HOUSTON (September 17, 2020) - The Greater Houston Partnership released these statements on behalf of its president and CEO, Bob Harvey, with regards to Governor Abbott's expansion of the state’s reopening plans.

More details about the announcement and the modified metrics may be found here.

Statements Attributable to Bob Harvey, president and CEO, Greater Houston Partnership 

On Governor Abbott’s announcement

We are pleased that Governor Abbott has signaled we are moving forward with reopening a greater portion of the Texas economy.

Houstonians have done a great job working together – masking up and maintaining social distancing – to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community. It is now critical that we get Houstonians back to work and restore our small businesses that have been so severely impacted. 

However, as we continue to reopen, it is even more critical that we do so safely and sustainably. 

On importance of maintaining practices to safely reopen the economy

Houstonians have shown we can manage COVID-19 in our community by wearing masks, washing our hands and keeping our distance from others. As the economy continues to reopen, it is crucial that we continue these practices to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our families, our employees, and our community. 

As we increase our activity, we cannot let our guard down. COVID-19 is still prevalent in greater Houston. We must be vigilant and continue practicing the same safety measures that helped us slow the spread of COVID-19 in recent weeks. If we all do our part, we can enjoy a better quality of life this fall. 

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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 Houston 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 1,100 member organizations and approximately one-fifth of the region’s workforce, the Partnership is the place business leaders come together to make an impact. Learn more at Houston.org.

CONTACT:    

Vice President, Communications         
(c) 504-450-3516 | amistretta@houston.org

Maggie Martin 
Senior Manager, Communications         
mmartin@houston.org