News and Media

Katy Mills completes interior renovations; Phase 2 expected to be done in 2019

Monday, May 06, 2019

By: Nola S. Valente - Community Impact Phase 1 of three phases in the Katy Mills renovation project is done, Katy Mills General Manager James Ross said. The multimillion-dollar development was announced by Simon Properties, the real estate leader who owns Katy Mills, in spring 2018. Its goal is to transform the 20-year-old shopping center into a more modern space with a brighter atmosphere and a new color scheme, Simon representatives told Community Impact Newspaper last year. “We listened to our shoppers and recently completed a massive interior renovation to improve the shopping experience and solidify Katy Mills as a source of pride to the...

Katy Area Company, AFS, Provides World-Class Solutions for the Energy Industry

Sunday, May 05, 2019

As one of nearly 80 R&D facilities and testing labs in the Katy Area, Assured Flow Solutions LLC (AFS), has leveraged local talent to grow their global footprint. The company is known for engineering and laboratory testing services, so opening a lab in Katy has allowed the company to grow exponentially. Energy companies throughout the world turn to AFS for flow assurance support and industry expertise, in addition to reading their many whitepapers and attending their annual technical conference. Though AFS is a global thought leader and innovator in the oil and gas industry, their story began in Katy, Texas. Tommy...

Christ Clinic Earns GuideStar’s Highest Seal of Transparency Platinum Seal Allows Donors to Focus on Progress and Results

Friday, May 03, 2019

KATY, TEXAS - Thursday, May 2, 2019 —Christ Clinic today earned a 2019 Platinum Seal of Transparency, the highest level of recognition offered by GuideStar, the world’s largest source of nonprofit information. By sharing metrics that highlight progress Christ Clinic is making toward its mission, the organization is helping donors move beyond simplistic ways of nonprofit evaluation such as overhead ratios. “We’re thrilled about our Platinum Seal of Transparency and the associated benefits help us better communicate our organization’s exciting initiatives on a larger scale,” said Beverly Allen, Director of Advancement. By updating our GuideStar Nonprofit Profile to earn a Platinum...

UH Katy In Brief - April 2019

Thursday, May 02, 2019

Click Here for UH Katy In Brief - April 2019

Energy Recovery Moves Forward with Commercial Development Center in Texas

Monday, April 22, 2019

Release by Energy Recovery SAN LEANDRO, Calif.—January 14, 2019 — Energy Recovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:ERII), the leader in pressure energy technology for industrial fluid flows, announced today that it has executed a lease for the company’s new Commercial Development Center in the Houston region. The facility will serve as the central office for Energy Recovery’s Oil & Gas segment including its management team, its Engineering System, Design and Performance teams, as well as field personnel. Work at the facility will initially focus on the continued technical and commercial advancement of the company’s VorTeq™ and MTeq™ technologies. The four-acre site in Katy, Texas, will include 20,000 square...

Job Posting: Katy Area EDC seeks Communications Manager

Monday, April 22, 2019

Job Posting: Katy Area EDC seeks Communications Manager The Communications Manager is responsible for developing and implementing communications plans and activities that promote the economic development and brand of the Katy, Texas area. These plans include the marketing elements of Katy Area 2021, the Katy Area Strategic Economic Development Plan; and Katy Area EDC Annual Work Plans. The position is a part-time, non-exempt position that reports to the President/CEO of the Katy Area EDC. Responsibilities/duties include the management, review and coordination of the following: public relations, media relations, advertising and informational materials, graphics, email, website, social media, branding and co-branding, editing and...

Houston crowned most diverse city in America by new report

Thursday, April 11, 2019

By: CultureMap Houston - Steven Devadanam Last year, many locals cried foul when Houston was named the No. 2 most diverse city in the nation, behind — gasp! — Jersey City, New Jersey. But a new report confirms what we here already know: Houston is, indeed, the most diverse city in the country. The new ranking comes courtesy of personal finance website WalletHub, which, in 2018, placed Houston in a dubious second place. “Yes, Jersey City may be listed as more ethnically diverse,” Dr. Stephen Klineberg, noted local demographic expert, told CultureMap last year. “But it’s much smaller.” (Some consolation: Last year’s WalletHub report found...

Newpark to showcase stimulation, completion fluids at OTC

Thursday, April 11, 2019

By: World Oil KATY, Texas -- Newpark Fluids Systems will introduce its expanded portfolio of stimulation and completion fluids at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) (May 6-9, 2019; NRG Park, Houston, Texas). In addition, Newpark will showcase the Kronos deepwater drilling fluid system for safer, cleaner and faster offshore operations. Other OTC highlights include a second service facility at Port Fourchon to support offshore rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and a new hydraulics modeling software to help customers achieve greater speed, agility and precision on even the most challenging sites. “In response to customer demand, we are pleased to announce that...

