Stephen Goldsmith News

The Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, recognized the Port of Houston Partners in Maritime Education as part of the 2015 Bright Ideas program. This year's cohort includes 124 programs from all levels of government--school districts; county, city, state, and federal agencies; as well as public-private partnerships--that are at the forefront in innovative government action. Since 2009, the Port of Houston Authority has been tackling the growing need for skilled maritime workers by organizing maritime academies at four area school districts at the high school level to introduce youth to maritime transportation systems and career pathways as mariners, and in shipbuilding and repair, and port operations.

Ports America Chesapeake has signed a 50-year lease at Seagirt Marine Terminal that is estimated to create 5,700 jobs. McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP (MLA) partner Keith Mason, and Stephen Goldsmith, former Indianapolis Mayor, and an independent consultant to the firm, served as strategic advisors to the team in supporting this public-private partnership (P3). The project is valued at $1.3b to the State of Maryland over the life of the agreement and is predicted to impact over 16,000 jobs across Maryland.