Houston's economic diversity Thread .. (Jacksonville, Roma: extended unemployment, cost of living, statistics)

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

Yes, any business that Houston (or any city) has which is a division or subsidiary of a firm headquartered elsewhere is probably at risk of consolidation to that headquarters city at some point. That's life. Still, I did like to buy Minute Maid OJ because I could tell myself "it's local."

Not surprising that Atlantans are disaster-adverse. Atlantans are pretty jealous their city.

After Harvey, Telecheck was relocated to the Atlanta HQ because of flooding of their basement-level offices in the old Unocal building. Minute Maid's relocation to the Atlanta HQ is probably related to the business interruption with the winter storm power outage.

Same result, different reason. Won't be surprised to see a similar and bigger exodus from corporate relocation-heavy DFW soon! Maybe electrical-heavy tech in Austin/San Antonio will be doing the same soon? The winter storm might be the turning point in Texas history that ended the corporate relocation economic boom.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by Jack Lance

Royal Caribbean announces the construction of a $100 million cruise terminal in Galveston creating additional cruise options out of the Island city and economic diversity for the Greater Houston economy !

GALVESTON
In what is some of the brightest cruise news to come out of Galveston in nearly a year, Royal Caribbean International on Wednesday said it would commence construction of its $100 million Pier 10 cruise terminal in April, while also confirming its massive Allure of the Seas ship would sail from the terminal when it’s completed in 2022.

The announcement confirmed what Port of Galveston officials have insisted for the past year: Although the pandemic dealt a significant blow to cruise company revenues, Royal Caribbean was committed to building its new terminal in Galveston at Pier 10.

“It’s a huge shot in that it will not only benefit the port, but also labor, hoteliers and others,” said Albert Shannon, chairman of the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees, which governs the port. “It’s going to be a great boost to the economy.”

Port of Galveston/courtesy file photo

The cruise terminal news was coupled with Royal Caribbean’s announcement about the Allure of the Seas, an Oasis-class cruise ship capable of carrying 6,780 passengers.


Royal Caribbean sails ahead with $100M cruise terminal in Galveston | Local News | The Daily News (galvnews.com)

A new cruise terminal, new space port AND and international terminal expansion at Bush underway. Also a new Domestic airline hub. Let the good times roll

[Jack Lance]

The waste disposal industry is growing in Houston and adding to our economic diversity.

Following a new acquisition earlier this month, Houston-based American AllWaste LLC will continue to make M&A a major part of its growth strategy.

The company provides liquid waste disposal, sewer infrastructure cleaning and inspection and composting services. It has expanded its reach and services into Austin and Beaumont, Texas, and the company has additional operations in Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tennessee.

American AllWaste's most recent growth came through its acquisition of L&G Environmental LLC, a non-hazardous liquid waste processing facility based in Brenham, Texas. AllWaste purchased the L&G facility to help service its existing operations in Houston and Central Texas, the firm announced March 8.

Each one of AllWaste's acquisitions have added employees to the company's headcount, but the firm has also grown organically. AllWaste has about 200 employees, including roughly 130 based in Texas, about 70 of whom are based in the Houston metro region. Ultimately, AllWaste aims to grow its headcount further.

American AllWaste is headquartered at 12141 Wickchester Lane in Houston's Energy Corridor.

American AllWaste eyes further acquisitions, expansions - Houston Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

[ParaguaneroSwag]

So, Google is close to opening their first office which is great. These new campuses around the city do great to bring jobs and diversify the talent here. They’re definitely the backbone of our diversity.

But it’s always good to see the home grown brands come up. These 3 in particular are on something

Academy Sports + Outdoors - After going public last year, it’s done great on Wall Street :$ ... This brand has went a long way from being a discount store in prior to the 2010s to the premium Sports and outdoors store it is today. I’m particularly impressed with their fan shop. Which used to absolutely suck and now is one of the best physical fan shops out there. Also the eCommerce was terrible previously glad they fixed that. The new CEO which they hired from Footlocker has done wonders for the company during this transition as he’s behind the turn around. Their next Gen store is lit! And of course they’re growing and aiming a coast to coast footprint.


