Here’s what’s up in SETX,
Port Arthur just made national headlines with Davie Defense is dropping $1 billion into Gulf Copper Shipyards, bringing Coast Guard cutters and 2,400 jobs to our backyard. While those jobs are still a couple years out, there's plenty happening right now: CHRISTUS recently opened a new specialty clinic on Highway 365, Bridge City HS cracked the state's top 25, and The Wiz opens Friday night at the Jonathan Williams Center. Plus, free July 4 fireworks shows across the Golden Triangle are less than two weeks away.
Today's newsletter is brought to you by Tailored Financial Solutions.
Let's get into it. 👇
📰 THE BIG NEWS
Port Arthur Gets 2,400 Jobs and Three Coast Guard Cutters ⚓
Davie Defense — the American arm of British defense contractor Inocea Group — officially broke ground on a $1 billion modernization of Gulf Copper Shipyards in Port Arthur this June. The project is backed by a $3.5 billion U.S. Coast Guard contract to build five new Arctic Security Cutters, with three of those vessels going to Port Arthur. It is the largest federal shipbuilding investment in this region in decades, and it is already underway. The first construction phase wraps in 2028, creating an estimated 2,400 direct jobs locally and up to 7,000 statewide through supply chain activity.
Port Arthur Mayor Charlotte Moses called it "opportunity, economic growth, innovation, and a renewed commitment to strengthening our nation's security." Governor Abbott declared Texas "ground zero for revitalization of the American shipbuilding industry." Davie acquired Gulf Copper in December 2025, meaning this transformation went from acquisition to groundbreaking in just six months.
💡 The bottom line: The money is signed and the shovels are in the ground and residents who want to be first in line for these 2,400 jobs should start building credentials now through Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas and local trade programs, because 2028 will come faster than it sounds.
📋 THE RUNDOWN
🏥 CHRISTUS Opens New Specialty Clinic in Port Arthur — Port Arthur now has a multi-specialty clinic right on Highway 365 (Suite A100) offering orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, and interventional cardiology. These are services that used to mean a trip to Houston. Hours: Mon–Thu 8 AM–5 PM, Fri 8 AM–12 PM. Read more →
🎓 Port Arthur Industrial Group Awards $80K in Scholarships — The Port Arthur Industrial Group distributed $80,000 in academic achievement scholarships to outstanding PAISD graduates this month. This is exactly the kind of homegrown investment that keeps talented young people connected to their community — and potentially to the industrial workforce that just got a $1 billion shot in the arm.
🏆 Bridge City HS Ranks #24 in Texas — Out of 222 schools in the UIL Lone Star Cup 4A division — which scores combined academic and athletic achievement — Bridge City High School locked in the 24th spot. That's an all-around excellence ranking that represents every student, coach, and teacher in that building. Orange County showing out.
📊 Beaumont-Port Arthur Unemployment Sits at 5.4% — May 2026 data puts the region more than a full percentage point above both the Texas rate (4.6%) and the national average, with nearly 10,000 residents still out of work. The billion-dollar investment announcements are real — but so is the gap between a press conference and a paycheck. The two-track economy is the defining tension in SETX right now.
💎 BBB Diamond Awards Celebrate SETX's Best — The 28th annual Better Business Bureau gala — rebranded this year from the Legacy Torch Awards to the Diamond Awards for Excellence — honored five local businesses: Port Arthur Community Credit Union (Small Business), DuGood Credit Union (Large Business), Southeast Texas Trimlight (Veteran-Owned), Lashon Proctor of Proctor Mortuary (Businessman of the Year), and Katie Celli of ISTC (Businesswoman of the Year).
📬 Which story caught your eye?
Your action items this week!
✅ Lace Up for Go Skate Beaumont — Thu Jun 25, 5–8 PM at Beautiful Mountain Skate Park. Free, ages 18+. Skate competition celebrating National Go Skate Day, hosted by EVRYNG and the City of Beaumont.
✅ Catch The Wiz This Weekend — Opening night is Fri Jun 26 at 7 PM. Additional shows Sat Jun 27 at 2 PM and 7:30 PM. All at Jonathan Williams Center, Beaumont. Tickets $10–$50.
✅ Hit the Workforce Solutions Job Fair — Thu Jun 25, 10 AM–1 PM at the Port Arthur Workforce Solutions office. Multiple employers, on-the-spot interviews. No registration required — just show up ready.
