Celebrating 25 Years of Service to Galveston
Expanding and Diversifying Galveston's Employment & Tax Bases
Thank You for Attending the August Construction Consortium
On August 13, 2025, the GEDP Construction Consortium brought together more than 50 construction and development professionals at Beerfoot Brewery for an evening filled with great conversations, valuable insights, and new connections.
We’re especially grateful to Grant Shallenberger, Associate Vice President for Administration & Auxiliary Services at Texas A&M University at Galveston, for sharing exciting updates on upcoming TAMUG projects and ways local businesses can get involved.
A big thank-you as well to United Rentals, our featured vendor, for highlighting their services and continuing to support the Gulf Coast construction community.
Events like these strengthen our professional network and create opportunities for collaboration across the region. We can’t wait to see you at October’s consortium—be sure to join our email list below so you don’t miss the details!
Save the Date for Our Annual Summit
Wednesday, October 29
Join us for the 2025 GEDP Annual Summit—Galveston’s premier economic development event.
Each year, the summit brings together local leaders, innovators, and changemakers to celebrate accomplishments, share insights, and shape the future of Galveston’s economy. We’re excited to continue that tradition this fall and hope you’ll be part of it!
Mark your calendar for Wednesday, October 29, 2025.
Sign up for our email list for more updates — we can’t wait to see you there!
Thank You for Joining Us for the GEDP, City of Galveston, and Falcontail Member Blender on July 30.
The GEDP Member Blender on July 30th was an extraordinary evening of connection, conversation, and civic momentum. With well over 100 attendees, the room was filled with energy and purpose, bringing together Galveston’s business, civic, and community leaders in one shared space.
We were honored to welcome four City Council members, as well as representatives from the Park Board, the Wharves Board, and a wide array of local business owners, nonprofit leaders, and engaged residents. After a warm introduction by David Landriault of Falcontail, Mayor Craig Brown and City Manager Brian Maxwell delivered thoughtful, forward-looking remarks that helped ground the evening in both vision and opportunity.
This event was made possible through the partnership of Falcontail, the City of Galveston, and the Galveston Economic Development Partnership (GEDP)—and we’re grateful for the collaboration and shared commitment behind it.
Special thanks to the culinary stars of the night:
– The Sunflower Bakery & Cafe, for the exquisite desserts that disappeared in moments
– Cajun Greek, for the unforgettable tzatziki and gyros that had everyone talking
– Shrimp ‘n Stuff, for the perfectly fried catfish, crispy cheese curds, and more
To everyone who joined us—thank you. Galveston’s future is shaped by people who show up, speak up, and work together. Last night was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when that happens.
We look forward to what comes next. To get notifications about upcoming events, sign up for our email list below!
Building Resiliency: Lessons from Galveston’s June 10 Workshop
Galveston, TX – June 10, 2025 — In a region increasingly at risk, the Galveston Economic Development Partnership’s recent Member Blender + Resiliency Workshop brought leaders, experts, and business owners together to sharpen strategies for navigating today’s heightened disaster landscape.
Forecasting a Busy Hurricane Season
Forecaster Dr. Hal "Hurricane Hal" Needham emphasized that both NOAA and Colorado State University predict an above-normal 2025 hurricane season. NOAA estimates a 60% chance of above-average activity—expecting 13–19 named storms and 3–5 major hurricanes
Cresting that forecast, CSU foresees 17 named storms and 9 hurricanes, 4 of which could be major; they assign a 51% chance of a U.S. landfalling major hurricane, and a 33% chance for a Gulf Coast landfall
Sessions highlighted that storms are not only becoming more frequent but intensifying faster—driven by warmer sea surface temperatures, shifting ENSO patterns, and stretched forecasting resources.
GEDP’s 2025 Annual Members Meeting: Driving Galveston’s Economic Future
At our Annual Meeting, members approved the 2025 Work Plan, Budget, and Leadership Slate while gaining valuable insights from market analyst Victoria Greene and maritime industry expert Robert Sakowitz.
We proudly honored founding member Bill Rider and longtime Secretary John Kelso for their dedication and leadership. Key initiatives for 2025 include business retention efforts, targeted economic development planning, and a reimagined Investment Summit.
Special thanks to our sponsors, Howie Bentley of Classic Auto and Johnnie Smecca of Mario’s on the Seawall, for hosting in their newly renovated space.
Stay engaged as we continue working together to propel Galveston’s economic growth forward!
Our Heartfelt Thanks to Our 2024 Summit Sponsors
GEDP Developer Profile 2024
As part of our Annual Economic Development Summit, the GEDP publishes the Developer Profile. This comprehensive publication offers in-depth demographic and statistical data on Galveston and its key industry sectors, while also spotlighting current, upcoming, and recently completed projects and developments.
New Member Highlight
Welcome: The Texas Surf Museum – Galveston, TX
The Texas Surf Museum has officially joined the Galveston Economic Development Partnership! Located in the heart of Galveston’s Historic District at 2110 Mechanic Street, the museum celebrates Texas’ surf culture, history, and community.
Through engaging exhibits and events, the museum preserves the stories of Texas surfers while inspiring new generations to embrace the Gulf Coast’s unique surf heritage.
Visit Them Online: thetexassurfmuseum.com
Contact:
Eduardo Hernandez, Museum Manager – 346-389-9535 | museummanager@thetexassurfmuseum.org
Kelly Daugherty – admin@thetexassurfmuseum.org
We’re proud to welcome the Texas Surf Museum to the GEDP network and look forward to their contributions in keeping Galveston’s culture and economy thriving.
The GEDP supports existing and new businesses by providing the infrastructure to be globally competitive.
Since 1999, through the public-private membership base of the GEDP, assistance has been provided, including demographic and socioeconomic information, utilization of a comprehensive Geographic Information System (GIS) for project development activities, maintenance of an information clearinghouse and economic climate assessments that have been made available to those seeking to make Galveston a better place.
Priority areas of investment include those projects capable of expanding or enhancing the core industries for the Galveston economic base: Maritime, Tourism, Education, Healthcare, and Emerging Technologies.
Maximizing Galveston’s human, natural, and financial resources, the GEDP remains committed to facilitating quality projects that work to expand Galveston’s employment and tax bases. Galveston is an island of opportunity and the GEDP looks forward to working with you on future projects.