This week, freezing weather closes the Texas Capitol, the Partnership welcomes new board chair, advocating for ARPA-H in DC, and the Comptroller announces additional federal funding to address broadband needs. Winter storm closes the Capitol Severe weather across the state pushed lawmakers to stay home on just the fourth week of the 88th legislative session, as both the House and Senate chambers adjourned until Tuesday, February 7th.  Early in the week, Governor Abbott deployed the State Operations Center , to which 15 state agencies report, in preparation for winter storm Mara. While the power grid performed as expected, freezing temperatures and heavy ice brought down power lines, causing communities across Central and East Texas to lose power. Annual Meeting: Incoming Chair Marc L. Boom gives address On Thursday, the Greater Houston Partnership hosted its Annual Meeting. During the meeting, Dr. Marc L. Boom, President and CEO of Houston Methodist and the Partnership’s incoming Board Chair, provided an update of the Partnership’s work and its direction for 2023.  In his speech, Dr. Boom outlined how the business community can play a positive role in finding solutions in today’s increasingly polarized environment. Boom challenged the Houston business community to embrace “AND” solutions to the challenges facing our region.  Energy Transition: “We’re going to use fossil fuels far into the future AND we need to do so cleanly.”  Immigration: “We all need more workers AND we all need secure borders which we as a country control.”  Education: “We have [to have a] public education system focused on meeting the diverse needs of all of Houston’s young people, preparing them for the careers of tomorrow, AND [we have to] also hold school districts accountable for academic performance.” North Houston Highway Improvement Project: “The I-45 project [is a great example of] an AND of jobs AND mobility AND safety AND enhancing and protecting surrounding communities. The bottom line: Boom concluded with: “We need commitment and engagement of a broad, diverse group of business leaders to advance solutions through the fractious debate, singularly focused on Houston’s long-term success and creating opportunity for all Houstonians.” Go deeper: Watch Dr. Boom’s full Annual Meeting address here. The bottom line: Boom concluded with: “We need commitment and engagement of a broad, diverse group of business leaders to advance solutions through the fractious debate, singularly focused on Houston’s long-term success and creating opportunity for all Houstonians.” Go deeper: Watch Dr. Boom’s full Annual Meeting address here. Click to expand Houston Life Sciences Coalition and ARPA-H Even with the state legislative session underway, the Partnership’s work at the federal level continues.  The Houston Life Sciences Coalition, led by the Texas Medical Center, traveled to Washington this week to advance Houston’s opportunity to be awarded a headquarters location for a new federal agency charged with health innovation. The coalition made the case for Houston in meetings with administration officials and members of Congress.  The big picture: In 2022, Congress formally authorized ARPA-H and provided a $500 million increase for the agency, bringing its total funding to $1.5 billion. The bill also requires that ARPA-H have offices or facilities in not fewer than 3 geographic areas. The bottom line: ARPA-H’s mission is to accelerate transformative innovation in biomedical science and medicine, with the goal to maintain the country’s global leadership in science and innovation. By the numbers: The Texas Medical Center is the largest medical city in the world: 60+ best in class academic and clinical partners  10 Million annual patient encounters  11,000 total patient beds  120,000 employees $850 million of NIH Funding in 2020  2,000+ clinical trials annually  225+ active start-up life science companies What’s next: An announcement of headquarter locations by Secretary of Health and Human Service Xavier Becerra is expected this year.  Broadband gets a boost    Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced his agency will receive $363 million in federal grant dollars from the U.S. Treasury to increase access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet across Texas. The award will go toward the Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas (BOOT) program, a competitive grant process administered by the Texas Broadband Development Office (BDO). BOOT funding is designed to connect unserved and underserved locations that lack broadband access; a critical need was made apparent and exacerbated by the COVID-19 public health emergency. Why it matters: The program will fund last mile broadband infrastructure projects and qualified projects that meet a specific criterion. Eligibility will be determined by the Texas Broadband Development map.  The funding, administered through the federal Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, will bring reliable internet service to about 152,000 locations across the state. By reducing the digital divide and closing the broadband last mile gap, Texans will have better access to remote health care options, as well as educational and employment opportunities. What's next: The Texas Broadband Development Office will begin accepting applications in spring 2023. During the 88th Legislative Session, the Greater Houston Partnership will provide a weekly update on newsworthy items from Austin. You can view more policy news and archives of our weekly updates here. 

