News and Media

2020 Annual Community Guide: 40 Katy-area restaurants that opened in 2019

Monday, January 20, 2020

By: Community Impact - Jen Para American Bar Louie 2707 Commercial Center Blvd., Ste. M, Katy 281-394- 5480 www.barlouie.com Average entrees: $10-$19.99 Breakfast/brunch Happy hour Kids menu Bombshells Restaurant & Bar 20516 Katy Freeway, Katy 346-322-4805 www.4bombshells.com Average entrees: $10-$19.99 Happy hour Kids menu Chick-fil-A 6635 FM 1463, Katy 281-392-1617 www.chick-fil-a.com Average entrees: Up to $9.99 Breakfast/brunch Kids menu Chicken Salad Chick 21788 Katy Freeway, Ste. 900, Katy 832-307-3526 www.chickensaladchick.com Average entrees: Up to $9.99 Kids menu Fusion Grill 1453 S. Mason Road, Katy 832-340-1074 www.facebook.com/FusionGrill.TX/ Average entrees: $10-$19.99 Kids menu Grub Kitchen and Bar 19143 Katy Freeway, Ste. 100, Houston 281-800-9555 www.grubkitchenandbar.com Average entrees: Up to $9.99 Happy hour Kids menu Hat Creek Burger Co. 5820 FM 1463, Fulshear 346-707-1770 www.hatcreekburgers.com Average entrees: Up to $9.99 Breakfast/brunch Kids menu Hat Creek Burger Co. 2150 S. Mason Road, Katy 346-332-0770 www.hatcreekburgers.com Average entrees: Up to $9.99 Breakfast/brunch Kids menu In-N-Out Burger 1010 Katy Fort Bend Road...

Willow Fork Drainage District working on plan to propose new retention pond in Katy area

Monday, January 20, 2020

By: Jen Para - Community Impact The Willow Fork Drainage District is in the early stages of proposing a new retention pond near the intersection of FM 1093 and FM 1464 inside the Barker Reservoir. That is according to a presentation by WFDD Director Wendy Duncan—who is also a co-founder of Barker Flood Prevention Advocacy Group, a small-business owner and a Fort Bend County Precinct 3 candidate in the March 3 Republican primary—at the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce Jan. 14 luncheon event. The WFDD is about 30-60 days away from proposing to the Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the Barker Reservoir...

Andretti Indoor Karting & Games brings thrilling attractions and racing experiences to Katy, Texas

Monday, January 13, 2020

By: The Katy News KATY, TEXAS (January 7, 2020) – Andretti Indoor Karting and Games, an Orlando-based entertainment facility will bring high-speed electric superkarts, laser tag, mini golf, VR gaming, arcade games, a ropes course, unique dining, legendary event space and much more to Katy, Texas when it opens on March 3, 2020. The entertainment and gaming center is located adjacent to the newly opened University of Houston Katy campus and Katy Asian Town at the corner of Grand Parkway and Interstate 10. Named after the legendary racing family, Andretti Indoor Karting and Games offers nearly 88,000 square feet of fast paced adventure and experiences. FEATURES AN...

Here are 10 Katy-area restaurants planning to open in 2020

Sunday, January 12, 2020

By: Jen Para - Community Impact By the end of 2019, the Katy area saw more than 50 restaurant, dessert and cafe openings, according to a Community Impact Newspaper analysis. Here are 10 dining options that are expected to open in 2020. Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen: This Tex-Mex restaurant plans to open in 2020 at 230 W. Grand Parkway S., Katy, said Lindi Vineyard, part of the Gingo’s Guest Obsessed Team, in an email. The eatery offers a menu with fajita bowls, tacos and margaritas. www.gringostexmex.com Katy Crossing Icehouse: In August, Katy Crossing Icehouse said it was coming soon to 5733 Second St., Katy...

Here's a peek inside the new indoor gaming, entertainment facility headed for Katy

Sunday, January 12, 2020

By: Rebecca Hennes - Houston Chronicle A new gaming facility set to open in the Katy area this year will offer more than 80,000 square feet of fast-paced entertainment such as electric super-karts, arcade games and virtual reality attractions. Andretti Indoor Karting & Games will open March 3 at 1230 Grand West Boulevard, Katy, according to a release. Established in 2001, the Orlando-based company's newest Texas location is seeking to fill approximately 350 positions before its grand opening. Attractions include a two-story laser tag battlefield, more than 80 state-of-the-art arcade games, an indoor high adventure ropes course, virtual reality games and high-tech mini-golf. Th...

