Spotlight On: Rick Guerrero, Chief Outreach & Government Affairs Officer, Houston-Galveston Area Council
September 2025 — Rick Guerrero, chief outreach and government affairs officer for the Houston-Galveston Area Council, spoke with Invest: about the numerous ways in which the council provides support to its 13 affiliated counties as they grow and evolve, specifically in terms of housing, broadband, healthcare, and adjusting to an aging population.
Reflecting on the past year, what significant milestones or achievements has Houston-Galveston Area Council accomplished in terms of economic development?
In the last year, we have pivoted in response to changing landscapes, not just federally or on the state level, but in terms of our member governments’ needs. We are a member-driven organization and serve 13 counties, all with challenges that are uniquely local or collectively shared. As the population of older adults continues to grow, planning and service delivery must grow with it. This is true in promoting employment opportunities for active older adults, exploring innovative strategies to promote better health, such as our new mobile dental health unit, and implementing safeguards against those who might want to do them financial or physical harm.
H-GAC also houses the region’s Economic Development District, designated by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), to promote regional economic resiliency. The district recently completed its five-year Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), a regional roadmap for the Gulf Coast area to create better jobs, diversify our economy, and spur economic growth. This document is important because any entity applying for EDA funds must present a project in alignment with the CEDS to be eligible for funding. The district also recently published its Regional Broadband Study, highlighting the current state of internet access in our region and the strategies being developed to improve connectivity for all communities. The report includes feedback collected from residents, businesses, and other stakeholders during our public meetings and survey process, offering a detailed roadmap for bridging the digital divide.
With Houston’s population projected to double in the next 15 to 20 years, how is the region preparing to accommodate this growth while maintaining its quality of life?
Councils of Government like H-GAC are designed for this purpose – planning for the future while contending with problems of infrastructure, transportation, workforce, economic development, and connectivity, none of which stop at any municipal or county line. Each of the 37 elected officials who sit on the H-GAC board brings a unique perspective. From large urban areas to rural communities, from big cities and small towns to independent school districts, H-GAC’s board works collectively to ensure our ports are prepared to see increased container traffic, that our roadway network is capable of evacuating communities in the path of a storm in a safe and orderly fashion, that we implement strategies to reduce the incidence of serious injury and death on our highways, and that our rivers, lakes, and bayous are clean and safe to use for recreation.
With continued population growth and economic development, we expect the demand for water to increase. We are pleased that the governor and the legislature have made Texas water infrastructure and supply a priority in the 89th session. Through the work of our Water Resources Committee and Regional Flood Management Council, H-GAC is uniquely poised to bring voices and expertise from across the Gulf Coast to develop strategies and better prepare our region for the future.
Additionally, through our Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), an estimated $109 billion in development, including more than 750 projects sponsored by 63 different public entities, is expected to be completed by 2045. The MPO is responsible for planning safe, reliable, and equitable multimodal transportation networks across the region, and has been working diligently to ensure we continue to be a catalyst for commerce and resilience across the state.
What are some primary initiatives and projects you’re excited to push forward for 2025 that you believe will benefit businesses and residents?
Businesses and residents that depend on our region’s roadways know that traffic can be slow-moving and decrease productivity. In 2025, we are excited about continuing our Tow and Go program that aims to remove disabled vehicles and stranded motorists from our highway system quickly and safely. This program boasts an average clearance time of 17 minutes to remove a stranded vehicle to a safe location at no cost to the motorist. This helps reduce the frequency of secondary crashes and allows people and goods to keep moving to their destination.
Additionally, we are kicking off our newly formed broadband, housing, and healthcare committees in response to our board of directors’ formalized priority areas. Once established, workgroups with stakeholders from across the region in these focus areas will be crucial for identifying opportunities and bridging the gap in these spaces for urban, suburban, and rural communities alike.
What trends are you observing in the types of businesses expressing interest in establishing operations in Houston?
We are seeing increased interest in staging and warehousing operations in terms of logistics and distribution, given the increased port container traffic. Houston has long been the energy capital, and with its pro-business environment, no personal income tax, and skilled workforce, we expect this to continue. As the workforce system for the region, we provide comprehensive human resources solutions, industry-specific labor market intelligence, and employee training opportunities for businesses ready to call our region home.
How is the Houston-Galveston region leveraging Texas’ business-friendly policies, in addition to its prime location, to attract new companies?
As businesses relocate to this region, one of the primary considerations before selecting a site is housing availability and affordability. Housing is an issue facing communities across the country. With housing being one of H-GAC’s top five priorities in 2025, we have established a committee that will help develop strategies, resources, and guides for large cities and small towns to remain an attractive place for private industry and ensure that the people employed in those communities can afford to live there as well.
What is your vision and outlook for Houston-Galveston Area Council’s economic landscape over the near term?
We’ve passed a historic half-billion-dollar budget, our Transportation Planning Organization will celebrate 50 years of growth and progress, and we are embracing the changing landscape in terms of housing, older adults, broadband, transportation, technology, and healthcare. We are energized and prepared to use a diverse approach to solving some of the challenges facing our region by harnessing the power of artificial intelligence in our planning and investing in a team that will identify and secure grants for the local communities. With local governments working efficiently through our Council of Governments, planning, collaborating, and pivoting when necessary, the Gulf Coast region of Texas, with its rich culture and diverse industry, is poised to remain economically strong for the foreseeable future.
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