Here’s what’s up in SETX,
Beaumont just handed residents the pen. The first draft chapters of the city's new Comprehensive Plan are online for anyone to read and comment on which is a rare chance to shape the roadmap for how the Golden Triangle's biggest city grows.
Over in Port Arthur, a community push got 275 men free health and prostate-cancer screenings, and Groves is running a blood drive today. We've also got one of Texas Monthly's Top 50 BBQ joints (brisket worth getting in line for) and a shady Big Thicket paddle to help you dodge the heat this Summer.
Today's newsletter is brought to you by Tailored Financial Solutions.
Let's get into it. 👇
📰 THE BIG NEWS
Beaumont Opens the First Draft of Its Big-Picture Plan 📐
The City of Beaumont has posted the first three draft chapters of its new Comprehensive Plan — the long-range roadmap that guides how the city grows, where neighborhoods and businesses go, and what gets invested in over the next couple of decades. For the first time since the plan kicked off with a community meeting last fall, there's real draft content to read, and a comment box at the bottom of every chapter at planbeaumont.com.
This is the stage where resident input actually moves the needle — before decisions harden into policy. Weigh in on a street you want made safer, a park you want protected, or the kind of development you'd like to see near your block, and it lands with the people writing the plan.
💡 The bottom line: Federal dollars is turning Port Arthur's most stubborn empty building from a liability into a possibility and downtown's biggest landmark finally has a reason to hope.
📋 THE RUNDOWN
🎓 Port Arthur Bets on CDLs and Nurses with Free Job Training — The Port Arthur EDC is putting real money into local career paths: up to $100,000 to renew the CDL Class A & B training program with Lamar State College Port Arthur, plus $250,000 for a new Healthcare Apprenticeship Pipeline that walks residents from CNA all the way to RN. Translation — free, local on-ramps into some of the region's best-paying jobs, no move required.
💧 Beaumont's New Water Pump Station Is Almost Online — Remember Harvey knocking out the Lawson Pump Station and leaving Beaumont without tap water for nine days? The new Collier's Ferry Pump Station is now "substantially complete" and should go into service around November, once a new Pine Street water line ties in. The payoff: two pump systems instead of one, so the next big storm is far less likely to shut off your water.
🩺 275 SETX Men Get Free Health & Prostate Screenings — A community collaboration led by Gift of Life delivered free men's health and prostate-cancer screenings at the Port Arthur Health Department, serving about 275 men — including roughly 50 walk-ins. Early detection is everything with prostate cancer, and events like this put life-saving checks within reach for men who might otherwise skip them.
🩸 Give Blood Today — Groves LifeShare Drive — The Groves Police Department is hosting a LifeShare Blood Center bloodmobile today, Wednesday, July 8, from 10 AM to 2 PM. Summer is one of the hardest seasons to keep the regional blood supply stocked, so an hour of your morning could directly help a SETX neighbor in an emergency.
🔑 Beaumont Hands NFL's P.J. Locke III the Key to the City — Mayor Roy West and the City Council presented Beaumont native and Dallas Cowboys safety P.J. Locke III with the Key to the City on July 7. The Beaumont Central grad still runs a free youth football camp back home — the city's highest civic honor going to a hometown kid who keeps showing up for the next generation.
📚 Orange Library's Beat-the-Heat Lineup for Families — The Orange Public Library is leaning into summer with free, air-conditioned fun: its annual escape room (this year's theme, "Paradox of Time") runs July 17–August 15, with indoor mini-golf on Saturdays. And today, Wednesday July 8, Gator Country brings live alligators and snakes to a free kids' reading program at Riverside Pavilion, 10:30–11:30 AM (bring lawn chairs and water).
🍎 Beaumont ISD Is Hiring Teachers — $48K to Start, Interviews on the Spot — Beaumont ISD is running open hiring events every Tuesday and Wednesday in July, 3–5 PM, at the district administration building (3395 Harrison Ave). Its resident-teacher track starts at $48,000 a year and asks for a bachelor's degree — no teaching certificate required — with interviews and hiring happening on the spot. With 100-plus classroom openings on the district's job board, it's a real shot at a stable local career for career-changers and recent grads. Apply at bmtisd.com/careers.