METRO conducts study to examine eliminating ride fares

Sunday, January 12, 2020

By: Jen Para - Community Impact Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County has conducted a study that is examining eliminating ride fares, METRO Media Director Tracy Jackson said. The preliminary results of the study, which began in January 2019, will be presented to the board and the public at the board’s finance and audit committee meeting Jan. 15 at 1:30 p.m., Jackson said. At that time, the committee will determine the next steps, such as collecting additional data. The results will show several free-fare scenarios and their implications to help the board come to a decision, Jackson said. Some scenarios that may b...

Texas Is Business Facilities’ 2019 State Of The Year

Sunday, January 05, 2020

By: Business Facilities Texas has been named Business Facilities’ 2019 State of the Year, becoming the first state to win BF’s top honor for the fourth time. The Lone Star State won the magazine’s inaugural SOTY designation in 2007; Texas also was BF’s State of the Year winner in 2012 and 2016. The top five Texas projects in terms of capital investment last year brought a tidal wave of more than $30 billion in capex to TX, while the top five job-creating projects netted nearly 15,000 direct new jobs. “As we ring in 2020, it’s time to acknowledge that Texas has by far been th...

Katy advances Boardwalk project

Saturday, January 04, 2020

By: Karen Zurawski - Houston Chronicle Construction of a hotel/conference center could be under way in the Katy Boardwalk by June for a late fall 2021 opening. An agreement with Centerpoint Energy Houston Electric approved Dec. 9 by Katy City Council will bring electricity to the Katy Boardwalk. A resolution adopted by City Council authorizes the Katy Development Authority to add as a project the construction of an underground ductbank along the Katy Boardwalk District. Consulting engineers Binkley & Barfield Inc. recommended the authority award a construction contract for the underground ductbank installation to TCH Directional Drilling at a cost of approximately $2.8 million...

Insite Realty and OT&C presentations highlight December GA

Friday, December 27, 2019

The Katy Area Economic Development Council hosted its last General Assembly meeting of 2019 on Tuesday, December 17 at Embassy Suites Houston West - Katy. InSite Realty and Oilfield Testing and Consulting served as keynote presenters for the meeting. InSite Realty, a Katy Area EDC member, shared information on its current commercial real estate offerings in the Katy area. Cane Island Business Center and Clay Road Commerce Park, both Insite developments, offer excellent options for companies looking to grow in the Katy area. Cane Island Business Center features two buildings for lease located in in West Ten Business Park totaling 277,00...

On the Move: The allure of Katy draws newcomers

Monday, December 23, 2019

By: Michelle Sandlin - Houston Chronicle Katy has long been one of the most popular suburban locations for people who are moving to the greater Houston area. And the allure is simple: Katy offers excellent schools, amenity-rich master-planned communities and neighborhoods, close proximity to the Energy Corridor, and increased access to the many other business centers throughout the region. Once considered a prominent location for residents who were connected to the oil and gas industry, today Katy boasts of a diverse economy that is fueled by much more than the energy sector. In recent years, the Katy area has been the recipient o...

See how population growth stacks up in the six Katy-area ZIP codes

Thursday, December 19, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact The Katy area continues to grow while residents are paying more for housing, according to new five-year population estimates. The U.S. Census Bureau released the latest American Community Survey five-year estimates for 2014-18 on Dec. 19. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the annual data release “helps local officials, community leaders, and businesses understand the changes taking place in their communities.” The following information is sourced from the 2014-18 American Community Survey. Any comparisons over time were made using the 2009-13 five-year ACS. Population increases The Katy area’s six ZIP codes—77094, 77441, 77449, 77450, 77493 and 77494—all showed increase...