Next Gen Academy Stores https://s.hdnux.com/photos/01/05/54/...lery_large.jpg


The practice facility at their new state of the art corporate campus https://d25uzh8dt55g84.cloudfront.ne...&maxwidth=1000



Buc-Ee’s - I think they’re overhyped but I’m in the minority. This company is expanding throughout the South rather quickly.

Landry’s - Fertitta is finally doing partnerships with investors to expand the Golden Nugget’s presence. About time. Can’t run a national luxury hotel brand without investors With one in Illinois and another possibly in Virginia. As the online casino portion has got a lot of hype recently, will be great to see how it turns oht.

[Jack Lance]

A university in Southwest Houston is expanding and actively trying to bring about a rebirth of the surrounding neighborhood and economic diversity to the Greater Houston economy.

The Center for Law and Liberty at Houston Baptist University started as an academic initiative in 2013 to teach students American history, particularly the history of the U.S. Constitution and Revolutionary War. Now, thanks to a $10 million-plus gift from Stewart Morris, the university is adding new buildings for the center, including one partially modeled after Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

Morris’ 2018 gift, one of the largest in HBU’s history, will fund nearly half of the $23 million center. The remaining $13 million for the project comes from additional funds from Morris, other donors and university bonds. The four new buildings, totaling 37,726 square feet over 2 acres, will include the Independence Hall building, two attached side buildings and an unattached classroom. Another classroom building is being planned.



The rendering of the Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty, scheduled to be completed July 4, 2022.
JACKSON & RYAN

Christopher Hammons, director of the center and a political science professor at HBU, said that the center was created when faculty saw that incoming freshmen didn’t have a solid understanding of early U.S. history. As the new center bloomed from an academic initiative to one that provided extracurriculars, faculty lectures, off-campus events, teacher workshops and more, Hammons and other center faculty found that they needed additional space.

Hammons said the university needs more space in general. Enrollment is up in the past five to 10 years, he said, and the university is facing challenges related to lack of parking and classroom space. A new and improved science, technology, engineering and math building is planned; however, details currently are scant. It would house HBU’s engineering and popular nursing program.
In addition, HBU, at 7502 Fondren Road, is actively trying to revitalize the surrounding Sharpstown area through community improvements, such as new shopping and other retail. Those changes are being made with the Sharpstown community leadership.

Houston Baptist University plans new buildings, community revitalizations - Houston Business Journal (bizjournals.com)

[As Above So Below...]

I hope we can really turn a corner. Houston's unemployment rate is one of the worst in the country right now. 8.3%.

That said, it may be a good thing. Were still too overloaded with O&G jobs and shedding some of the unstable ones would be a quick way to increase economic diversity.

https://www.bls.gov/web/metro/laulrgma.htm

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by As Above So Below...

I hope we can really turn a corner. Houston's unemployment rate is one of the worst in the country right now. 8.3%.

That said, it may be a good thing. Were still too overloaded with O&G jobs and shedding some of the unstable ones would be a quick way to increase economic diversity.

https://www.bls.gov/web/metro/laulrgma.htm

Unemployment is never good regardless of why. But notice the contradictions here. Chicago is supposively one of the most diverse and it’s a few spots below. I think you’re diving a bit too much into it. I’m shocked to see Los Angeles so low. Sure, I expected them to be fairly low, but the down right leader by a lot? Also Pittsburgh is ranked below Houston and they’re a bit further ahead than we are in diversifying their economy.

Right now we are in a rocky period because the aftermath of COVID and the economic aftermath still unstable. You have investors too greedy and too eager to pull back

I’m interested to see next month to see how these rankings hold up.