✅ Plan Your July 4 Weekend Now — Three free fireworks shows across the region: Beaumont (Downtown Event Centre), Port Arthur (Seawall), and Orange (Riverside Pavilion). All gates open 5 PM, fireworks at 9 PM.
✅ Running a small business or thinking about starting one? — Tailored Financial Solutions offers bookkeeping, CFO-level guidance, and financial clarity for local entrepreneurs. tailoredfinsolutions.com 💰
📅 COMMUNITY EVENTS
Looking for even more things to do? Browse and submit community events at events.whatsupsetx.com — updated every week. 🎉
Mark your calendars for these upcoming highlights.
THIS WEEK
Jun 25: Go Skate Beaumont! | Beautiful Mountain Skate Park, Beaumont. 5–8pm, FREE (18+). Skate competition celebrating National Go Skate Day, hosted by EVRYNG and the City of Beaumont.
Jun 25: Ribbon Cutting — Doggett Toyota | Beaumont. Greater Beaumont Chamber event. Check bmtcoc.org for time details.
Jun 26: The Wiz (Opening Night) | Jonathan Williams Center of Performing Arts, Beaumont. Doors 6pm, show 7pm. Tickets $10–$20 general; $50 VIP (preferred seating, concession pack, photo booth). Groups of 15+ get group rates.
Jun 26: Babe: The Babe Didrikson Story (Classic Movie Night) | Jefferson Theatre, 345 Fannin St, Beaumont. Doors 6pm, film 7pm. Adults $6, kids 12 & under $4. Tickets at the Civic Center box office or at the door from 5pm.
Jun 26: Teddy Bear Clinic — Day 1 | Next Level Urgent Care, 6342 Phelan Blvd, Beaumont. 2–6pm, FREE. Bring your child's favorite stuffed animal for a fun, kid-friendly "checkup." RSVP at nextlevelurgentcare.com.
MOVIE NIGHTS @ JEFFERSON
June 26 - Babe: Babe Didrickson Story @ 7 p.m
THIS WEEKEND
📌 "THE WIZ" — Jonathan Williams Center of Performing Arts, Beaumont
📍 Jonathan Williams Center, Beaumont | 🕐 Fri Jun 26 at 7 PM | Sat Jun 27 at 2 PM (matinee) & 7:30 PM (evening) | 🎟️ $10–$20 general | $50 VIP (preferred seating + concession pack + photo booth) | Group rates for 15+
What to expect: The Wizard of Oz reimagined through Black culture with a soul-and-funk soundtrack. Big production, big energy, local cast. The Wiz opening weekend is the perfect post-Juneteenth way to keep the summer vibe going all the way to the Fourth.
Jun 27: Teddy Bear Clinic — Day 2 | Next Level Urgent Care, 6342 Phelan Blvd, Beaumont. 2–6pm, FREE.
Jun 27: Sea Rim Kid Fun | Sea Rim State Park, Sabine Pass. 9am–12pm, FREE. Guided kids' fishing event on the Gulf coast — no gear or experience needed.
Jun 27: Star Spangled Spectacular | Jefferson Theatre, 345 Fannin St, Beaumont. Doors 6pm, program 7pm. FREE patriotic evening of music, film, and history celebrating America's 250th anniversary — barbershop quartet, patriotic film, and historical features.
COMING UP
Jul 2: Cajun & Creole Acoustic Jam | American Legion Hall, 922 Nederland Ave, Nederland. 6:30–8:30pm, FREE. Monthly first-Thursday jam session — bring your instrument or just come to listen. Contact Jude Moreau: (409) 749-9291.
Jul 4: City of Beaumont 4th of July Celebration | Downtown Event Centre, Beaumont. Gates 5pm, fireworks 9pm. FREE. Celebrating America's 250th.
Jul 4: Orange July 4 Concert & Fireworks | Riverside Pavilion, 708 Simmons Drive, Orange. Free. Live music and fireworks at 9pm. Check orangetexas.gov/410 for 2026 program updates.
Jul 5: Beaumont Renegades vs. Oregon Lightning | Doggett Ford Park, Beaumont. 6pm. Home game for SETX's indoor football team.
Which event are you hitting up? Reply and let us know! And if there's an event we missed, submit it or browse the full calendar at events.whatsupsetx.com — updated every week. 🎉
🍽️ FOOD CORNER
🍜 Koko Ramen & Hawaiian Poke Bowl — Port Arthur
Port Arthur has been home to one of the Golden Triangle's most interesting menus for a while now — Japanese ramen and Hawaiian poke bowls under one roof. Koko Ramen fills that craving that's hard to place: comfort food that's also fresh, an East-meets-Pacific mashup that works because both traditions take broth and raw ingredients seriously. Come in for a tonkotsu on a grey summer afternoon or build your own poke bowl when the heat calls for something lighter.