More warehouse growth comes to Katy

Sunday, December 08, 2019

By: Karen Zurawski - Houston Chronicle In the past two years warehouse deals involving more than 6 million square feet occurred in the Katy area, according to Ken Sager, vice president of EastGroup Properties. He and David Hudson, vice president of leasing and development of Duke Realty, talked of continued growth at the Nov. 19 general assembly of the Katy Area Economic Development Council. Developer of Ten West Crossing, EastGroup has expanded its focus to Grand Crossing Business Park, a 33-acre site south of Clay Road and west of the Grand Parkway. Groundbreaking for the first of six buildings on the site i...

Texas Back in Business applications now open

Monday, December 02, 2019

MEDIA CONTACT: Texas Back in Business: Kim Padgett, The Padgett Group 713-876-5711 or Kim@thepadgettgroup.com Texas General Land Office: Brittany Eck, Communications Director 512-963-7800 or Brittany.Eck@GLO.Texas.gov HOUSTON (December 2, 2019) – Today Texas Back in Business announced the launch of the application for the new federally-funded Texas Back in Business program awarding $50,000 up to $250,000 in disaster relief for qualified Texas small businesses damaged by Hurricane Harvey. Texas small business owners can now apply for the program at no cost online at TexasBackInBusiness.com. “Today we are proud to kick-off the Texas Back in Business program, which will be helping small businesses recover from the cataclysmic blo...

Fort Bend Commissioners Court OKs joint agreement to build connector roads from Westpark Tollway to Grand Parkway

Sunday, December 01, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact A mobility project to build direct connectors from east- and westbound Westpark Tollway to northbound Grand Parkway is moving forward. In a 4-0 vote, the Fort Bend County Commissioners approved a joint agreement to construct these direct connectors at the Nov. 26 court meeting. Judge K.P. George was absent. These connectors are needed “to alleviate traffic congestion and related public safety concerns,” according to the agreement document. The joint agreement is between Fort Bend County, Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority, Fort Bend Grand Parkway Toll Road Authority and Fort Bend County Assistance Districts Nos. 1 and 9. Unde...

Industrial parks planned near Grand Parkway, Clay Road intersection in Katy area

Sunday, December 01, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact Two industrial parks are planned for the intersection of the Grand Parkway and Clay Road in the Katy area plan to break ground in the first quarter of 2020. Duke Realty has begun construction on a 433,300-square-foot building for its Clay 99 project, said David Hudson, Duke Realty’s vice president of leasing and development, at the Katy Area Economic Development Council Nov. 18 general assembly meeting. The building will finish construction in the first quarter of 2020. Meanwhile, EastGroup Properties’ Grand West Crossing development, located immediately south of Clay 99, will begin construction on a 120,600-square-foot buildin...

EastGroup Properties, Duke Realty provide updates on Katy area properties at November GA

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

The headquarters of Members Choice Credit Union played host to the November Katy Area Economic Development Council General Assembly meeting on Tuesday, November 19. The monthly meeting, which brings together Katy Area EDC members, community leaders and elected officials, was highlighted by presentations from two area commercial real estate firms and Katy Area EDC members, EastGroup Properties and Duke Realty. Kevin Sager, representing EastGroup, gave an overview of the CRE company which currently has 6.3 million square feet of space in 75 buildings and 8 business parks within the Katy area. Two highlight properties in the EastGroup portfolio include Ten Wes...

In-N-Out Burger opening Katy-area restaurant Nov. 22

Thursday, November 21, 2019

By: Community Impact In-N-Out Burger plans to open Nov. 22 at 1010 Katy-Fort Bend Road, Katy, according to a Nov. 21 press release. Steve Schneider is managing the location, which has one drive-thru lane and seating for nearly 75 people. The California-based brand is also opening a location on Nov. 22 in Stafford. These are the first two locations of the chain in the Greater Houston area. In-N-Out offers a menu of burgers, fries and shakes. 800-786-1000. www.in-n-out.com Full Story

GIS technology enhances property searching on Katy Area EDC website

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Finding a location for your business has never been easier, whether it’s a new building or a new location. Using the GIS Planning Tool provides you with multiple options so you can tailor the search to fit your needs. GIS software (Geographic Information System) combines rich data on available real estate with demographics for local communities while letting you search between Buildings, Sites, Businesses, and Communities. Internal filters let you drill down deeper into the data to create custom reports based on your specific needs. Whether you’re looking for office, retail, industrial or commercial sites, searching for your next location our GI...

