Long known for its heat, humidity, and oil-boom economy, Houston has one trait that cannot be claimed by any other city: Houston was the first word spoken by Neil Armstrong when he stepped onto the moon in 1969. Such a distinction accurately reflects the Bayou City's optimism, pride, and relentless entrepreneurial spirit. Houston, the fourth most populous city in the United States, is a mixture of crisscrossing expressways, choking traffic, sprawling suburbs, and an eye-catching skyline of towering glass and steel buildings. With a highly diverse population, the city is both Southern and Texan, both American and international. Beneath the sweltering downtown area is a maze of interconnecting air-conditioned tunnels bustling with various restaurants, shops, and offices, which is where UPSIDE sat down to talk with Pamela House Lovett, the president of the economic development division of the Greater Houston Partnership, a business-advocacy organization with over 2,000 members. The Greater Houston Partnership focuses on economic prosperity in the eight-county Houston metropolitan area. The five-tiered organization also includes the chamber of commerce and the world trade division. The chamber of commerce manages policy and infrastructure issues, , such as transportation, the environment, education, and taxation. The world trade division works on inbound and outbound trade missions, which include government relations and involve business lobbying, predominantly at the state and federal levels. Lovett and the economic development division focus on recruiting companies to Houston and supporting their expansion.
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