CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Community leaders from across the Coastal Bend gathered at the Solomon P. Ortiz International Center on Wednesday for the annual State of the Port luncheon.
Around 1,000 were in attendance, as leaders with the Port of Corpus Christi and others shared the impact our port has not only here, but around the world.
This year, an emphasis was placed on highlighting some of the customers who are served by the port.
CEO Kent Britton sat with the leaders of South Texas Cement, Howard Energy, Enbridge and Valero.
Each spoke about the role our port plays in their ability to do business.
Port Commission Chairman David P. Engel has served for more than a decade, but this was his first time to speak at this annual event as chairman.
He talked exclusively with 3NEWS about some of the decisions that have helped attract new industries to our area, including the deepening and widening of the waterway.
"Industry, when they found out that we were deepening the channel to 54 feet, I think it had a big part in them making a decision to invest their money in building their facilities here because they know they can load their ships out with more cargo, more petroleum, and ship it out, which makes it more economical for them," Engel said.
The Port of Corpus Christi continues to be the third largest port in the country by tonnage and has been called "the most significant port for energy export in the entire nation."
Port leaders once again emphasized that the most crucial issue facing our region -- when it comes to supporting current industry and attracting new business -- is the need for an uninterruptible source of water.
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