Houston region may account for majority of economic gains in Texas

Sunday, November 17, 2019

By: Greater Houston Partnership Houston's economy has been consistently growing at a steady pace, and one expert says if it continues, the area could account for as much as 30% of the economic gains in Texas over the next 25 years. That’s according to a new analysis from Texas economist Ray Perryman. Based on current expectations, real gross product in Houston could grow as much as 3.13% annually - or more than 75% - through 2045, which would add more than $667 billion to the state’s economy. That’s more than any other Texas metro, with the Dallas region expected to make up 24% of growth, followed by Austin a...

Katy Mills Mall will be completely transformed by the end of the year

Sunday, November 17, 2019

By: Rebecca Hennes - Houston Chronicle Longtime customers of Katy Mills probably remember the mall's funky interior carpets, bright-colored decorations and huge stars located directly outside of the entrance. Since it first opened on Oct. 28, 1999, Katy Mills has become the No. 1 most visited location in the City of Katy, according to representatives with Simon Malls. The mall recently underwent a major interior transformation, modernizing the city's most popular shopping destination with a brighter, more upscale look. Interior renovations (which representatives would not provide a price tag for) include an updated dining pavilion, new seating throughout the property, movie theater courtyar...

Repairing Clay, Porter roads; widening Peek, Gaston roads: 4 Katy-area transportation updates to know November 2019

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

By: Jem Para - Community Impact Completed projects Traffic signal installation Harris County installed a new traffic signal system at the intersection of Morton Ranch and Porter roads. The system was activated in early November, Harris County engineer Jennifer Almonte said. Timeline: August-November Cost: $310,000 Funding source: Harris County Ongoing projects Gaston Road widening All lanes of Gaston Road between Greenbusch Road and Katy Flewellen Road are expected to be open to the public by Thanksgiving, said Ike Akinwande, Fort Bend County assistant engineer. The county has been working on widening the street into a four-lane, divided concrete road with underground stormwater drainage since last summer. Remaining work include...

With bond funding secured, METRO officials announce next steps

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

By; Shawn Arrajj - Community Impact With $3.5 billion in bonding authority secured, officials with the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County have a lot of work to do. Some of METRO's top brass gathered at a press conference Nov. 6—following an Election Day that saw the agency's bond pass with just under 68% of voter approval—to discuss the next steps in the process of making a reality the 40 or so projects that are slated to be funded with bond money. The money will help fund projects in the agency's $7.5 billion METRONext Moving Forward Plan, which calls for 75 miles o...

VillaSport Athletic Club and Spa to open in 2020 in Cinco Ranch

Monday, November 11, 2019

By: Roy Kent - Houston Chronicle Residents of the Cinco Ranch area will have a new place to get fit when VillaSport Athletic Club and Spa opens its doors. The facility is projected to open in early 2020. “We are thrilled to continue expanding the unique VillaSport brand in the Houston-area with the addition of our new Cinco Ranch athletic resort,” said Joseph Syufy, CEO of VillaSport, in a news release. “The new location is a perfect fit for the community, with an emphasis on catering to families and their everyday needs.” The fitness chain is building its third club in the Housto...

Sweet 16: Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital Awarded 16 Consecutive Straight ‘A’s in The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade

Thursday, November 07, 2019

MEDIA CONTACT: Drew Munhausen Drew.Munhausen@memorialhermann.org (281) 684-0984 KATY, TEXAS (Nov. 7, 2019) – The Leapfrog Group, an independent national watchdog organization driven by employers and other purchasers of health care, today announced the fall 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades and has once again awarded Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital an ‘A’ for achieving the highest national standards in patient safety. Memorial Hermann Katy is one of only 36 hospitals in the United States and one of only two in Texas to be awarded an ‘A’ every grading cycle since 2012. “Patient safety is a priority at Memorial Hermann Katy, and our employees and affiliated physicians g...

Katy ISD reveals designs for outdoor learning center renovations

Sunday, November 03, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact Construction will begin soon on renovations for the Katy ISD Welch Outdoor Learning Center. At an Oct. 28 meeting, the KISD board of trustees approved the design plans for changes to the center, located about 0.25 miles west of the Katy ISD administration building at 6301 S. Stadium Lane, Katy. The total cost of the project is $6.9 million, and it is being funded through the 2017 voter-approved $609.2 million bond. Lisa Kassman, KISD executive director of Facilities, Planning and Construction, gave a presentation of the design plans at the meeting. Construction is expected to begin a...

