Industry and local officials involved in the creation of the Houston Ship Channel Security District, designed as a public-private partnership to help improve security within the channel, are currently reaching out to the facilities that will be located within the district with informational meetings, according to the Port of Houston’s latest newsletter.

When a majority of these facilities – which include East Harris County Manufacturers Association plants and those regulated by the Maritime Transportation Security Act – has signed the petition to create the district, the document will go before the Harris County Commissioners Court for final approval. It is expected to go before Harris County later this summer or early fall.

The district will be governed by a board with representatives from industry, Harris County, the Port of Houston Authority and the Harris County Mayors and Councils Association. New projects will be funded through federal grants with operations and maintenance covered by the fees paid by industry within the security district.