🏡 Loula Foundation Opens a New Beaumont Office for Families in Recovery — The Loula Foundation — a Beaumont nonprofit focused on family-centered, trauma-informed recovery — has opened a new office at 1269 N. Major Drive. Its mission is keeping kids in safe, loving homes by supporting parents through recovery and reunification, which can mean fewer repeat CPS cases down the line. For SETX families navigating recovery, it's a new local door to knock on.
🚚 New State Law Reshapes Port Arthur's Food-Truck Rules — Under Texas House Bill 2844 (effective July 1), food-safety permitting for mobile vendors shifts from the city to the state, while Port Arthur keeps control of zoning, fire safety, and noise. The city is weighing new local fees — a proposed $52 temporary food permit and $150 sanitation inspection among them. Officials stress it's a state mandate, not a local crackdown — but if you run or love a SETX food truck, the paperwork's changing.
🏛️ "The Spirit of Port Arthur" Opens at the Museum of the Gulf Coast — A new exhibit at the Museum of the Gulf Coast (700 Procter St.) digs into Port Arthur's roots through everyday objects — from the John Warne Gates family Bible to architectural pieces off the old Gulf Gate Bridge and 1920s refinery photos. Archivist Sebastian Russo says the point is that "history is found in anything." It's on view through October — a cool, indoor way to soak up local history this summer.
📬 Which story caught your eye?
Your action items this week!
✅ Give blood today — The LifeShare bloodmobile is at the Groves Police Department Wednesday, July 8, 10 AM–2 PM. Walk-ups welcome — it takes about an hour.
✅ Weigh in on Beaumont's future — Read the first draft chapters of the city's Comprehensive Plan and leave a comment at planbeaumont.com. Your input shapes the final plan.
✅ Grab I Am Woman Experience tickets — The two-day women's empowerment event hits the Julie Rogers Theatre July 17–18. Tickets start at the Bestie GA tier (VIP from $84.99).
✅ Line up a July job fair — Free Workforce Solutions hiring events run July 9 (Beaumont) and July 16 (Beaumont & Port Arthur), 10 AM–1 PM. Bring a résumé and come ready to talk.
✅ 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
Jul 8: LifeShare Blood Drive | Groves Police Department, Groves. Bloodmobile on-site 10 AM–2 PM — walk-ups welcome, happening today.
Jul 9: Workforce Solutions Job Fair | Workforce Solutions center, Beaumont. 10 AM–1 PM; bring résumés, employers hiring on the spot.
Jul 9: Mix & Mingle / Open House — ISTC | Beaumont. Greater Beaumont Chamber after-hours networking and open house.
Jul 10: Friday Morning Business Connection | Beaumont. The Chamber's weekly networking breakfast — an easy drop-in for local business owners.
MOVIE NIGHTS @ JEFFERSON
July 10 - Yankee Doodle Dandy @ 7 PM.
July 17 - Pocahontas @ 7 PM
Jul 24 - Forrest Gump @ 7 PM
THIS WEEKEND
Jul 11: Crafty Christmas in July Market | Central Mall, Port Arthur. Sat from 10 AM — handmade goods, local vendors, and a little holiday cheer six months early.
Jul 11: Girls' Haven Clay Shoot Fundraiser | One in One Hundred Gun Club, Lumberton. Breakfast & registration 8 AM, safety meeting 8:45, shooting 9 AM; benefits girls in Southeast Texas foster care.
Jul 11: Beaumont Farmers Market | Beaumont Athletic Complex pavilion, Beaumont. Every Saturday, 8–11 AM, free — local produce, jams, soaps, and homemade treats. (Also Jul 18 & 25.)
COMING UP
Jul 16: Ribbon Cutting — Michelli Weighing & Measurement | Beaumont. Greater Beaumont Chamber ribbon cutting.
