The Port of Orange was the site of a celebration Monday. The Ports of Beaumont, Orange, Port Arthur and Sabine Pass joined forces to celebrate the efforts of local legislators whose support resulted in more than $66 million in state grants.
The ports recognized Speaker of the House Dade Phelan and Senator Robert Nichols who were instrumental in securing the funds for Southeast Texas Ports. Both gentlemen received ceremonial bells commemorating the event. Phelan was quick to say he was using it to wake his kids in the morning.
Phelan said, “$242 billion in economic activity are a direct result of our ports. 1.8 million jobs in the state of Texas are a direct result of our ports. We’ve never had funding for our ports like this in the history of Texas. Sixty-six dollars would’ve been a record before this legislative session. And now it’s $66 million dollars coming to our Southeast Texas ports and I’m proud to represent our ports here.”
OC Port Director Lorrie Taylor said, “We have two projects that would not have been possible without this money. We’ll be rebuilding a dock that has been failing and we’ll be building a 10 acre truck queuing area.”
The full interview with KOGT’s Gary Stelly can be heard here.
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