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and Sanitas USA to Open Medical Centers in Dallas and Houston

Tuesday, April 09, 2019

Release from PRNewswire RICHARDSON, Texas, April 8, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) today announced it is partnering with Sanitas USA to open 10 advanced primary care medical centers in Dallas and Houston. The medical centers will deliver primary care, urgent care, lab and diagnostic imaging services, care coordination, and wellness and disease management programs – all under one roof. The medical centers will be open for appointments beginning Jan. 1, 2020. The partnership is designed to make flexible and affordable health care options more accessible for members and their families. It will create a new, value-based care delivery model that takes an integrated, holistic approach to patients'...

TxDOT seeks comments on proposed FM 529 widening

Monday, April 08, 2019

By: Karen Zurawski - Houston Chronicle The Texas Department of Transportation is proposing to widen FM 529 between the Grand Parkway and FM 362 and will take public comments on the project on April 30. The meeting from 5:30-7:30 p.m. will be an open-house format with no formal presentation at Patricia E. Paetow High School ninth-grade center, 23111 Stockdick Road in Katy. The deadline to comment on the project is May 15. Email hou-piowebmail@txdot.gov to submit a written comment or send comments to TxDOT Houston District Office, director of project development, P.O. Box 1386, Houston, Texas 77251. People also may visit http://tinyurl.com/yxgp6e3h for information. FM 529...

KOBELCO celebrates production of 1000th excavator at USA manufacturing facility

Wednesday, April 03, 2019

By: Roy Kent - Houston Chronicle KOBELCO Construction Machinery USA — an excavator manufacturing company with a facility in Katy at 22350 Merchants Way near North Mason Road — recently completed its 1,000th excavator and celebrated the event on March 27. According to a news release, the 1,000th KOBELCO machine produced is the “SK210LC-10 model. KOBELCO dealer, Southeastern Equipment, sold the unit to A Crano Excavating, a family-owned residential and commercial developer based in Akron, Ohio. The SK210LC-10 was given to A Crano Excavating at the celebration event. “This achievement further solidifies KOBELCO’s commitment to producing industry-leading machinery with exclusive features and cutting-edge...

Tompkins Junior Earns Perfect Score on ACT

Tuesday, April 02, 2019

By: Katy Magazine Nicholas Khami, a Junior at Tompkins High School, earned a perfect score on the ACT. Only around two-tenths of one percent of students who take the ACT earn a top score. Khami plays on the Katy Cavaliers lacrosse team, and participates in other extracurricular activities. An Extremely Rare Accomplishment In the U.S. high school graduating class of 2018, only 3,741 out of nearly two million graduates earned a top composite ACT score of 36. “Your achievement on the ACT is significant and rare," says ACT CEO Marten Roorda, in a letter to Khami. "Your exceptional scores will provide any college or university with ample evidence of your...

HARRIS COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES DISTRICT 48 TO CELEBRATE GROUNDBREAKING OF NEW FIRE STATION

Monday, March 25, 2019

Katy, TX, March 20, 2019– Harris County ESD No. 48 Fire and EMS (HCESD 48) is proud to announce our groundbreaking ceremony on March 28th, 2019 at 4:30pm to celebrate the upcoming construction of a new Fire Station No. 1. The ceremony is open to the public and will be held at the future Fire Station No. 1 location at 24127 Western Centre Drive, Katy, Texas 77449. Site work will begin in the next few weeks on construction of the 18,481-square-foot fire station. Until the permanent fire station is completed, crews will be housed on-site in a temporary facility. The new...

CROSS CREEK TOWN CENTER BREAKS GROUND IN FULSHEAR

Friday, March 22, 2019

Media Contact: Emily Henson, Hallaron Advertising emily@hallaronadvertising.com C: 305-332-7996 O: 281-299-0538 THE WOODLANDS, Texas, (March 20, 2019) – MARCEL, a privately owned, fully integrated commercial real estate firm based in The Woodlands, Texas, put a unique “spin” on the traditional real estate development groundbreaking ceremony with an event March 20, called “Groundbreaking for a Cause,” to mark the official groundbreaking of Cross Creek Town Center, a mixed-use development with more than 76,000 sq. ft. of combined office and retail space located within Johnson Development’s Cross Creek Ranch master-planned community in Fulshear, Texas. The expected completion date of the development is Spring 2020. “Groundbreaking for a Cause,”...

New 10-acre, mixed-used development in Fulshear breaks ground

Thursday, March 21, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact A wave of new businesses will soon open in the Fulshear area. The Woodlands-based commercial real estate company Marcel Group held a groundbreaking ceremony for Cross Creek Town Center on March 20. Founder Vernon Veldekens said construction was expected to start that afternoon. The 10.47-acre mixed-use development is located at 6635 W. Cross Creek Bend Lane, Fulshear, within Houston-based Johnson Development Corp.’s master-planned community Cross Creek Ranch. Tenants are expected to begin opening next spring but will not be announced until mid-2019, Veldekens said. About 50 percent of Cross Creek Town Center’s 76,000-square-feet has been leased, he added. Marcel...