[As Above So Below...]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

Unemployment is never good regardless of why. But notice the contradictions here. Chicago is supposively one of the most diverse and it’s a few spots below. I think you’re diving a bit too much into it. I’m shocked to see Los Angeles so low. Sure, I expected them to be fairly low, but the down right leader by a lot? Also Pittsburgh is ranked below Houston and they’re a bit further ahead than we are in diversifying their economy.

Right now we are in a rocky period because the aftermath of COVID and the economic aftermath still unstable. You have investors too greedy and too eager to pull back

I’m interested to see next month to see how these rankings hold up.

Respectfully, that implies that different cities have high unemployment for the same reasons.

The reason our unemployment is high is lack of economic diversification and that our city's primary industry is hurting. Similarly, in part, Pittsburgh's economy depends on natural gas and fracking. The reason Chicago's unemployment rate is so high is super high taxes, regulation, and company relocation. The reason LA is bad is a product of California shutting everything down combined with a leisure and entertainment based economy. SF and SJ are doing better because their economy is tech based.

Similar results but very different reasons.

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by ParaguaneroSwag

Unemployment is never good regardless of why. But notice the contradictions here. Chicago is supposively one of the most diverse and it’s a few spots below. I think you’re diving a bit too much into it. I’m shocked to see Los Angeles so low. Sure, I expected them to be fairly low, but the down right leader by a lot? Also Pittsburgh is ranked below Houston and they’re a bit further ahead than we are in diversifying their economy.

Right now we are in a rocky period because the aftermath of COVID and the economic aftermath still unstable. You have investors too greedy and too eager to pull back

I’m interested to see next month to see how these rankings hold up.

Those rankings make me wonder if people are just moving to places they want to live in, without jobs lined up, then are being counted as unemployed when they seek the job placement services that the local employment commissions offer ?

[Jack Lance]

A Houston oil field service company is looking to finance clean tech startups that will assist in the energy transition away from fossil fuels and creating economic diversity for the Greater Houston economy.

Houston-based oil field services giant Halliburton Co. (NYSE: HAL) is taking applications from startups interested in joining its clean tech accelerator program, Halliburton Labs.

The Halliburton Labs program, launched in July 2020, makes Halliburton's lab facilities, technical expertise and business network available to startups aimed at advancing clean energy technologies. The accelerator program is housed within Halliburton's Houston headquarters.

In addition to receiving a spot in the year-long accelerator program, companies selected to participate in Halliburton Labs will receive $100,000 cash investments, Halliburton announced March 22.

Applications for the program are due April 23. Startups selected to participate in Halliburton Labs will be invited to pitch for a spot in the program at the Halliburton Labs Finalist Pitch Day on May 21.
In February, Halliburton Labs unveiled three new companies that were selected to take part in the accelerator program: Enexor BioEnergy, Momentum Technologies and OCO Inc. Enexor manufactures a renewable energy solution aimed at solving the world's organic and plastic waste solution. Momentum Technologies recovers reusable materials from lithium battery recyclers and manufacturers. OCO uses a hydrogen-rich platform chemical to transform carbon dioxide, water and zero-carbon electricity into zero-carbon chemicals, materials and fuels.

Houston-based Nanotech, a startup developing fireproofing and insulation technologies, was the first startup selected to Halliburton Labs when the program was announced last summer. In December 2020, Nanotech announced closing a $5 million seed financing round, which resulted in the conversion of Halliburton Labs' previously issued simple agreement for future equity with Nanotech.

Halliburton Labs opens applications to clean tech startups, offers cash investment - Houston Business Journal (bizjournals.com)


Photo from Haliburton website.

Our Commitment

Halliburton Labs provides selected companies with the experience they would expect from a Silicon Valley Accelerator combined with the deep business and technical skills that can only come from a global energy leader.
During your twelve months inside Halliburton Labs, you will be challenged to think big and embrace a growth mindset, and to be customer-obsessed and results-oriented.
Our Commitment | Halliburton Labs