The Southeast Texas Regional Airport serves a regional population base of 500,000, with some 30 million within a 500 mile radius.

Each year, more than 100,000 passengers depart from the 45,000-square-foot commercial terminal and 20,000-square-foot executive terminal. An average of 20 flights a day provide non-stop service to major airline hubs in the state.

Along with its close proximity to Interstate 10, other transportation assets for the airport include more than 30 trucking companies (20 local terminals), and three Class A rail lines with connections to the deep-water ports in Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange. Only 90 miles from both Bush Intercontinental Airport and Hobby Airport in Houston, the Southeast Texas Regional Airport provides affordable access to world-wide travel and commerce.

Serving a Diversified Economy Since the discovery of oil at Spindletop in 1901, Southeast Texas has had a sound petro-chemical industrial base. The region is home to many Fortune 500 companies and most have been here for decades. The giants of the chemical and petrochemical industries are prevalent in the Beaumont/Port Arthur/Orange area. Pulp and paper companies chose the wooded areas on the northern perimeter of the region. Service and support companies that complement these industries are also well-established. The area's broad abundance of natural resources has also attracted oil production, ship building, and tourism. Growth sectors include health care, research and development, food precessing, tourism, apparel, aircraft, and metals. Aggressive economic development efforts by local governments are credited with creating a well diversified regional economy.

A Well-Trained Workforce
Institutions of higher learning in Southeast Texas offer some of the finest educational opportunities in the country. Additionally, effective workforce training programs from Lamar University and other regional organizations such as the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission provide skilled personnel for business and industry in the region. Their efforts not only focus on workforce development issues, but effectively link employers and job seekers to improve the economic future of our area.