Memorial Hermann Sports Park Opens in Katy

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

MEDIA CONTACT: Drew Munhausen // 713-704-5547 drew.munhausen@memorialhermann.org Memorial Hermann Sports Park Opens in Katy Release provided by Memorial Hermann KATY (Oct. 22, 2019) – Memorial Hermann Sports Park, a new 50,000-square-foot sports medicine and human performance facility on the campus of Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital, is now open. The facility is a collaboration between Memorial Hermann, UT Physicians and Athlete Training and Health (ATH) to provide a full range of medical care and performance training for professional athletes, youth athletes, and active adults. Memorial Hermann Sports Park recently hosted a grand opening event featuring an open house for the community and a ribbon cutting presente...

Texas Bullet Train presentation headlines October Katy Area EDC GA meeting

Monday, October 21, 2019

On Tuesday, October 15 Katy Area Economic Development Council hosted its monthly General Assembly meeting at the Embassy Suites West Houston-Katy near Park Ten. The meeting was highlighted by David Hagy of Texas Central Railway, the organization which is developing the bullet train project connecting Houston and Dallas. Hagy, who made a return to his second Katy Area EDC meeting in the past year, served as the meeting’s headliner providing information on the planned Texas Bullet Train. According to Texas Central, the private company leading the development of the project, the approximately 240-mile high-speed rail line linking Houston and Dallas will offe...

FM 1093, I-10 widening: 4 Katy-area transportation updates to know October 2019

Saturday, October 19, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact Here are updates to four road projects in the Katy area. Ongoing projects Gaston Road widening Crews have nearly finished widening Gaston Road into a four-lane divided concrete road between Greenbusch Road and Katy Flewellen Road, Fort Bend County assistant engineer Ike Akinwande said. In early October, crews were preparing to construct driveways at the Willow Lake Apartments and wiring a new traffic signal. Remaining work for the project includes concrete paving between Meadow Lane and Katy Flewellen, median backfill and building a retaining wall along sidewalks east of Greenbusch. Timeline: July 2018-October 2019 Cost: $6.8 million Funding source: Fort Ben...

Katy Area Economic Development Council hires 2 team members

Saturday, October 19, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact The Katy Area Economic Development Council has added two new faces to its team. Angie Thomason is the EDC’s new manager of membership, business retention and special projects, according to an Oct. 14 press release. Debbie Morris will perform administrative duties and assist with projects. Before coming to the Katy Area EDC, Thomason was the vice president of management and marketing/business development at Westbound Bank, per the release, and she has been involved with the chambers of commerce in Katy and Cy-Fair. Morris, meanwhile, more recently serviced as the port director of Matagorda County Navigation District No. 1...

Katy is now home to one of six Pepperl+Fuchs distribution centers in the world

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

By: Nola Z. Valente - Community Impact Pepperl+Fuchs, a German company that specializes in industrial sensor and explosion protection technologies, held a ribbon-cutting for its new U.S. distribution center in Katy on Oct. 15. The new center in Katy is one of six locations worldwide, located in England, Germany, China, Australia and Italy. Pepperl+Fuchs is a global company specializing in design, manufacture and application of factory process automation and services. Katy was chosen as a location for the new 110,000-square-foot center due to the prominence of the oil and gas industry in the area, according to a press release. “You might wonder why w...

Memorial Hermann Sports Park in Katy hosted grand opening Oct. 12

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

By: Claire Allbright - Community Impact Memorial Hermann Sports Park, a new space constructed via a partnership between Memorial Hermann Health System and Athlete Training and Health, celebrated its grand opening Oct. 12 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce. The $15 million facility offers medical care and athletic training for athletes of all ages and levels. Located at 23960 Katy Freeway, Katy, the 50,000-square-foot, two-story facility consists of the Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Sports Medicine Institute; a Memorial Hermann Medical Group primary care clinic; and an ATH training center with an adult fitness space, a weight room an...