How to Eat Your Way Through Katy

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

By: Houstonia Magazine - Timothy Malcolm KATY IS HAVING A FOODIE MOMENT, and if you haven’t visited lately, well, it’s time. From local favorites hiding in plain sight to the sprawling new Katy Asian Town shopping and dining center, there’s much to try, just a short drive west. Ready to plan your food crawl? Here are 10 musts: Katy BBQ by Midway Barbeque Midway has been processing deer and selling meat to area residents for decades, and its sit-down restaurant is a true old-school Texas experience: Mounted deer heads gawk at you while you sample the ’cue. The brisket is as tender as it gets;...

Katy Hockley drainage project to begin, road closure expected

Monday, March 18, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact A portion of Katy Hockley Road will soon be busy with heavy equipment, trucks and construction crews. The city of Katy announced it will begin a drainage restoration project March 18 on Katy Hockley Road between Morton and Clay roads, according to a March 14 Facebook post. The project encompasses restoring roadside ditches, said Anas Garfaoui, city planner for the city of Katy, in an email. The project is expected to be completed in about three weeks, according to the post. During that time, Katy Hockley between Morton and Clay will be closed to all traffic—except residents and emergency services—between...

1st Quarter Newsletter - Katy Ranch Crossing

Thursday, March 14, 2019

The Ranch is intended to share information regarding Katy Ranch Crossing Shopping Center, Katy Ranch Offices as well as the Katy Area. In addition, future versions will include close-ups of existing tenants in a section titled, “Tenant Spotlight.” You can view the full edition of The Ranch here.

Crossover Road reopens, portion of FM 1093 nearly complete: 5 Katy-area transportation updates to know this March

Monday, March 11, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact Work continues on various mobility projects in the Katy area. Crossover Road widening completed Fort Bend County officially reopened Crossover Road to traffic on March 1, Fort Bend County engineer Stacy Slawinski confirmed. Crossover Road between FM 1463 and Spring Green Boulevard was closed in 2018 to widen it from a two-lane asphalt roadway with ditches to a four-lane concrete boulevard with a median and underground drainage. Timeline: July 2018-March 2019 Cost: $3.1 million Funding source: Fort Bend County FM 1093 widening Fort Bend County is nearly finished with its portion to widen FM 1093 from a two-lane road to a four-lane road with a...

Katy Area EDC supports legislation to address disaster preparedness and flood mitigation

Friday, March 08, 2019

March 7, 2019 (Katy, TX) - Katy Area Economic Development Council supports Texas Senate Bills, 7, 6 and 8 to address disaster preparedness and flooding mitigation in the State of Texas, specifically the Houston region. In recent years, the Katy area has been adversely impacted during multiple flooding events. The flooding has negatively impacted businesses and homes. Specifically, the Katy area lies within the Addicks and Barker Reservoirs. Both reservoirs experienced major flooding during Harvey causing large-scale flooding and damage to the Katy area. Moving forward, without further action to improve disaster preparedness and mitigate flooding, the area will continue to experience...

City of Katy hosts grand opening for Fire Station No. 2 just one day before saving drowning child

Wednesday, March 06, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact Fire protection in Katy has expanded in the southern portion of the city. The city of Katy held a grand opening March 2 for Fire Station No. 2 at 25420 Bell Patna Drive, Katy, according to a press release. The station began taking calls at noon that day. Construction for the station began in late 2017. Plans called for housing 16 firefighters and an ambulance crew. The city had received a $2.18 million grant in August 2017 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help fund the expansion. “The area near Katy Mills Mall has many high occupancy and target...

IBM Watson Health Announces 100 Top Hospitals Including Local Hospital Memorial Hermann Katy

Tuesday, March 05, 2019

ARMONK, N.Y., March 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM Watson Health™ (NYSE: IBM) today published its 100 Top Hospitals® annual study identifying top–performing hospitals in the U.S. This study spotlights the best–performing hospitals in the U.S. based on a balanced scorecard using publicly available data for clinical, operational, and patient satisfaction metrics. The study is part of IBM Watson Health's commitment to leveraging science and data to advance health and it has been conducted annually since 1993. Overall, the Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals® study found that the top-performing hospitals in the country achieved better risk-adjusted outcomes while maintaining both a lower average cost per patient...

Katy Area EDC among group of economic developers to visit with Texas Senator Lois Kolkhorst

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

South Central Texas economic developers took time out from their bi-annual state legislative meeting to visit Senator Lois Kolkhorst at her Capitol office on Thursday, February 21. Senator Kolkhorst represents 21 counties in the Texas Senate, which include Economic Development Corporations located in Brenham, Cuero, Gonzales, Katy, Victoria, Wharton, and Yoakum. The group discussed several issues, including the need for adequate funds for our public schools as well as the issue of property taxes. For economic developers, our state's exceedingly high property taxes make the renewal of the state tax abatement law, referred to as Chapter 312, one of the top...

