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Gulf Compress Opens New Facility

By John Johnson

Gulf Compress

Gulf Compress Board President Allen May (second from left) and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs (third from left) are joined by other dignitaries at the ribbon cutting.

Calling it a “gateway for Texas cotton to go to the world,” Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs joined almost 300 other dignitaries and cotton producers for the official ribbon cutting of Gulf Compress’ new La Quinta Division near Corpus Christi on Sept. 16, 2004. The event was held exactly one year after ground was broken for the state-of- the-art facility.

The facility consists of three warehouse buildings containing 160,000 square feet each with a combined storage capacity of 96,000 bales. A fourth building, containing 75,000 square feet, houses a shop, office and load-out facility.

“This facility means cotton producers are investing in their future,” Combs told the audience. The cotton warehouse project is the anchor for the Port of Corpus Christi’s massive $400 million La Quinta International Trade Gateway, a container terminal facility being built on 1,100 acres of port-owned land on the north side of Corpus Christi Bay.

“This facility means cotton producers are investing in their future,” Combs said.

“This facility means cotton producers are responsible for the rebirth of the Port of Corpus Christi,” said Port Authority Chairman Ruben Bonilla, “and the City of Corpus Christi and the Port of Corpus Christi support the agriculture community.” During the ceremonies, it was noted the original Port of Corpus Christi was opened on Sept. 14, 1926, and the first shipment was cotton cargo.