Jul 16: Workforce Solutions Job Fairs | Beaumont & Port Arthur centers. 10 AM–1 PM at each location.
Jul 17 - 18: I Am Woman Experience 2026 — "There Is Oil After This" | Julie Rogers Theatre, Beaumont. Two-day women's empowerment event (Fri doors 6 PM/event 7 PM; Sat doors 9 AM/event 10 AM). Tickets from $84.99 VIP.
Jul 18: Golden Triangle Big Band — "Sounds of Home" | Jefferson Theatre, Beaumont. Free. Doors 6:30 PM, show 7:30 PM. An 18-piece jazz orchestra performing original big-band works by Southeast Texas composers.
Jul 18: Spindletop Rollergirls vs. Acadiana Roller Derby | Beaumont Civic Center. Doors 5 PM, game 6 PM. $15 adults (17+), $10 youth (11–16).
Jul 23: Mix & Mingle — Education First FCU | Beaumont. Greater Beaumont Chamber after-hours networking.
Ongoing: Shangri La Botanical Gardens & Nature Center | 2111 W. Park Ave., Orange. Tue–Sat, 9 AM–5 PM, free admission — 252 acres of cypress gardens and shady nature trails.
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
🍖 1701 Barbecue in Beaumont
1701 Barbecue landed on Texas Monthly's list of the Top 50 BBQ Joints in Texas, and one bite of the brisket tells you why. The Calder Avenue smokehouse turns out brisket, pork ribs, jalapeño-cheese sausage, and a cult-favorite brisket boudin — and it moves fast: they open for lunch and keep serving until they sell out. Come hungry, come early, and don't bother reaching for the sauce.
📍 1701 Calder Ave, Beaumont, TX 77701
🤤 Had a great meal somewhere in SETX lately? Reply and tell us — we feature reader picks.
🏢 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Tailored Financial Solutions
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Myth
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Fact
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Whether you're preparing to grow, improving profitability, or simply looking for greater financial clarity, a Fractional CFO gives you the insights needed to move your business forward with confidence.
At Tailored Financial Solutions, we provide CFO services that help business owners understand their numbers, make informed decisions, and build a stronger financial future.
You don't have to be a Fortune 500 company to benefit from CFO expertise. You just need the right financial partner.
Visit us at www.tailoredfinsolutions.com or check our socials Tailored Financial Solutions at Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want your business featured in this spotlight? Email us at [email protected]
🌲OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
Big Thicket National Preserve
It’s always great to get under the trees.
Big Thicket National Preserve — about 30 minutes north of Beaumont — is built for exactly that: paddle the shaded Neches River water trails, or walk the easy, tree-covered Kirby Nature Trail loop where the canopy keeps things noticeably cooler than open ground.
Beginner tip: start early (before 9 AM), bring more water than you think you need, and pack bug spray. Go now and you'll see why locals have loved this "biological crossroads of North America" for generations.
📍 Big Thicket National Preserve, ~30 minutes north of Beaumont (visitor center on FM 420, Kountze)
🏕️ 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
🛢️ Refinery Operator — Motiva Enterprises | Port Arthur Refinery
Starting pay around $42.90/hr on rotating shifts — one of the region's strongest entry points into the refining industry. Typically requires a TWIC card, an online assessment, and a drug screen.
Apply at motiva.com/careers.
🏥 Now Hiring — Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas | Beaumont
Around 141 current openings across nursing, support, and administrative roles at a Forbes "America's Best Employers 2026" honoree.
Apply at bhset.net/careers or reach HR at 3030 Fannin, Suite C, Beaumont · (409) 212-6011.
🏥 Clinical Roles — CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Health System
CHRISTUS is hiring across its Southeast Texas facilities in 2026 — nurses, techs, and therapists among them.
Browse current openings and filter for Southeast Texas at careers.christushealth.org.
🏗️ 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
📰 What do you want more of in this newsletter? More food? More jobs? More events? More deep dives? Tell us and we'll deliver.
See you next week neighbor 📍,
The What’s Up SETX Team
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