University of Houston System hosts ribbon-cutting for new Katy-area campus

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact The University of Houston System celebrated the opening of its newest campus in the Katy area. The University of Houston at Katy and the University of Houston-Victoria at Katy held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the debut of the a new shared 80,000-square-foot facility located at 22400 Grand Circle Blvd., Katy. Classes began in mid-August. Along with university leadership, UH System Chancellor Renu Khator spoke to the 150 people in attendance about the role the two universities will play in the Katy area to help meet local workforce needs and thanked those that began planning for th...

Katy Area EDC hires Angie Thomason, Debbie Morris

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

The Katy Area Economic Development Council is proud to announce the addition of two new team members, Angie Thomason and Debbie Morris. Thomason (pictured left) will serve as Manager, Membership, Business Retention and Special Projects while Morris will handle administrative duties and provide project-related assistance. Both will serve to support the organization's vision of making the Katy area the location of choice for companies and families. Thomason brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of the Katy area community to her new role. Prior to joining Katy Area EDC, Thomason was employed by Guaranty Bank & Trust where she was a Vic...

First of 6 new medical centers coming to the Greater Houston Area unveiled in Katy area

Monday, October 14, 2019

By: Nola Z. Valente - Community Impact The Katy area is now home to the first out of the six advanced primary care medical centers coming to the Greater Houston Area. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and Sanitas Medical Center hosted a grand opening for Sanitas Medical Center of Texas-Katy at 2610 N. Mason Road, Katy, which will service BCBSTX cardholders and accept self-pay patients and seniors with traditional Medicare coverage. “Health care has found a home in Katy partly because we are a growing area with a great quality of life,” said Katy Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris. “Over 300,000 peopl...

States with the most people moving to Texas

Tuesday, October 08, 2019

By: Taylor Pettway - Houston Chronicle Texas was ranked the second most populous state in the country by the 2018 U.S. Census, and the state has also seen a large influx of people moving to the Lone Star state. With 28.7 million people recorded in the state in 2018, Texas saw a 1.3 percent increase in population between 2017 and 2018. And that growth could be attributed to the large populations of people moving to Texas from around the country. In a study done by Esri, a mapping and data analytics company, most of Texas's newest residents came from California and Florida durin...

Officials talk flooding, urge support of Proposition 8 at Houston Stronger panel

Monday, October 07, 2019

By: Shawn Arrajj - Community Impact Representatives from several flood control agencies provided updates at an Oct. 2 forum on a variety of Houston area projects ranging from Addicks Reservoir to the Texas coast. The panel was hosted by Houston Stronger, a coalition of civic and business groups advocating for flooding solutions in the Greater Houston area. The organization has worked with members of the Texas Legislature, Harris County Flood Control District and the city of Houston to advance flood recovery projects in the past, and representatives from each of those arenas were present at the event. A theme throughout the panel discussio...

Construction begins on Katy-area office development

Thursday, October 03, 2019

By: Nola Z. Valente - Community Impact New office units are coming to the Katy area. The Oaks at Mason Office Park is located at 2023 N. Mason Road, Katy, in the Katy Medical District, near the University of Houston campus and Academy Sports + Outdoors corporate office. All units will range from 1,320-6,600 square feet and include two bathrooms, at least three offices, a reception area, a conference room, a break room and a kitchen, said Tim Sojka, CEO and part-time listing agent at See Tim Sell, the real estate agency representing The Oaks at Mason Office Park. The site features an outdoo...

Fort Bend County Drainage District accepts $48M in federal grant money

Saturday, September 28, 2019

By:Jen Para - Community Impact Three channels in the Katy, Sugar Land and Missouri City areas have received federal grant money for erosion-repair projects related to Hurricane Harvey and Tax Day Flood damages. At the Sept. 24 meeting, the Fort Bend County Drainage District board of directors accepted $48.4 million in grant funds for Willow Fork channel, Cane Island channel and Oyster Creek from the U.S. Department of Agriculture agency Natural Resources Conservation Service. A local match from the county is required, totaling about $5 million. The upcoming Nov. 5 flood bond referendum will help pay for the county’s share of the projects...

