HOUSTON (Texas Government Insider) – The City of Houston announced this week
the formation of a new local government corporation, Houston First Corp., that
will incorporate the city’s Convention and Entertainment Facilities Department
(CEFD) with its existing government corporation that manages the city-owned
Hilton Americas.
The city’s George R. Brown Convention Center and other entertainment
facilities will now be controlled by the corporation.
Houston Mayor Annise Parker said consolidation of the CEFD into the Houston
Convention Center Hotel Corp. should save the city $10 million in the next
fiscal year.
Houston First Corp. would lease CEFD properties from the city for $8.6
million, payable during the next fiscal year. The corporation would also face
an annual lease payment of $1.4 million, with lease increases tied to the
Consumer Price Index.