Katy sets grand opening of fire station No. 2

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

By: Karen Zurawski - Houston Chronicle A March 2 grand opening ceremony is planned for Katy Fire Department Station No. 2 at 25420 Bell Patna Drive, Katy. The ceremony is set to begin at 10:30 a.m. Fire Chief Russell Wilson said he will welcome visitors and guests and introduce participants. The program will include a prayer, a cornerstone dedication by the Katy Masonic Lodge 1439, remarks by Katy Mayor Chuck Brawner and the Katy Veterans of Foreign Wars doing a flag-raising ceremony at the station. Refreshments will be served. “Adding this station location has already proven to be optimal when it comes to disaster,”...

2019 Katy Area EDC Work Plan unveiled at February GA

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

The Katy Area Economic Development Council hosted its February General Assembly meeting on Tuesday, February 19 at the Mark A. Chapman YMCA at Katy Main Street. The meeting featured presentations by YMCA Katy Main Street, Harris County ESD #48 and Katy Area EDC. Michelle Steffes, YMCA Katy Main Street Director of Operations, shared information about the host facility, one of the newest YMCA locations in the Houston area. The YMCA, located in the Katy Main Street development within the City of Katy, offers a wide variety of programs for children and adults. Highlight features of the facility include a playground, pool/splash...

4 ongoing and upcoming transportation updates to know in the Katy area

Monday, February 25, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact Road improvements on eight roads Crews recently broke ground on repair work on eight asphalt roads showing wear and tear, said Eric Heppen, a project manager for Harris County Precinct 3. All of Baker Road will be repaired. Groeschke Road will be repaired in three segments, from Dulaney Road to Barker Cypress Road, from Barker Cypress to just east of 1800 Groeschke Road, and from about 17551 Groeschke Road to west of 17130 Groeschke Road. Dulaney will be repaired from Morton Road to Groeschke Road, and Ashley Road will have repairs from Greenhouse Road to Dulaney...

Zoombang Outperforms All Top Impact Sportsware Companies

Monday, February 25, 2019

KATY, TX, UNITED STATES, February 22, 2019 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Zoombang Outperforms All Top Impact Sportswear Companies Zoombang crushes competition in a third-party test against top global competitors as the best product for athletes in contact sports Katy, Texas- Zoombang protective sports gear outperforms all the competition - not just a catchy slogan, but a third-party tested fact. Zoombang announced today third-party test results of protective wear outperforming globally recognized sports gear providers McDavid, Under Armour, and Nike reducing impact blows 40 to 45 percent better than the competition. Our thickening polymers absorb and distribute impact blows better than the competition: 43 percent better...

TEDC Presents Economic Excellence Recognition at 2019 Legislative Conference

Sunday, February 24, 2019

News Release Texas Economic Development Council For more information contact: Mr. Carlton Schwab President/CEO Texas Economic Development Council (512) 480-8432 carlton@texasedc.org The Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) announced the recipients of its annual Economic Excellence Recognition program for 2018. The awards were presented at a breakfast held Thursday, February 21, 2019, at the TEDC’s Legislative Conference in Austin, Texas. The two and one half-day conference was held February 20-22 at the Sheraton hotel in downtown Austin. The Economic Excellence Recognition program provides recognition to economic development organizations that meet a desired threshold of professionalism. Recipients qualify for recognition based on training taken by their governing board/council as well as...

Christ Clinic expanding Kingsland location in Katy

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

By: Community Impact Staff Christ Clinic is expanding its clinic at 25722 Kingsland Blvd., Ste. 111, Katy, director Lara Hamilton said. The expansion comes as the clinic moves administrative staff to a new office at 802 Dominion Drive, Katy, near community partners Clothed By Faith and Hope Impacts. The expansion will add four treatment rooms for a total of 14 rooms at the Kingsland location. Christ Clinic provides low-cost health care to the uninsured or those in financial difficulty. Hamilton said the plans to install a second clinic on Dominion Drive were canceled because it was more fiscally responsible to expand...

Katy ISD unveils new agriculture science center for livestock show, rodeo

Monday, February 18, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact The Katy ISD Future Farmers of America Livestock Show and Katy Rodeo kicked off Feb. 13 at new facilities. The new $34 million Gerald D. Young Agriculture Science Center is located at 5825 Katy Hockley Cut Off Road, Katy, and includes the L.D. Robinson Pavilion and W.E. “Billy” Morgan Rodeo Arena, according to KISD documents. The pavilion and arena are each about 35,000 square feet, sitting on about 130 acres of land for KISD students to learn about agriculture. The new facilities were funded from the 2014 $99 million bond referendum. Check out photos of the new...

Federal funds awarded to Harris County for flood tunnel feasibility study

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact The Harris County Flood Control District was awarded funding for a feasibility study on building a flood tunnel. The U.S. Economic Development Administration awarded 2018 Disaster Supplemental funding of $320,000 to the district to conduct the study, according to a Feb. 7 press release. The district will provide an $80,000 match for a total project cost of $400,000, said Matt Zeve, the deputy executive director for the flood-control district. Large deep-diameter tunnels can move large volumes of stormwater in the case of a major storm event, Zeve told Community Impact Newspaper in August. These tunnels cost billions of dollars and take years to...

