The Greater Houston Partnership welcomed 24 new member companies in the month of April. The Partnership works to connect companies with resources, information, and networking opportunities to help increase business while also providing a platform to influence the direction of the region.   New members who joined in the month of April include:  ARCADIS-US, Inc.: Arcadis-US offers infrastructure engineering and environmental, health and safety consulting services, technical analysis, design engineering, construction management, and environmental investigation and remediation services. Website.  Cafe Natalie Catering: Cafe Natalie Catering is a catering group based in Westchase, Houston, Texas. Website.   CellReady: CellReady is a biotechnology research company, providing cell and gene therapy (CGT) companies with an optimized, scalable, and standardized G-Rex centric cell manufacturing process. Website.  CLARK CONSTRUCTION GROUP, LLC: Clark Construction Group is a construction company with a portfolio spanning from public to private, corporate to cultural, education to entertainment, and the infrastructure connecting it all – power, transit, water, and roadways. Website.  Discovering U: Discovering U is a non-profit organization seeking to empower and connect the individual, the family, and the community with the information, knowledge, skills and resources needed to be successful. Website.  Heidrick & Struggles: Heidrick & Struggles is an Executive Search and Leadership Advisory service for companies worldwide in the profit and not-for-profit sectors. Website.  Houston Precision Fasteners: Houston Precision Fasteners is a manufacturer of aviation and aerospace fasteners and machined parts. Website.  Just Touch Interactive: Just Touch Interactive is a premier SBE certified and minority-owned company that provides high-fidelity 3D solutions for industrial and urban infrastructure projects.  Website.   KNJ Wealth Management Group LLC: KNJ Wealth Management Group provides financial, insurance, real estate and relocation services through seven subsidiary firms in Houston. Website.  M3 Technology Group: M3 Technology Group provides supply chain management solutions focused on enterprise planning advanced asset scheduling and blending optimization software. Website.  Marathon Capital: Marathon Capital is an independent investment bank. Website.  MWM Systems, LLC: MWM Systems is a consulting agency offering comprehensive diversity training programs designed to help your company. Website.  Nellons-Paige Group: Nellons-Paige Group is a consulting firm. Website.  Nexus PMG: Nexus PMG is a commercial and residential construction company. Website.  Octa Homes: Octa Homes is a real estate developer in Houston, Texas. Website.   P&A Recruiting LLC: Popham & Ashby (P&A) is a consultancy firm specializing in executive talent search and people abilities recruiting. Website.  Packwell: Packwell is a Plastic Bagging and Logistics company in Houston, Texas. Website.   PV Hardware Solutions: PV Hardware Solutions is a renewable energy equipment manufacturing company. Website.  Reddy Neumann Brown PC: Reddy Neumann Brown PC is an immigration law firm based in Houston, Texas. Website.  Rocket Ready-Mix: Rocket Ready-Mix is a concrete mix supplier for the construction industry in Houston Texas. Website.  SCS Technologies Ltd: SCS Technologies Ltd provides high-quality pioneering technologies, systems and services making technology. Website.  The Women's Home: The Women’s Home helps women in crisis regain their self-esteem and dignity, empowering them to return to society as productive, self-sufficient individuals. Website.  ThinkBig Productions: ThinkBig Productions specializes in award-winning corporate, documentary, and narrative videos. We are a full-service production company handling all aspects of moving images, from concept to post-production delivery. Website.  WASTELINQ, Inc.: WASTELINQ provides waste treatment technology for generators, service providers, and disposal facilities. Website.  Click here to see the Partnership's Membership Directory.   To learn more about membership with the Greater Houston Partnership click here, or contact membership@houston.org. 

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded Harris County and Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) more than $10 million to support transportation infrastructure projects that aim to enhance resiliency against climate change.   The announcement is part of the Biden-Harris Administration's broader initiative, the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) program, established under the Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. PROTECT will fund nearly $830 million in grants for 80 projects nationwide.   According to DOT, Harris County will receive more than $9.6 million to develop a master plan evaluating drainage infrastructure capacity of local roadways within the county’s unincorporated areas that are experiencing rapid growth and frequent flooding. Meanwhile, H-GAC is set to receive $1.1 million to create a Resilience Improvement Plan for transportation systems across the eight-county region that are prone to severe weather, natural disasters and flooding.   “Every community in America knows the impacts of climate change and extreme weather, including increasingly frequent heavy rain and flooding events across the country and sea-level rise that is inundating infrastructure in coastal states,” said Shailen Bhatt of the Federal Highway Administration in a statement. “This investment from the Biden-Harris Administration will ensure our infrastructure is built to withstand more frequent and unpredictable extreme weather, which is vitally important for people and businesses that rely on roads and bridges being open to keep our economy moving.”   As a city that has experienced six federally declared flooding disasters since 2015, these projects are critical to Houston’s prosperity. To further advance public policies like PROTECT, the Greater Houston Partnership recently visited Washington, D.C., to advocate for the use of funds from the new Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) program, which would provide billions of dollars for flood mitigation projects in the Houston region.  Additionally, alongside federal, state and local elected officials, the Partnership has actively been working to propel the coastal barrier project, also known as Ike Dike, forward. This crucial infrastructure project, which is on the verge of being authorized by Congress, will help mitigate crippling flooding from catastrophic storm surges and save tens of billions of dollars in disaster recovery funding by protecting vulnerable communities. The barrier will also safeguard the Houston Ship Channel, which serves as an economic engine helping to power the nation.   Learn more about the Partnership’s Public Policy Efforts.