HOUSTON (February 2, 2023) –The Greater Houston Partnership presented the 2023 Robert C. McNair Civic Leadership Award to philanthropic leaders the Chao family at the organization’s Annual Meeting on Thursday.  This is the first time that the award was presented not to an individual but to a family whose members exemplify the great power that lies in civic and philanthropic leadership—and have built a legacy that transcends borders.  Ting Tsung Chao, known to many as "T.T.," had a revered 60-year career in which he founded numerous successful petrochemical and materials companies across the globe—including Houston-based Westlake – formerly known as Westlake Chemical Corporation.  Born to humble beginnings in Suzhou, China, T.T. found his entrepreneurial penchant after he moved his family to Taiwan in the 1940s. Less than a decade later, T.T. co-founded the country’s first PVC business and would go on to form the China General Plastics Corporation Group, which at the time was among the top 10 companies in Taiwan and number two in the petrochemical industry. While growing his business – T.T. and his wife, Wei Fong, had three children – Dorothy, James, and Albert– all of whom play a significant part in this family’s inspiring story and are paving paths of their own.  In the mid-80s, T.T.’s business acumen pointed him towards Houston. T.T. and his sons, Albert and James, founded Westlake Chemical Corporation, which started with a modest plant in neighboring Louisiana.  Today, listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Westlake operates 100 sites globally with approximately 16,000 employees, maintains a position on the Fortune 500 list and is approaching its fortieth anniversary.  “Known for both volunteerism and generous gifts that have changed the face of our city, the Chao’s show us that generational impact is a rewarding result of long-term community commitment,” said Partnership 2020 Chair Bobby Tudor in presenting the award to the Chao family.  Today, T.T.’s children are carrying on his legacy in notable fashion through continued business leadership with Westlake Corporation and philanthropy through the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation, with a particular emphasis on supporting organizations working to expand health care and education.  Notable gifts from the Foundation include the establishment of the Chao Center for Asian Studies at Rice University, in honor of their parents, T.T. and Wei Fong Chao, to highlight the importance of Asian studies at American universities.  James, the eldest son, is Chairman of Westlake’s Board of Directors. Dorothy serves as a Director of Westlake’s Board, a position she’s held for twenty years. And Albert serves as Westlake’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Under his and James’ leadership, Westlake continues to grow and innovate, constantly evolving to adapt to an ever-changing business climate.  Albert, and with his wife Anne, are steadfast supporters of many of Houston’s cultural and civic organizations.  “As first-generation immigrants to receive this esteemed award, we see this as a reflection of Houston’s rich multicultural society. And it provides encouragement to other business and civic leaders to do their part to contribute to the benefit and welfare of the greater community of Houston,” said Albert Chao in accepting the award. “Over the last 30 years, it has been our pleasure and honor to serve on the boards of various Houston organizations, which have been our partners in how we have tried to give back to the city we have made our home.”  Established in 2020, the McNair Award is presented by the Greater Houston Partnership annually business leaders who have made an outsized impact on our community — through civic and philanthropic leadership – honoring the lifelong legacy imparted by the award’s namesake, Bob McNair.  ###         Greater Houston Partnership  The Greater Houston Partnership works to make Houston one of the best places to live, work and build a business. As the economic development organization for the region, the Partnership champions growth across 12 counties by bringing together business and civic-minded leaders who are dedicated to the area’s long-term success. Representing more than 950 member organizations and approximately one-fifth of the region’s workforce, the Partnership is the place companies come together to make an impact. Learn more at Houston.org. CONTACT: Brina Morales                                                 Senior Manager, Media Relations     bmorales@houston.org           (c) 832-287-5089             A.J. Mistretta Vice President, Communications amistretta@houston.org (c) 504-450-3516