Katy City Council approves drainage and water line contracts

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

By: R. Hans Miller - Community Impact Katy City Council approved two contracts to refurbish drainage infrastructure and water lines during its Feb. 11 meeting. The contract for more than $126,000 was awarded to Aranda Industries LLC, a Houston-based company. The contractor will repair and update storm sewers on Bartlett Road and Sanford Street. The storm sewer repair contract will allow the city to maintain drainage infrastructure and places the city in control of the drainage easement the storm sewer is located within, Council Member Chris Harris said. The easement had previously been owned by a private citizen that voluntarily turned the easement...

Memorial Hermann Katy Opens New 24/7 Pediatric Emergency Center and Inpatient Care Unit

Thursday, February 07, 2019

Release provided by Memorial Hermann Katy KATY – Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital’s new Pediatric Emergency Center is now open to receive patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The emergency center complements the hospital’s new dedicated pediatric inpatient unit and helps meet the need for specialized, round-the-clock pediatric emergency care in Katy and the greater west Houston area. “As Katy continues to grow, it needs more access points for round-the-clock care available for all ages closer to home,” said Heath Rushing, Senior Vice President and CEO of Memorial Hermann Katy and Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital. “Emergency medical situations occur at every...

City of Katy holds groundbreaking for Katy Downtown Plaza

Monday, February 04, 2019

By: R. Hans Miller - Community Impact The city of Katy broke ground Jan. 30 on the much-anticipated revitalization project that will create the Katy Downtown Plaza. The project will install a new civic center, visitors center, outdoor walking museum, green space and public restrooms. “Today is going to launch the revitalization of this area,” Mayor Chuck Brawner said during his opening remarks to the ceremony. Nash Industries will be building the site, which was designed by Turner Duran Architects. Full Story

Jan. 31 grand opening set for new wing of The Ballard House

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

By: Houston Chronicle - Staff Report The Ballard House, 21421 Cinco Park Road in Katy, will hosting a Jan. 31 Grand Opening Ceremony for their new wing set to open this month. The grand opening is scheduled from 4-7 p.m. It's free to the public, but donations are appreciated. Construction for the new wing began in April 2018. The expansion adds 16 guest rooms, a living room, kitchen and laundry room for guests to use free of charge. The expansion is timely, and The Ballard House founders hope to assist in accommodating the demand from prospective guests and the future University of Texas...

MD Anderson to open new Katy-area facility in summer 2019

Monday, January 28, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact MD Anderson Cancer Center will soon have a new building in the Katy area to better serve the growing population in West Houston. This summer MD Anderson will open a 260,000-square-foot outpatient center at 13900 I-10, Houston, between Eldridge Road and Park & Ride Drive, Associate Director of Public Relations Julie Penne said in an email. MD Anderson expects the new facility will have about 150 full-time employees. MD Anderson has an existing Katy-area facility on the campus of Houston Methodist Continuing Care Hospital, formerly known as Houston Methodist St. Catherine Hospital, at 19770 Kingsland Blvd., Houston....

Brawner, Phillips named Stanley Award winners at January Katy Area EDC GA

Friday, January 25, 2019

The Katy ISD Robert R. Shaw Center for STEAM played host to the first Katy Area Economic Development Council meeting of 2019. Roughly 100 members and guests gathered for the meeting which was headlined by the announcement of the recipients of the 3rd Annual Stan C. Stanley “Eagle” Leadership and Economic Development Awards. With friends and family of Stan Stanley in attendance, Katy Area EDC was honored to announce the winners of the Stan C. Stanley “Eagle” Leadership and Economic Development Award as Dick Phillips (University of Houston Vice President of Community Engagement) in the volunteer category and Chuck Brawner (City of...

Texas Heritage Parkway to break ground in mid-2019

Friday, January 25, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact A transportation project in the Katy area that has been in the works for about 15 years will soon start construction, a project spokesperson and two public officials said. Texas Heritage Parkway will break ground in May, said attorney Rich Muller, who is representing nine landowners involved in the project. Fort Bend County Commissioner Andy Meyers and Fulshear Mayor Aaron Groff also confirmed the project would begin construction mid-2019. The motivation for this new corridor stems from West Houston’s growing population and the need for another north-south thoroughfare to connect the Westpark Tollway to I-10, Muller and...

Texas Top-Ranked State for Firm Relocations

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

By: Anil Kumar and Alexander T. Abraham - Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Texas is the leading destination for companies relocating from other states. The economic benefits of the moves may be best measured in terms of the ancillary activity generated rather than the benefits directly attributable to the relocations. You can read the full report here.

Hyatt Regency to anchor Katy Boardwalk

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

By: R. Hans Miller - Community Impact The Katy City Council unanimously approved an amendment to the development agreement for the Katy Boardwalk District development on Jan. 14. The agreement names the long-anticipated hotel operator as the Hyatt Regency, which will be operated by HBH Ventures LLC. City council members declined to comment on the naming of the hotel, which was not openly discussed in the meeting. A formal announcement will be provided within the next two weeks once the agreement has been executed, Katy Mayor Chuck Brawner said. Adoption of the agreement followed a closed-door meeting that included council members, Brawner and...