They also do bubble tea and rolled ice cream, so there's a reason this place draws a crowd.
📍 7675 Memorial Blvd, Port Arthur, TX
🤤 Had a great meal somewhere in SETX lately? Reply and tell us — we feature reader picks.
🏢 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
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This section is sponsored by Tailored Financial Solutions. Want your business featured here? Email us at [email protected].
🌲OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
🎣 Lake Sam Rayburn - The Bass Are Biting
At 114,000 acres, Lake Sam Rayburn is Texas's largest reservoir — and right now, in late June and early July, it hits peak season for largemouth bass and catfish.
The bass are feeding hard in the early morning before the summer heat sets in, which means a 5:30 AM launch from Cassels Boykin State Park or Twin Dikes Park can be genuinely productive. If you're newer to fishing, this is a forgiving lake — its size means there's always somewhere new to explore, and the state park ramps are well-maintained and easy to navigate. Pack a cooler, wear sunscreen, and be on the water before sunrise. The July 4 weekend is a natural excuse for a two-night trip to Jasper County.
📍 Cassels Boykin State Park: 100 Park Road 48, Zavalla, TX 75980
📍 Twin Dikes Park: Jasper County (follow signs from Hwy 255)
🏕️ What's your favorite outdoor spot in the Golden Triangle? Reply and tell us — we'll feature the best ones in a future issue.
💼 JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES
The Davie Defense / Gulf Copper announcement is the biggest jobs story of the month — but the 2,400 direct shipyard positions are still roughly two years out. The most actionable opportunity in front of SETX residents right now is Thursday's job fair in Port Arthur, where multiple employers are conducting on-the-spot interviews.
🏗️ Construction Trades — Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 | Port Arthur
Bechtel is the EPC contractor at the Sempra Infrastructure LNG terminal site. If you hold certifications in pipefitting, welding, electrical work, instrumentation, or heavy equipment — or if you have a CDL — this project is hiring through the construction phase. Steady work, local to Jefferson County.
How to apply: bechtel.com/careers | Search: "Port Arthur LNG"
💼 Tax Professional Lead — Tailored Financial Solutions | Remote
Detail-oriented tax pro needed for a growing local firm. Fully remote. Ideal for a CPA, enrolled agent, or experienced tax preparer looking for flexible work with real local roots.
How to apply: Apply: tailoredfinsolutions.com | [email protected]
👷 Blue-Collar Skilled Trades — Port Arthur / Sabine Pass
Patriot Security EOC is hiring 60+ positions across Port Arthur and Sabine Pass. Strong market region-wide for welders, operators, and industrial support roles. Ask about openings at your nearest WorkForce Solutions SETX location or check local job boards.
🏥 Healthcare Careers — CHRISTUS Southeast Texas | Beaumont
CHRISTUS is actively recruiting clinical and support staff heading into summer — registered nurses, technicians, and patient care roles are in demand.
How to apply: Apply at christushealth.org/careers
👩🏫 Teachers & Support Staff — Vidor ISD / Lumberton ISD / Hardin-Jefferson ISD
Three area school districts are running job fairs this week with on-the-spot offers — Vidor ISD has 20–30 openings (teachers, sped, bus drivers, custodial, food service), Lumberton and H-J ISD are seeking teachers, aides, transportation, and nutrition staff. Show up ready. Details →
🤝 Community Relations Coordinator for What’s Up SETX
We're looking for a local SETX connector — part community ambassador, part relationship builder. If you're already in the room at networking events and love sharing good news about this region, this role is for you.
Interested? Reply to this email or reach out at [email protected]
💼 General SETX Openings
Workforce Solutions Southeast Texas posts current openings across industries — manufacturing, healthcare, education, and skilled trades.
How to apply: Browse the full board at setworks.org or stop by a local office in Beaumont or Port Arthur.
🌿 Tailored Lawn Care
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
🔜 Browse all local SETX job listings — coming soon. Sign up for early access when our job board launches: reply here to get on the list →
📣 Your Turn
Know a local restaurant we should feature in Food Corner? Hit reply and give us your pick!
See you in a few days neighbor 📍,
The What’s Up SETX Team
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