Gulf Coast Protection District

🪏Groundbreaking in Galveston!
We're excited to see Office of the Governor Greg Abbott break ground on the $1 billion Davie Defense Shipyard modernization project in City of Galveston, Texas - Government. A strong industrial base and a resilient coast go hand in hand. Investments like this not only fuel economic growth, but underscore the national importance of this region and why it should be protected from storm surge.

PORT OF GALVESTON
Galveston Regional Chamber of Commerce

Congratulations Houston Public Media on the launch of the Galveston news bureau. We enjoyed meeting the team and learning about your commitment to local coverage last night at The Bryan Museum - Galveston. We look forward to our continued relationship in keeping the public informed about the largest coastal protection effort in U.S. history

🌍Global Eyes on Coastal Texas 🌍
GCPD was proud to host a Technical Tour of the Coastal Texas Project as part of , welcoming national and international engineers, scientists, and coastal experts to experience this historic project firsthand.

From the Houston Ship Channel to critical coastal ecosystems, visitors explored how this federally authorized project is designed to reduce storm surge risk and strengthen resilience for millions of Texans—while also supporting navigation, industry, and environmental restoration.

Special thank you to Texas General Land Office Commissioner Dawn Buckingham for attending and being an ambassador for the Coastal Texas Project.

GCPD is pleased to announce former Bridge City Mayor David Rutledge has joined our Board of Directors. Appointed by Orange County Commissioners Court, Rutledge replaces Commissioner Kirk Roccaforte, who has served in this role since the creation of GCPD in 2021.

📣“We’re excited to welcome Mr. Rutledge to our leadership team and extend our sincere appreciation to Commissioner Roccaforte for his dedicated service and leadership since the District’s founding. Commissioner Roccaforte’s contributions have played an important role in shaping GCPD’s mission and advancing our efforts to build the largest coastal protection infrastructure in U.S. history,” said Coalter Baker, GCPD Executive Director.

Learn More about Mr. Rutledge: https://gcpdtexas.com/about-us/board-of-directors/

🚨 Major Win for
A draft of the FY27 Energy & Water bill includes $10.6 million for the Coastal Texas Project—a strong sign the federal government continues to prioritize this historic effort. Big thanks to Congressman Randy Weber for his ongoing leadership and advocacy in keeping the protection of Texas’ Gulf Coast a national priority, as well as Chairman Chuck Fleischmann and Vice Chair Michael Cloud for their recent visit to our area.

What’s Next:
✅ House and Senate must pass their respective FY27 appropriations bills
📝 Final bill must be approved by both chambers
✍️ Signed into law by the President
💰 Funding is officially appropriated and becomes available for the project

Let’s keep the momentum going. 🌊

GCPD and Port Houston met with Senator John Curtis to discuss the importance of the Houston Ship Channel and Gulf Coast region. This is where energy flows, commerce moves, and America’s economy is powered—and it must be protected and prioritized.