HOUSTON, Oct. 30, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nearly 148,000 new jobs have been generated by cargo and vessel activity at Port of Houston terminals since 2011, Port of Houston Authority Chairman Janiece Longoria announced today during the Greater Houston Partnership’s annual State of the Port event.

An economic impact study by Martin Associates determined that public and private marine terminals at the Port of Houston had a statewide economic impact of $265 billion in 2014, which is 16 percent of Texas’ total gross domestic product, Chairman Longoria said. The Martin Associates study shows the port’s economic value to the state since 2011 increased $82 billion, or 45 percent.

“The Port of Houston is the leading driver for the greater Houston region for creating jobs and economic opportunity,” Chairman Longoria said.

Total jobs supported by Port of Houston marine terminals now totals nearly 1.175 million in the state of Texas.

Martin Associates is a globally recognized leader with more than 30 years of experience in providing economic and strategic assessments of the world’s transportation systems. A 2011 assessment of the Port of Houston Authority’s activities found an annual statewide economic impact of $178.5 billion with more than 1 million jobs created.

The Greater Houston Partnership supports area business leaders in a community-driven mission to champion the growth and success of the Houston region. Chairman Longoria serves on the partnership’s board of directors.

The full economic impact report is available at www.portofhouston.com.

About the Port of Houston Authority
For more than 100 years, the Port of Houston Authority has owned or operated the public cargo-handling facilities of the Port of Houston – the nation’s largest port for foreign waterborne tonnage.  The port is an economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas and the nation.  It supports the creation of more than one million statewide jobs and more than 2.1 million nationwide jobs, and the generation of economic activity totaling more than $178.5 billion in Texas and $499 billion across the nation. For more information, visit the Port Authority website at: www.portofhouston.com

CONTACT: Lisa Ashley, Director, Media Relations
Office: 713-670-2644; Mobile: 832-247-8179 E-mail: [email protected]