Here’s what’s up in SETX, 

Port Arthur just made energy history — after years of construction setbacks, a contractor bankruptcy, and a $10 billion-plus build-out, Golden Pass LNG has loaded its very first export cargo at the Port Arthur terminal. That's the kind of milestone that gets told for decades. Meanwhile, Beaumont has a new city manager stepping into the top administrative role on May 1, Jefferson County homeowners are seeing appraisals climb (and you've got until May 15 to push back), and this Saturday might be the most stacked day on the SETX social calendar all year — Gabriel Iglesias, a full Beatles tribute at Jefferson Theatre, and a free crawfish festival on the Neches River, all in the same afternoon.

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

Let's get into it. 👇

Golden Pass LNG Ships Its First Cargo — Port Arthur Just Became a Global Energy Exporter 🚢

A Liberian LNG tanker arrived at the Golden Pass terminal in Port Arthur this week to load the facility's inaugural export cargo — the moment a $10 billion-plus joint venture has been building toward through years of hard-fought construction. The terminal achieved first LNG production from Train 1 after weathering a major contractor bankruptcy (Zachry Group) that sidelined the project for over a year. With the first shipment now departing, Golden Pass officially joins the short list of active LNG export hubs operating off the U.S. Gulf Coast.

For Southeast Texas, the operational phase of Golden Pass means long-term industrial employment, a growing tax base, and a new chapter for Port Arthur's identity as an energy powerhouse. The construction crews may have moved on — but the operators are just getting started.

💡 The bottom line: Port Arthur has been an energy town since Spindletop — Golden Pass LNG just added a line to that legacy that ships straight to the world.

Mark your calendars for these upcoming highlights.

THIS WEEK

MOVIE NIGHTS @ JEFFERSON THEATRE

THIS WEEKEND

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. 🎉

When a fire forced the original Beaumont location into an extended remodel, Twisted Egg Shack didn't slow down — they cracked into a whole new market. Their second SETX location opened in March at 288 Strickland Dr. in Orange, bringing gourmet breakfast tacos loaded with strawberry Pico de Gallo, citrus-infused chicken, churro bites, quiche, French toast sticks, specialty coffees, and fresh-squeezed juices to the west side of the Golden Triangle. Drive-thru and dine-in, early-morning-to-afternoon hours — exactly the kind of weekday habit that gets built fast in a commuter corridor.

📍 288 Strickland Dr., Orange, TX | ⏰ Mon–Fri 6 AM–2 PM | Sat–Sun 7 AM–3 PM

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

Lance Taylor built Tailored Financial Solutions on a premise that most Southeast Texas families and small business owners don't get enough of: financial clarity without the big-firm runaround. From retirement planning and life insurance to sharp bookkeeping and CFO-level strategy, TFS works with individuals and growing businesses across the Golden Triangle to make financial decisions less stressful and more intentional. With property appraisals climbing and costs rising across the region, having a trusted advisor in your corner isn't a luxury — it's the smart play.

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

This is the window. Water temperatures at Toledo Bend Reservoir and Sam Rayburn Reservoir are climbing into the low-to-mid 70s, which means largemouth bass have moved into shallow cover and are actively feeding before summer heat pushes them deep.

Late April is consistently one of the top-producing weeks on both lakes — and both are within 90 minutes of Beaumont. Head to Pendleton Boat Ramp on Toledo Bend or McGee Creek access on Sam Rayburn for an easy morning run. Work a Texas-rigged soft plastic or topwater frog along grass edges and you'll find fish. Not into fishing? Big Thicket National Preserve is at peak spring migration right now — warblers, painted buntings, and shorebirds are all moving through. Either way, the weather and the wildlife are cooperating. Get outside this weekend.

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

Golden Pass LNG's shift from construction to full operations is one of the most significant employment transitions in Port Arthur in years. While the heavy build phase has wound down, the long-term operational workforce is ramping up — and energy-sector contractors across the region are actively staffing to meet the moment.

🏗️ Craft Professionals (Multiple Trades) — Bechtel / Port Arthur LNG | Port Arthur

Bechtel is actively recruiting welders, pipefitters, ironworkers, and boilermakers for the Port Arthur LNG project — one of the largest active LNG builds in the country, right in our backyard. Verify current openings and apply at BechtelBuilds.com.

🔧 Free Welding Training — Port Arthur

The Port Arthur EDC and Lamar State College Port Arthur are funding professional welding training for 75 Port Arthur residents at zero cost — no tuition, no fees. The program runs over three years and is timed to match anticipated shipbuilding demand returning to the region. This is a real pathway to an in-demand trade with strong local hiring prospects.

How to apply: Watch for enrollment details from LSCPA at lscpa.edu or via Port Arthur News.

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

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

This Saturday is genuinely stacked: Gabriel Iglesias, Liverpool Legends, Earth Day cleanup, or the free crawfish festival on the river. Which one are you hitting — and who are you dragging with you?

See you next week neighbor 📍,

The What’s Up SETX Team