The Coastal Texas Project, also known as the Ike Dike, received $5 million in federal funding, the largest single federal investment in the project since Congress authorized the project in 2022. 

The overview: The $34 billion project aims to protect Houston’s critical energy and shipping corridors from storm damage by building a system of gates and dune systems designed to mitigate storm surge, according to previous reporting by Community Impact. 

The background: The 87th Texas Legislature established the GCPD in 2021, and it serves as the state sponsor for the project, according to the release.

Although the project was authorized in 2022, funding has been slow to come in, and the $5 million marks the largest single federal investment to date, according to the release.

Quote of note: “Texas is home to the largest concentration of oil and gas infrastructure in the United States, and safeguarding our coast from catastrophic storms protects every American,” Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham said in the news release.

San Jacinto College has partnered with FleetForce, a workforce training provider, to expand access to its commercial driver’s license truck driving program, according to a Jan. 28 news release from the college.

The overview: The partnership aims to increase access and affordability for adult students, incumbent workers and individuals transitioning into new careers by expanding funding opportunities, career pathways and employer-driven training.

Harris County roadways are one step closer to seeing a new countywide road flood warning system to detect roadway flooding in real time and alert drivers.

Explained: A motion to advance negotiations with local engineering firm J.M. Torres and Associates LLC passed unanimously at the Jan. 29 Harris County Commissioners Court meeting. The Houston-based firm engineers real-time flood intelligence alert systems and data collectors, according to the business’s website.

What they're saying: “The project will install seven emergency flood warning measures across the four precincts,” Harris County Precinct 2 Media Specialist Alonzo Guadarrama said in an email. “These systems will be able to detect roadway flooding in real time and alert drivers, improving safety and helping reduce the risk of flood-related accidents.”

The impact: At least 812,294 properties in Harris County, or nearly 58% of all properties, have a risk of flooding over the next 30 years, according to data compiled from nonprofit First Street.

Harris County’s hospital district has raised $99 million, just $1 million shy of Harris Health’s fundraising goal to support the $2.9 billion capital building initiative approved by voters with the 2023 bond election.

The bottom line: Harris Health President and CEO Esmaeil Porsa shared the update on the hospital district’s philanthropic efforts at the Jan. 29 Commissioners Court meeting, days after hospital officials finished the newly named John M. O’Quinn Hospital in northeast Houston, also part of the 2023 bond.

The details: The fundraising announcement comes after Harris Health officials named the new Level I trauma-capable hospital after the late attorney and philanthropist, John M. O’Quinn. The naming ceremony took place Jan. 23 at the Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital campus, which is projected for completion in 2028 and opening in January 2029, according to a Jan. 23 news release.