Katy Area Economic Development Council launches website to showcase business advantages

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

The Katy Area Economic Development Council (Katy Area EDC) has launched a new comprehensive website to bolster its online presence and highlight business opportunities and advantages in this burgeoning area of southeast Texas. Katy Area EDC is focused on business recruitment, development and expansion in and around Katy, Texas, which is just 25 miles west of Houston. The user friendly, online portal includes an array of information about the region, including its workforce, business incentives and quality of life. It features powerful Zoom Prospector and GIS Planning tools that enable auto population of area demographics and community profile data. The website will...

Phase 2 of Stableside at Falcon Landing to feature restaurants, retail, multi-tenant buildings

Monday, January 14, 2019

By: R. Hans Miller - Community Impact NewQuest Properties began construction on Phase 2 of The Stableside at Falcon Landing development in early January. The second phase includes the construction of a new 35,000-square-foot section that will be anchored by The Union Kitchen and Jax Grill, said NewQuest Associate Austin Alvis via email. “VillaSport Athletic Club and Spa broke ground in December and is shooting to open by the end of 2019, barring weather delays,” Alvis said. The second phase of the development will also include Sub Zero Ice Cream, Nekter Juice Bar and The Lash Lounge, Alvis said. The new buildings will be...

Dining out: These restaurants are on their way to Katy in 2019

Tuesday, January 08, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact The Katy area is full delicious places to eat and drink, and more options are on the way. The following restaurants are expected to open in 2019. 85°C Bakery Cafe In August we reported that 85°C Bakery Cafe expects to open a new location in the Katy Grand shopping center during the first quarter of 2019. Katy Grand is located in the northeastern corner of the intersection of I-10 and the Grand Parkway The cafe is known for its iced sea salt coffee and its baked goods, and the restaurant offers 60 types of bread, cakes and...

The New Katy Boardwalk District Will Have Its Own 90-Acre Nature Preserve

Thursday, January 03, 2019

By: Gwendolyn Knapp - Houstonia Magazine JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT KATY COULDN’T GET ANY MORE KATY, a major mixed-use development complete with its own nature preserve is breaking ground in the bustling burb this year. Katy Boardwalk District, a new lakefront destination within spitting distance of Typhoon Texas, will house a full-service, four-star conference center hotel, entertainment venues and retail, luxury lofts and 90-acres of natural splendor. KBH Venture is developing the 169 acres at Kingsland Boulevard and Katy Fort Bend Road just south of I-10, and here’s what’s in store. The conference center hotel, designed by Gensler Architects, will have 300-plus rooms, 43,000 square feet of...

U-Haul Names Top 50 Growth States for 2018

Thursday, January 03, 2019

Texas, Florida rank 1-2 for the 3rd year in a row; Illinois tops out-migration states Story by U-Haul Everything continued to be bigger in Texas last year, including the number of U-Haul trucks pulling into the state versus the volume leaving. Texas registered as the U-Haul No. 1 Growth State in America for the third consecutive year, according to U-Haul® data analyzing U.S. migration trends for 2018. Florida ranked second for a third year in row. South Carolina inched up one spot to No. 3, while fast-risers Utah and Idaho rounded out the top five states for growth. Illinois was 50th on the list for...

City of Katy awards $2.15M contract for civic and visitor center construction

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

By: R. Hans Miller - Community Impact The city of Katy awarded a contract for the construction of the Katy Civic Center and Visitors Center buildings as part of the new Katy Downtown Plaza at the Dec. 10 Katy City Council meeting. Funding for the construction comes from three sources, said Kayce Reina, the city’s director of tourism, marketing and public relations. Funds from bonds, hotel occupancy taxes and flood insurance funds from the 2016 Tax Day Floods would be used to pay for the construction contract, Reina said. The Katy Civic Center will be installed in the old Katy City Hall Building...

City of Katy establishes development agreement for Katy Boardwalk featuring 300-room hotel

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

By: R. Hans Miller - Community Impact KBH Ventures and the city of Katy have partnered with Benchmark Global Hospitality to develop a conference center anchor for the 169-acre Katy Boardwalk project, according to a press release from Kaplan PR. The conference center will be designed by Gensler and built by Houston-based KDW, the construction firm that built Typhoon Texas. “For residents, the Boardwalk project is a great commercial boom for the city with tax revenue. It will be drawing in commercial business,” said Katy City Council member Chris Harris. “Then also there’s the green space and park which is a great...

Eleven Katy ISD schools ranked in top 25 in Houston area

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

By: Michelle Iracheta - Houston Chronicle Katy ISD has done it again, as 11 of its schools are named the best in a 2019 ranking released by Niche, a public data analysis site. Four high schools and seven junior high schools made the list in separate categories in the the Top 25 2019 Best Public High Schools and Junior High Schools in the Houston Metropolitan Area. The high schools ranked in the top 25 included Seven Lakes, Cinco Ranch, Tompkins and Taylor high schools. The junior high schools were Seven Lakes, Beck, Beckendorff, Woodcreak, McMeans, Memorial Parkway and Cinco Ranch junior high schools. Chief...

