Community Involvement and Volunteerism. The Matagorda Complex is actively involved in the local community with groups including Matagorda Birding Nature Center, Bay City Rotary Club, American Red Cross, Women’s Crisis Center, United Way, Coastal Conservation Association, Salvation Army, Bay City Public Library, and many others. Employees, who are encouraged to contribute their time and resources, volunteer as emergency responders, scout leaders, coaches, mentors, teachers, and board members on school boards and other key community and civic organizations. Also, for more than a decade, plant volunteers have coordinated an annual holiday dinner for area senior citizens.
Community Outreach. Plant management meets with a Community Advisory Panel (CAP), comprised of a cross section of local residents, community and industry groups to share plant information and discuss community expectations and concerns.
Education. Our employees can be found mentoring students at local schools, in particular, Matagorda Elementary. Also, employee volunteers are instrumental in sparking interest in science through LyondellBasell’s Explore & Experiment program. Explore & Experiment, created by LyondellBasell and educators, is a useful resource for teachers. It includes lesson plans and activities for Kindergarten -12th grade, while meeting Texas TEKS and TAKS requirements. The plant also provides five college scholarships to graduating seniors from Bay City ISD who are outstanding in the study of math and science. The Matagorda plant has also been very supportive of the Bay City Process Technology (PTECH) program. The plant has several employees who teach classes. Also, the plant has contributed funds and equipment for the PTECH program.
LyondellBasell’s Global Care Day. In 2007, more than 50 volunteers created an educational garden for Matagorda Elementary. Volunteers refurbished the school’s front entrance area and spruced up the playground area with fresh paint and landscaping.