Economic Alliance Houston Port Region

Role: Founding Partner

As the economic development corporation for the Houston Ship Channel Region, we work diligently to represent the unique needs of the petrochemical, maritime and logistics industries that dominate our area. Through efforts in marketing, business development, expansion and retention support, public policy, and workforce development support, since 2011, the Economic Alliance has supported 23 project wins, creating over 3,600 jobs and contributing over $3.6 billion of capital investment in the Houston Ship Channel Region. Our business is first and foremost to create and foster an environment where companies can thrive and create jobs.  A healthy and vibrant economy also raises the quality of life we all enjoy.  We founded Dream It. Do It. Southeast Texas as a way to leverage the national power behind the Dream It. Do It. movement with the local power of our grassroots workforce development programs like the Speaker’s Bureau and Manufacturer’s Day.

See the Economic Alliance’s website for additional information.

Neighborhood Centers, Inc.

Role: Founding Partner

Neighborhood Centers Inc. has a rich history in building communities that work since its early days when it was part of the Settlement House movement in the early 1900′s. When Alice Graham Baker founded the agency in 1907, the main intention behind it all was to help every resident of Houston have an opportunity for an education, for health, for work, and to become an informed participant in democracy. 100 years later, the purpose of Neighborhood Centers hasn’t changed one bit.  Neighborhood Centers is the largest charitable organization in Texas and hosts a network of over 70 services sites that helps more than half a million people each year. We fulfill our mission to bring resources, education, and connection by working with our neighbors side by side.  We founded Dream It. Do It. Southeast Texas as a way to provide an integrated network of support for the community and social services we provide in the areas of workforce development and student engagement.

East Harris County Manufacturers Association

Role: Collaborator

The East Harris County Manufacturers Association (EHCMA) is a professional organization that includes more than 130 manufacturing companies. We are dedicated to providing jobs, upholding environmental standards and providing a better quality of life for our neighbors in and around the Greater Houston area.  Since our founding in 1987, we’ve grown into the largest network of its kind in the world. Our member companies have facilities in Houston, Deer Park, Baytown, Pasadena, North Channel and La Porte. They transform natural resources into the materials needed to make many essential consumer products such as cosmetics, gasoline, jet fuel, lubricants, pharmaceuticals, electronics, building supplies, household goods, clothes, plastics, automobile parts and thousands of other everyday items that are a part of your daily routine.

Check out the EHCMA website, EHCMA’s YouTube Channel, and Facebook and Twitter!

UpSkill Houston

Role: Collaborator

The Greater Houston Partnership UpSkill Houston initiative focuses on closing the skills gap in Houston by increasing the number of Houstonians trained for great careers across the region. The Partnership forecasts nearly 75,000 annual jobs openings in these “middle skills” careers that require more than a high school education but less than a four-year college degree.

UpSkill Houston has three key objectives:

• Attract individuals to skilled jobs and professions in seven critical sectors
• Train individuals on the basic employability and technical skills necessary
• Place and retain individuals in critical skills jobs and professions