FM 1093 widening, First Street improvements: 4 Katy-area transportation updates to know this December

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

By: Jen Para - Community Impact FM 1093 widening Work to widen FM 1093 from a two-lane road to a four-lane road with a median continues. For phase 2A, Fort Bend County is paving the westbound lanes from FM 1463 to the main entrance to Cross Creek Ranch, Fort Bend County engineer Richard Stolleis said. For phase 2B, the Texas Department of Transportation began prep work Dec. 10 and construction in early January on the lanes from Cross Creek Ranch to James Lane, TxDOT construction inspector Kurt Lehmann said. Timeline: March 2017-March 2019 December 2018-mid-2020 Cost: $62.6 million Funding sources: TxDOT, Fort Bend County, Fort Bend...

HCC board of trustees approves relocating, expanding Katy campus

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

By: Jen Para - Community Impact By mid-2021, Houston Community College will have a new campus for its west Houston students. The proposal to purchase 24 acres with an option to acquire an additional 30 acres to relocate and expand the Northwest College Katy campus at 228 Colonial Parkway, near the intersection of I-10 and Grand Parkway passed in a 5-2 vote, with two trustees abstaining, at the Dec. 5 board of trustees meeting. “I see it as a vote of confidence in our growth plan,” HCC Northwest President Zachary Hodges said. “Now to get the community on board.” HCC plans to build a...

Trio of Katy area non-profits recognized at December GA

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

In the spirit of the season of giving, the Katy Area Economic Development Council December General Assembly meeting featured three non-profit organizations which play key roles in improving the lives of those in the Katy area community. Katy Prairie Conservancy, Katy Autism Support and The Ballard House were each featured at the monthly meeting which was held at British International School of Houston (BISH). The meeting began with a presentation by BISH Principal Andrew Derry. Derry shared information about the school campus which is located at 2203 North Westgreen Boulevard in Katy. BISH offers a NORD Anglia Education and currently has students...

Crossing at Katy Fulshear entering Phase 2 with upcoming Ross, TJ Maxx and PetSmart retailers

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

By: R. Hans Miller - Community Impact The Crossing at Katy Fulshear continues to move toward completion after the Walmart Supercenter opened Aug. 29, said Clay Mealey, a leasing agent with Lovett Commercial. The development has begun the second phase of construction with new buildings going up between the Walmart and the Xscape Theatres already operating on the site. Lovett Commercial is the developer for the property, which is anchored by the Walmart Supercenter, located in the northeastern corner of FM 1093 and FM 1463 in Fulshear. Chick-fil-A, Raising Cane’s, Freddy’s Frozen Custard, Spring Creek Barbeque, XPress Oil Change and Barcelona Sporting Goods...

TEDC Presents Economic Excellence Recognition at 2018 Mid-Year Conference

Thursday, August 09, 2018

Release by Texas Economic Development Council For more information contact: Mr. Carlton Schwab President/CEO Texas Economic Development Council (512) 480-8432 carlton@texasedc.org The Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) has announced the recipients of its annual Economic Excellence Recognition program for 2017. The awards was presented at a special awards breakfast held Thursday, June 14, 2018, at the TEDC’s Mid-Year Conference in Galveston, Texas. The two and one half day conference was held June 13-15, 2018 at the Moody Gardens Hotel. The Economic Excellence Recognition program provides recognition to economic development organizations that meet a desired threshold of professionalism. Recipients qualify for recognition based on training taken by their governing...

TEDC Presents Workforce Excellence Awards at 2018 Mid-Year Conference

Thursday, August 09, 2018

Release by Texas Economic Development Council For more information contact: Mr. Carlton Schwab President/CEO Texas Economic Development Council (512) 480-8432 carlton@texasedc.org The Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) has announced the recipients of its annual Workforce Excellence Awards for 2018. The awards will be presented at a special awards breakfast held Thursday, June 14, 2018, at the TEDC’s Mid-Year Conference in Galveston, Texas. The two and one half-day conference was held June 13-15, 2018 at the Moody Gardens Hotel. The Workforce Excellence Award program recognizes exceptional contributions by a Texas community or region that has implemented successful workforce initiatives. The TEDC’s Workforce Development Committee committee reviewed applications from nineteen ...

CEOs Rank 2017 Best & Worst States for Business

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

By: Dale Buss - Chief Executive Magazine While there is a level of constancy when it comes to the very best and very worst states for business as ranked by CEOs, there is plenty of jockeying for position within the ranks, and even some leaping and plummeting. Because of how CEOs view business climates, because states themselves have varying priorities and because of the slow pace of change in many state governments, the same states have held top five spots for six years running. Texas was ranked No. 1 for the 13th straight year in 2017 by the hundreds of CEOs surveyed by Chief Executive. Florida was No. 2 for the fifth year in a...

