Here’s what’s up in SETX, 

Port Arthur LNG just put real money on the table for Jefferson and Orange County students meaning full tuition, books, and fees, ten scholarships a year, starting this spring. Meanwhile, the Golden Triangle's three major chambers finally joined forces under one regional coalition, the Texas Energy Museum flipped its lights back on in downtown Beaumont after a flood-forced closure, and the Museum of the Gulf Coast's newly renovated Sports Hall of Fame reopened this weekend. Plus the Nederland Heritage Festival kicks off tonight. Free admission, Cuisine Walk, crawfish races, and live music all week.

Today's newsletter is brought to you by Tailored Financial Solutions.

Let's get into it. 👇

Port Arthur LNG Bets Big on SETX Students 🎓

Port Arthur LNG announced the "Pathways to Port Arthur LNG Scholarship Fund" on March 6 — awarding 10 graduating seniors from Jefferson and Orange County high schools full tuition, books, and fees for up to four years, every single year going forward. Eligible programs include Lamar University, Lamar Institute of Technology, Lamar State College Port Arthur, Lamar State College Orange, and vocational tracks. Applications are due April 15, 2026 through the Foundation for Southeast Texas at [email protected].

This is the kind of workforce investment that compounds over time. Keeping talented local students here, training them in STEM fields aligned with the LNG industry, builds the pipeline right in Southeast Texas — so families don't have to leave the region to find opportunity.

💡 The bottom line: Ten full-ride scholarships a year, dedicated exclusively to Jefferson and Orange County students. This is real money changing real futures, and the application deadline is April 15.

🤝 Southeast Texas Chambers Unite Under SETRCA — Three chambers of commerce across Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange officially formed the Southeast Texas Regional Chambers Association on March 6, with Greater Port Arthur Chamber president Joe Tant named first chairman. The goal is coordinated advocacy for infrastructure, workforce alignment, and economic development across the entire region — not just city by city. When the Golden Triangle speaks with one voice, legislators listen differently. Read more

🛢️ Texas Energy Museum Back Open in Downtown Beaumont — After a burst pipe flooded the building and forced a closure, the Texas Energy Museum at 600 Main St reopened March 6. Crews didn't just fix the damage — they discovered and remediated asbestos, refreshed exhibits, and modernized displays tracing SETX's oil heritage from Spindletop forward. If you haven't been in a while, the exhibits are better than you remember. Read more

🏗️ Beaumont Taking Code Enforcement Citywide This Month — Beaumont's Downtown Proactive Code Enforcement Program has declared 78% of downtown buildings safe, and the city is now expanding the sweep beyond downtown in March. Non-compliant property owners get a structured path to repairs — but city action follows for those who don't engage. Mayor Roy West is prioritizing it. Safer, maintained buildings across neighborhoods means rising property values and a better-looking city for everyone. Read more

🏆 Museum of Gulf Coast Sports Hall of Fame Unveils New Look — The Museum of the Gulf Coast in Port Arthur revealed its newly renovated Sports Hall of Fame exhibit this weekend with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The hall celebrates SETX legends — Jamaal Charles, Jimmy Johnson, Babe Zaharias, Janis Joplin, and more than a thousand others. If it's been a few years since your last visit, this is a good reason to go back. Read more

🔥 Fire Destroys Bridge City Family Dentistry — A fire tore through Bridge City Family Dentistry on March 6, forcing the office to temporarily close. If you're a patient there, contact the office directly for guidance on rescheduling and continuity of care. Read more

📬 Which story caught your eye?

Mark your calendars for these upcoming highlights.

THIS WEEK

MOVIE NIGHTS @ JEFFERSON THEATRE

THIS WEEKEND

COMING UP

Which event are you hitting up? Reply and let us know! And if there's an event we missed, send it our way for next week's issue. 🎉

If your idea of a great week involves crawfish, chili, and a carnival ride in the same evening, this is your week. The Nederland Heritage Festival runs March 10–15 and the Cuisine Walk alone is worth the trip. Local and regional restaurants line up competing for your vote, alongside a chili cook-off that takes itself seriously. General admission is free, the food is not, and that's exactly the right arrangement.

📍 Boston Avenue, Nederland | ⏰ Tue–Fri 4–11 PM | Sat 10 AM–11 PM | Sun noon–6 PM | nederlandhf.org

🤤 Had a great meal somewhere in SETX lately? Reply and tell us — we feature reader picks.

A dedicated partner to local entrepreneurs and growing businesses making SETX a thriving community through accurate bookkeeping and CFO-level guidance. TFS empowers small businesses and visionaries through strategic decision support and clear financial management. 

📧 Want to learn more? Reach out to TFS via their website at tailoredfinsolutions.com and mention What's Up SETX for a complimentary consultation.

This section is sponsored by Tailored Financial Solutions. Want your business featured here? Email us at [email protected].

March is the sweet spot for Big Thicket, and if you haven't made the drive north yet this season, this week is a good one to do it. The Pitcher Plant Trail and Kirby Nature Trail are coming alive with carnivorous plants, orchids, and early spring wildflowers that exist almost nowhere else on earth — Big Thicket sits at the convergence of eastern forests, Gulf coastal plain, and southwestern prairies, which makes for a genuinely weird and spectacular mix. It's also peak warbler season, with migratory birds pushing through the corridor, so birders should bring binoculars. Admission is free. Park about 40 miles north of Beaumont off US-69, and wear waterproof boots — trails stay muddy after winter rains, and the mud is part of the deal.

📍 Big Thicket National Preserve | US-69, approximately 40 miles north of Beaumont

🏕️ What's your favorite outdoor spot in the Golden Triangle? Reply and tell us — we'll feature the best ones in a future issue.

Port Arthur students can earn $10–$17/hr this summer through the city's Youth Employment Program offering real work experience that connects classroom learning to career pathways.

Deadline: March 31, 2026 | Apply at paedc.org.

Looking for outdoor work this spring? Tailored Lawn Care is hiring for local routes. Good steady gig with a local company.

Call or text Frederick: (409) 365-4887

📋 Workforce Solutions SETX Job Fairs — Three Dates This Month

Three job fairs coming up this month connecting SETX workers with local employers. Free to attend — bring your resume and your questions.

Visit: setworks.org

💼 Hiring in SETX? Send us your job listing and we'll include it — free for local businesses. Just reply to this email.

Every week, we ask a few questions because this newsletter is a two-way street. Hit reply — we read every single one.

See you in a few days neighbor 📍,

The What’s Up SETX Team