Greater Houston Partnership

Through its membership, Greater Houston Partnership represents the interests of the 12 county Houston region with over 1,500 members participating in committees, task forces and initiatives, representing approximately 900 member companies. During 2023, over 96 events and webinar series were hosted; enjoyed by over 8,000 participants.

In 2023, the Partnership remained committed to working with our federal, state and local representatives to advance policies supporting the region's growth and opportunity for all. During the 88th Texas Legislative Session, the Partnership worked alongside our members, key stakeholders, and business coalitions to inform policy makers on issues most important to the region's business community, strategically focusing on issues foundational to maintaining Houston's strong and diverse economy. This year, the Partnership advocated for the establishment of the Texas University Fund (TUF), which is a permanent research endowment appropriating billions of dollars to four of the state's public universities, including Houston's flagship public university, the University of Houston. This historic investment will improve Texas higher education institutions by providing the necessary funding to elevate Texas universities national rankings, securing long-term financial certainty, helping Texas schools compete for federal research grants and positioning Texas as a top destination for premier higher education. The TUF will also bolster the state's economy by strengthening its talent pipelines and making Texas more attractive to businesses. During the 88th Texas Legislative Session, the Partnership successfully advocated for legislation that pumped nearly $700 million into Texas community colleges and implemented a new funding model rewarding schools demonstrating improved student outcomes, such as high graduation rates, successful transfers and awards of industry-recognized credentials of value. The Partnership also supported legislation to provide school districts with "high-quality instructional materials," including complete lesson plans and supplements, guaranteed to be on grade level. The legislation also provided additional funding for training and implementation. The Partnership is committed to working with the Board of Managers and the new Superintendent to ensure HISD lives up to its promise of providing a high-quality education to all students.

The Partnership promotes the Houston region across the country and around the globe. In 2023, the Greater Houston Partnership's economic development team and its regional allies assisted in 31 economic development projects, accounting for over $1.8 billion in capital expenditure and over 4,316 new jobs to the region. The Partnership's international investment and trade activities in 2023 included hosting 109 inbound delegations from 45 countries to further grow the region's international ties.