The best public elementary schools in the Houston area for 2018

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

By: Fernando Ramirez - Houston Chronicle The quality of schools in an area can be a make or break issue for parents deciding where to move in the Houston area. With hundreds of public elementary schools around Bayou City, the decision can be overwhelming. Niche, an educational data analysis site, recently ranked the best public elementary schools throughout the city and the suburbs. Using comprehensive data from the Department of Education, as well as teacher and student surveys, researchers produced a list of the top schools in the Houston-area for 2018. If any school district swept the list, it would be Katy ISD. Of the...

2018 Best School Districts in the Houston Area by Niche

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Rankings by Niche.com 1. Katy Independent School District A+ Overall Niche Grade 67 Total Schools 70,330 Students 2. Pearland Independent School District A+ Overall Niche Grade 25 Total Schools 20,550 Students 3. Friendswood Independent School District A+ Overall Niche Grade 7 Total Schools 6,106 Students 4. Tomball Independent School District A+ Overall Niche Grade 20 Total Schools 13,238 Students 5. Clear Creek Independent School District A+ Overall Niche Grade 47 Total Schools 40,812 Students 6. Humble Independent School District A+ Overall Niche Grade 45 Total Schools 39,522 Students 7. Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District A Overall Niche Grade 86 Total Schools 113,023 Students 8. Conroe Independent School District A Overall Niche Grade 58 Total Schools 56,363 Students 9. Deer Park Independent School District A Overall Niche Grade 16 Total Schools 13,140 Students 10. Barbers Hill Independent School District A...

2017 Best Suburbs to Live in Texas

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

1. Rollingwood (Suburb of Austin, TX) 2. Cinco Ranch (Suburb of Houston, TX) Niche User:It is a very safe and friendly place to live. I do not worry too much for myself and my personal belongings. The people surrounding are incredible. My neighbors are kind, quiet, and helpful. I would not mind living here again. It has amazing schooling opportunities and is a wonderful place to raise a family. Overall, this area ranks highly compared to other places. I see growth in this area with people and businesses. 3. Greatwood (Suburb of Houston, TX) Current Resident:I love how there are still areas of trees...

Late spring opening set for sports park

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

By: Karen Zurawski - Houston Chronicle The Memorial Hermann Sports Park-Katy will offer a primary care clinic, a training center and an outdoor turf field when it’s expected to open late next spring. The 50,000-square-foot facility that costs about $15 million is the product of a collaboration between Memorial Hermann and Athlete Training and Health. “This collaboration between Memorial Hermann and ATH will benefit the full range of athletes in the Katy community, from high school students to professional competitors, weekend warriors and beyond,” said Maddie Rich, Memorial Hermann Katy senior marketing & communications representative. The sports medicine and human performance facility will be...

Katy named to Top 10 Affordable Towns with Best High Schools list by Realtor.com

Friday, July 27, 2018

When searching for a new home, finding something affordable in a good school district with family-friendly features, such as large backyards, tops the list of home buyer priorities. Realtor.com’s Top Affordable Towns with the Best High Schools Rank Town District Name School GreatSchools Rating (out of 10) Median Household Income Median Listing Price 1 Royersford (19458) Spring-Ford Area School District Spring-Ford Shs 10-12 Gr Center 10 $83,264 $246,125 2 Rosemount (55068) Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District Rosemount Senior High School 10 $93,743 $299,900 3 Plainfield, Ill. (60585) Plainfield School District 202 Plainfield North High School 8 $130,168 $398,725 4 Katy, Texas (77494) Harmony School Of Science – Houston, Katy Independent School District Harmony Science Academy – West Houston 9 $145,507 $384,997 Cinco Ranch High School 8 Seven Lakes High School 9 6 Woodstock, Ga. (30189) Cherokee County School District Etowah High School, Woodstock High School 9 $83,989 $304,450 7 Medway, Ma....

CEOs Rank 2017 Best & Worst States for Business

Monday, May 15, 2017

The 50 Best Cities for New College Grads

Monday, May 15, 2017

By: Yahoo Finance - Taylor Tepper There are certain things that as a new college graduate you have little control over, such as when you’re forced to join the real world. If you happened to graduate in 2008 as I did — when the economy was hemorrhaging jobs while the stock and housing markets were collapsing — you were somewhat out of luck. Still, there were things you could have done to improve your financial odds even in the Great Recession, such as picking a city with the best odds of finding a good-paying job and an affordable place to live. Which begs...

Rapid population growth continues in Katy Area

Friday, January 01, 2016

Move over Pittsburgh, the Katy Area now boasts a larger population. According to recent data complied by data analytics company Alteryx, the population of the Katy Area, as defined by Katy ISD boundaries, has surpassed the Steel City by over 1,000. Population estimates put the Katy Area at 309,556 and the City of Pittsburgh at 308,237. Over the past decade, the Katy Area has been no stranger to growth with an annual population growth rate between 4 and 6%. In the year 2000, the Katy Area had a population of 139,998 making the recent 2015 population estimate nearly 200,000 larger over...

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