Here’s what’s up in SETX, 

Residential construction just ranked as the 2nd fastest-growing industry in our metro — and the industrial boom fueling it isn't letting up. Meanwhile, Tesla showed up to train our firefighters for the EV era, Hardin-Jefferson ISD picked its next superintendent from within its own ranks, and a new bar has staked its claim on Dowlen Road. Plus: The Pompano in Port Neches just leveled up, and Port Arthur is handing out 75 free welding seats — no tuition, no catch.

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Let's get into it. 👇

SETX Home Construction Is the 2nd Fastest-Growing Industry in the Region 🏗️

Southeast Texas is building — and fast. Residential construction just ranked as the 2nd fastest-growing industry in the Beaumont–Port Arthur metro, driven by a wave of workers relocating to SETX as new industrial facilities come online. The median price for a new build sits at $355,000 — about $20,000 more than an existing home — yet demand keeps climbing because the pipeline of people moving into the region keeps growing.

The sector is shifting hard from flips and renovations toward ground-up construction. The one thing slowing it down? Labor. Qualified builders and tradespeople are in short supply, and contractors are competing to fill crews fast enough to meet demand. For workers with construction skills — or those who want to learn them — the timing couldn't be better.

💡 The bottom line: If you're thinking about buying, selling, or breaking ground in SETX, the market is moving — and industrial growth is the engine behind it.

⚡ Tesla Trains Southeast Texas First Responders for EV Emergencies — Tesla came to Beaumont today to give Jefferson County ESD 3 and local first responders hands-on training for electric vehicle emergencies. Chief Jody Herrera says the goal is simple: no crew should encounter their first EV fire or crash without knowing how to cut power, protect their team, and run the call. With more EVs on SETX roads every year, this kind of preparation isn't optional anymore. Read more →

🎓 Hardin-Jefferson ISD Names Its Next Superintendent — The H-J ISD board selected Dr. Steven Cox — their own assistant superintendent — as the lone finalist to replace retiring Supt. Brad McEachern, who served seven years. Cox is a 20-year educator with all three of his degrees from Lamar University. He brings continuity to a district that's been steady under McEachern — and an inside track on what H-J students and families actually need. Texas law requires a 21-day waiting period before the board can make it official. Read more →

🏘️ Orange, TX Is About to Get a Lot Bigger — The Chevron Phillips $8.5 billion expansion and the Golden Triangle Polymers plant aren't just creating jobs — they're reshaping an entire city. Orange is adding five new subdivisions, a 100-unit apartment complex, and multiple commercial developments, with 200+ new homes projected by 2028. The city council already approved a $1.5 million grant and multi-year tax incentives to land an H-E-B development. Orange is growing — and it's growing intentionally. Read more →

🍸 Bar 723 Is Coming to Dowlen Road — A new bar is headed to Parkdale Plaza on Dowlen Road in Beaumont. Details are still coming out, but Bar 723 already has a Facebook page up and running. Stay tuned for the opening announcement. [Beaumont Enterprise]

🔧 Port Arthur Just Unlocked 75 Free Welding Seats — The Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation partnered with Lamar State College Port Arthur to fund free welding training for 75 Port Arthur residents over three years. No tuition. No fees. The timing is calculated — shipbuilding demand is expected to return to the region, and this program is built to put local workers at the front of the line. Enrollment details coming soon from LSCPA. 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. 🎉

Fine dining in the Golden Triangle doesn't always mean a drive to Houston — and The Pompano has been proving that for years. The steakhouse on Twin City Highway in Port Neches just expanded its menu and extended its hours, giving diners more reasons to make the reservation. Whether you're celebrating something special or just ready for a properly cooked steak with people who care about the details, this is your spot.

📍 330 Twin City Hwy, Port Neches, TX 77651 | 409-727-1111 | pompanotx.com

⏰ Tue 11am–2pm & 4–10pm | Wed–Fri 11am–2pm & 4–11pm | Sat 4–11pm | Sun 10am–2pm (brunch)

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

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

Mid-April through May is when Southeast Texas quietly becomes one of the best birding destinations in North America — and most people who live here have no idea. SETX sits directly on one of the continent's major migratory flyways, and as neotropical migrants push north from Central and South America, they funnel right through the Golden Triangle to rest, refuel, and recover. Warblers, tanagers, orioles, buntings, hummingbirds — dozens of species you'd never see here in winter land in the trees and marshes for a few days before continuing their journey.

Two spots are worth knowing: Sabine Woods is a small grove off Hwy 87 near Sabine Pass — free to access, maintained by the Texas Ornithological Society, and absolutely loaded with birds during migration. McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge sits off Hwy 73 west of High Island and offers a different experience — open coastal marsh and shorebirds alongside the landbirds. Both are free. Go early — dawn to 10 AM is when the action peaks. Binoculars help, but half the fun is just standing still and listening.

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

The What's Up SETX Team is on the hunt for amateur photographers based in the Golden Triangle to partner with us for our social media and newsletter so we can reach and help more people stay in the know.

If you're already out there capturing community moments, local businesses, or everyday life around here, we'd love to start a conversation about working together.

Or if someone came to mind while you were reading this, send it their way.

Interested? Email us at [email protected] with your portfolio or Instagram handle.

🎓 Port Arthur LNG STEM Scholarship — Port Arthur / Orange County

Ten graduating seniors from Jefferson and Orange counties can win full tuition, books, and fees for up to four years at Lamar University, LIT, LSCPA, LSCO, or other area institutions pursuing STEM degrees. This is one of the best local scholarship opportunities we've seen this year. Deadline is April 15 — don't miss it.

How to apply: Submit your PDF to [email protected] and [email protected].

🔧 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.

⚡ With more EVs on the road, are you noticing the shift here in the Golden Triangle? Any thoughts on what that means for our area?

See you next week neighbor 📍,

The What’s Up SETX Team