Katy Area EDC celebrates local manufacturing industry on MFG Day

Friday, September 27, 2019

Each year on the first Friday in October, and with events continuing throughout the month, MFG Day helps show the reality of modern manufacturing careers by encouraging thousands of companies and educational institutions around the nation to open their doors to students, parents, teachers and community leaders. This year, the day of recognition will officially take place on Friday, October 4. In the Katy area, a variety of manufacturers are thriving across a wide variety of industries. Manufacturers like Igloo, Schlumberger, Sercel, TMEIC, Pepperl+Fuchs and Vahle along with over 330 other manufacturers that employ over 13,000 people, call the Katy area home...

City of Katy OEM presentation headlines September Katy Area EDC GA

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

On Tuesday, September 17, Katy Area Economic Development Council hosted its September General Assembly meeting at the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) corporate office. The monthly meeting brings together Katy Area EDC members and community leaders to discuss relevant topics related to business and development in the Katy area. The September GA featured several presentations including two focusing on emergency preparedness and disaster recovery from the City of Katy Office of Emergency Management and Katy Responds. To begin the meeting, Downy Vickery, longtime Katy Area EDC member was honored for his service to the organization. Vickery has served with Kat...

Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital Earns National Recognition for Quality and Safety

Monday, September 23, 2019

By: Evan Koch – Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital was one of three Memorial Hermann Health System hospitals to earn national recognition as a top performer for excellence in delivering high-quality care by the Vizient Quality and Accountability Ranking at the 2019 Vizient Connections Education Summit in Las Vegas on Sept. 19. Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital received the 2019 Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Award for Complex Care Medical Centers and ranked sixth nationally of 82 participating hospitals in that category. “This incredible award recognizes the commitment that our employee partners, physician partners, and volunteer partners make every day to providing safe, hig...

Porter Road finished, Gaston Road work continues: 4 Katy-area transportation updates to know September 2019

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact Completed Projects Porter Road reconstruction Porter Road between Franz Road to Morton Ranch Road is now open to traffic in both directions on new concrete. Crews finished the project at the end of August, Harris County engineer Jennifer Almonte said. The 20-foot-wide, asphalt Porter was reconstructed into a 28-foot-wide, concrete roadway with an underground storm sewer system. The project was divided into two segments that crews worked on simultaneously. Timeline: September 2018-August 2019 Cost: $4.6 million Funding source: Harris County Ongoing projects Gaston Road widening Gaston Road is being widened from a two-lane asphalt road to a four-lane divided concrete road with undergroun...

Cross Creek Ranch to deliver nearly 500 homesites within Katy ISD by end of year

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

By: Nola Z. Valente - Community Impact Cross Creek Ranch is developing its final homesites within Katy Independent School District. The community located at the crossroads of FM 1463 and FM 1093, has delivered 291 homesites in 2019, and has another 180 planned for development by the end of the year, according to a press release. “We expect to be completely built out on the Katy ISD side of Cross Creek Ranch by the end of 2020,” said Rob Bamford, general manager of Cross Creek Ranch. “The remaining neighborhoods are all near the shared junior high and high school campus under construction no...

Encompass Health announces opening of Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Katy in Texas

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Sept. 9, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Encompass Health Corp. (NYSE: EHC) announces the opening of its 133rd inpatient rehabilitation hospital, Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Katy. Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Katy Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Katy, located at 23331 Grand Reserve Drive in Katy, a suburb of Houston, Texas, welcomed its first patient this morning. The freestanding inpatient rehabilitation hospital includes 40 private patient rooms, a spacious therapy gym featuring advanced technologies, a four-chair dialysis suite, an activities of daily living suite, courtyard, dining room and dayroom areas. Care will be provided by highly specialized nurses, therapists and physicians. Complementing local acute care services, the hospital will car...

City of Katy provides update on Katy Boardwalk, downtown plaza, Katy Mills and drainage projects

Monday, September 09, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact The city of Katy is busy with several projects across its city limits. City of Katy Mayor Bill Hastings and Kayce Reina, city of Katy director of tourism and marketing, provided updates on Katy Boardwalk, Katy Downtown Plaza, Katy Mills and drainage projects at the Aug. 28 Fulshear Katy Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon meeting. Katy Boardwalk Work is progressing on the Katy Boardwalk, a 169-acre, mixed-use development on Kingsland Boulevard across from Katy Mills, Reina said. The Boardwalk Lofts, a 319-unit apartment complex, started construction, and a parking garage can been seen from Kingsland Boulevard, Reina said. The Hyatt Regenc...

