material Placement Area.
ROAD IMPROVEMENT MATTERS
(Agenda M1) Commissioners passed a resolution and executed an advance funding agreement for $3.3 million with the Texas Department of Transportation to widen Port Road to a four-lane boulevard and construct an overpass.
FUTURE DEVELOPMENT MATTER
(Agenda M2) The Commission authorized a Memorandum of Understanding with the Board of Trustees for the Galveston Wharves regarding joint action to create a master development plan for a Pelican Island Container Handling Facility. It is the first step in an effort to promote and develop seaborne commerce in the upper Texas coast with the ultimate goal of benefiting the region's economy and creating jobs. The two ports are taking part in this cooperative effort in anticipation of robust market demand requiring development of such a facility in the next 10 to 15 years. The joint agreement stipulates that finance and development of the facility would not begin until after 2015, when the port authority's Bayport Container Terminal is expected to be fully built out.
TARIFF MATTERS
(Agenda M3) The Commission authorized establishment of general rules and regulations governing health and safety at all facilities under the jurisdiction of the Port of Houston Authority by amendments to Port Authority Tariff Nos. 8, 14 and 15. Discussions with port users have taken place and policies have been formulated.
This news release is not a substitute for the official PHA agenda. To view the complete agenda, please visit: http://portofhouston.com/publicrelations/meetings.html
The Port of Houston Authority owns and operates the public facilities located along the Port of Houston, the 25-mile long complex of diversified public and private facilities designed for handling general cargo, containers, grain and other dry bulk materials, project and heavy lift cargo, and other types of cargo. Each year, more than 7,000 vessels call at the port, which ranks first in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage, second in overall total tonnage, and 10th largest in the world. The Port Authority plays a vital role in ensuring navigational safety along the Houston Ship Channel, which has been instrumental in Houston's development as a center of international trade. The Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Central Maintenance Facility are the first of any U.S. port facilities to develop and implement an innovative Environmental Management System that meets the rigorous standards of ISO 14001. Additionally, the port is an approved delivery point for Coffee "C" futures contracts traded on the New York Board of Trade's Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange.
For more information, please visit www.portofhouston.com
To access the port's web site photo gallery, please visit http://www.portofhouston.com/publicrelations/publicrelations.html and click the link for PHA Photo Gallery.
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