美国.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced it has allocated $500,000 to Galveston’s Coastal Barrier Project, also known as Ike Dike, 这是一个重要的项目，旨在减轻灾难性风暴潮对沿海脆弱社区造成的严重洪灾.   第一轮资金将促进玻利瓦尔半岛和西湾湾沿岸航道岸线和岛屿保护功能的第一段的施工前工程和设计阶段, commonly referred to as Ecosystem Restoration feature G-28, according to the Gulf Coast Protection District.   Click to expand The project includes the Galveston Bay Storm Surge Barrier System, which encompasses eight Gulf and Bay defense projects. Among these is the Bolivar Roads Gate System, 一个两英里长的封闭结构，位于加尔维斯顿岛和玻利瓦尔半岛之间. The barrier is designed to diminish storm surge volumes entering the bay, 为居住在堰洲岛上的社区提供直接的风暴潮保护.  与此同时, 该项目的西湾湾近岸航道岸线和岛屿保护部分将侧重于海岸恢复, including beach and dune segments on Bolivar Peninsula and West Galveston Island. 它还将保护重要的鱼类和野生动物栖息地免受沿海风暴和侵蚀过程的影响.  除了加强沿海恢复力和保护脆弱社区免受风暴潮的影响, 这一关键项目将节省数百亿美元的灾难恢复资金，并保护休斯顿航道, which serves as an economic engine helping to power the region and nation.  “The Coastal Texas Project is one of the largest projects in the history of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,” said Col. 瑞德一. Blackmon, USACE Galveston District commander, in a statement. “This project is important to the nation for many reasons. Not only will it reduce risk to the vulnerable populations along the Texas coast, 但它也将保护重要的生态系统和对美国经济至关重要的基础设施.S. supply chain and the many global industries located here.”  多年来，大休斯顿伙伴关系一直积极倡导推动德克萨斯沿海项目和其他类似的倡议. The organization most recently visited Washington, D.C., 倡导使用新的社区发展整体拨款缓解(CDBG-MIT)计划的资金, 这将为休斯顿地区的洪水缓解项目提供数十亿美元的资金.  休斯顿地区一直致力于确定缓解洪水的解决方案和筹资机会. Most recently, the U.S. 交通部向哈里斯县和休斯顿-加尔维斯顿地区委员会拨款1000多万美元，用于支持旨在增强应对气候变化能力的交通基础设施项目.  Learn more about the Coastal Texas Project. 

The Greater Houston Partnership has launched the Best Place for Working Parents®, 在线自我评估，使当地商业领袖能够确定他们的组织是否有资格获得该称号. Originating in Fort Worth in 2020, 保密的在线商业自我评估允许各种规模的企业宣传创新做法，这些做法正在帮助当今的在职父母养家糊口, and adapt and thrive at work during extraordinary times. 该评估突出了10项研究支持的政策，这些政策已被证明有利于在职父母和企业的底线. 该评估还提供了一个实时的仪表盘，显示一家企业在其所在地区的十大家庭友好型企业中，与其他规模和行业的企业相比，表现如何. While family-friendly policies have a direct impact on working parents, 研究表明，对家庭友好也有重要的商业理由: 83%的千禧一代愿意离开一份工作，换一份更有利于家庭的工作. 更换一名员工需要雇主支付该员工6到9个月的工资. Over 60% of working parents said child care issues have caused them to miss work. 由于员工面临的儿童保育挑战，雇主每年损失130亿美元.    As the lead organization in the Houston region, 该伙伴关系鼓励企业参与评估，并更多地了解其政策的有效性. 这项自我评估为各种规模的企业提供了实时的名单，这些企业的家庭友好政策首次获得了资格, 3-minute online self-assessment. 符合条件的企业的最佳工作场所®指定可以在商业访问.bestplace4workingparents.com. 查看这些额外的参考资料，以了解有关评估的更多信息以及它的重要性.  Case Studies The Family-Friendly Initiative Participating Workplaces Gaining a Competitive Edge through Family-Friendly Policies 2023 National Trends Report “Getting Back to Work” Research Report 2024 National Summit