By Catie George, Director, Communications & Storytelling
The Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC) has joined a coalition of business leaders urging the Texas Legislature to establish a dedicated revenue source for water projects.
With Dallas-Fort Worth set to become the nation’s third-largest metro by 2028, aging water infrastructure poses challenges.
“The Dallas Region is proud to be a major contributor to Texas’ prosperous economy, and our business community works hard to sustain our record prosperity for Texans for generations to come—and we need a reliable water supply to do that,” said DRC President and CEO Dale Petroskey in a press release. “We look forward to working with lawmakers to help secure a dedicated funding source for the Texas Water Fund to meet the demands of our growing companies and communities in North Texas and across the state.”
What we know about Texas’ water needs
The DRC has drawn attention to water through advocacy efforts and events with a concerted focus over the past two years.
The pressing issue of Texas’ water supply was a key topic of discussion at the DRC’s first State of Infrastructure in 2023.
“At the end of the day, economic development is impossible without water,” said Aaron Demerson, then-Commissioner of the Texas Workforce Commission and now-President and CEO of the Texas Economic Development Corporation, at the event.
At a Tomorrow Fund Investor Breakfast in 2023, Rebecca Trevino, Chief Financial Officer of the Texas Water Development Board, said a lack of dependable water could result in economic losses to $100 billion and hundreds of thousands of job losses.
The DRC’s Good for Texans campaign successfully helped pass Proposition 6 in the November 2023 election, establishing the Texas Water Fund and investing a $1 billion down payment toward Texas’ estimated $150 billion water needs.
At the second-annual State of Infrastructure, a panel of water experts again broached the issue, calling on the business community to bring attention to the topic.
Most recently, the DRC convened a panel of water experts to brief more than 40 elected officials on Texas’ water needs as part of its first-ever Dallas Regional Days.
Setting a game plan
The DRC worked with nearly 80 member companies over six months to set legislative priorities for the 89th Texas Legislative Session. One of the main priorities is to support additional investment in long-term planning for water availability to meet the state’s future needs.
“Every day, the Dallas Region adds about 400 people. North Texas is growing fast, and we need the necessary tools to keep up with this growth,” said Rebekah Chenelle, Vice President of Public Policy, in an announcement of the DRC’s new Legislative Agenda. “That means ensuring our water supply… can handle the demand. A long-term funding plan for water is critical to prepare us for decades of expansion.”
Joining the statewide coalition is important in the DRC’s advocacy efforts.
The coalition’s efforts center on two goals: developing a resilient, diversified water supply to meet increasing demand and upgrading aging drinking water and wastewater systems across Texas. The down payment made by the Texas Water Fund is valuable, but a dedicated funding stream is necessary to support the state’s future economy.
“Water is one of the most basic things to think about, but it’s also one of the most critical components of a thriving city. We all need water, and if the basins dry up and the taps stop working, it will become a big problem very quickly,” said Mike Rosa, Senior Vice President of Economic Development. “I’m hopeful the Texas Legislature will see the urgency of this and fund water going forward. Its importance cannot be understated as we continue our growth in North Texas and throughout the state.”
The coalition includes the DRC, the Greater Houston Partnership, Texas 2036, Texas Association of Business, Texas Chemistry Council, Texas Farm Bureau, Texas Association of Manufacturers, Texas REALTORS, Texas Water Association, and dozens more chamber and business groups.
The DRC invites its member companies to join in advocacy efforts during the 89th Texas Legislative Session. The Austin Fly-In is Tuesday, Feb. 4. If you’d like to join, send a note to the Public Policy team at policy@dallaschamber.org.