Fulshear’s Cross Creek Town Center signs new tenants

Monday, September 09, 2019

By: Nola Z. Valente - Community Impact The Woodlands-based commercial real estate company Marcel Group announced three new businesses coming to Fulshear through the Cross Creek Town Center development located at 6635 W. Cross Creek Bend Lane, Fulshear, within Houston-based Johnson Development Corp.’s master-planned community Cross Creek Ranch. The 10.47-acre mixed-use development signed three new tenants. One tenant is Experience Infusion Center, a pharmacy specializing in home health and IV infusion therapy, leased 12,300 square feet, and Apex Executive Suites, a co-working space concept by Marcel, will occupy 14,410 square feet of Class A office space, per the release. A specialty gym franchise focusin...

Higher education expansion to help Katy-area economy

Thursday, September 05, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact The University of Houston System opened a new Katy-area campus mid-August, and local experts said this investment in the local community is expected to positively affect the Katy-area economy. The Katy Area Economic Development Council estimates the new campus—which is shared by University of Houston at Katy and University of Houston-Victoria at Katy—will have an initial estimated $56 million in economic impact output over the next five years based on the first phase of the campus, located at 22400 Grand Circle Blvd., Katy. Graduating students will become a homegrown workforce, trained to fulfill jobs at Katy an...

Houston Community College-Katy adding engineering academy through partnership with University of Houston-Katy

Wednesday, September 04, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact Katy-area students interested in becoming engineers will soon be able to take freshman and sophomore classes at Houston Community College-Katy’s new engineering academy. HCC-Katy and the University of Houston-Katy signed a memorandum of understanding July 15 to partner and offer four-year bachelor’s degrees in engineering, HCC Northwest President Zachary Hodges confirmed. Interested students can apply for the academy beginning this fall, and courses will begin in fall 2020. HCC-Katy will accept a cohort of 100 students into the engineering academy each semester, Hodges said. Under the partnership, freshman- and sophomore-level engineering students will be dual enrolled a...

Port Houston talks trade, tariffs and trade zones at Katy Area EDC GA

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Members and guests gathered at Members Choice Credit Union corporate office on Tuesday, August 20 for the Katy Area Economic Development Council August General Assembly meeting. The meeting featured a presentation from Shane Williams of Port Houston and an economic development update from Katy Area EDC President/CEO Lance LaCour. Shane Williams, Economic Development Director with Port Houston, provided an overview of activity at one of the world’s leading ports, Port Houston. According to Williams, the port continues to experience tremendous growth, particularly in the container sector with a sharp increase in volume since 2016. The increase in container-related traffic at th...

Katy Ranch Offices Phase 2 breaks ground, to deliver in summer 2020

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

By: Nola Z. Valente - Community Impact Real estate company Avison Young held a groundbreaking ceremony July 18 on the new six-story office building for Phase 2 of the Katy Ranch Offices. The development, which is available for preleasing, is located at 24279 Katy Freeway, Katy, and will be completed by summer 2020. It will include a skybridge to link the existing garage constructed during Phase 1 to the new building’s main lobby, where conference and training rooms will be available as well as catering space, according to a press release. The existing five-story garage will be expanded to accommodate more than 1,000 spaces...

Kelsey-Seybold to develop clinic at Grand Morton Town Center

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

By: Nola Z. Valente - Community Impact Houston-based Kelsey-Seybold has leased 3.77 acres to develop a clinic at the Grand Morton Town Center, located at the intersection of SH 99 and Morton Ranch Road in Katy, according to a press release. The land, leased from NewQuest Properties, will accommodate the two-story, 37,000-square-foot clinic, but the multispecialty clinic system secured enough land to expand the Kelsey-Seybold Morton Ranch Clinic by 17,000 square feet in the future, according to the release. “It’s convenient for patients to have retail and restaurants within walking distance of a medical facility of this size and caliber,” said Ashley Strickland...

Katy-area governments invest in emergency readiness 2 years after Hurricane Harvey

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

By: Nola Z. Valente - Community Impact Since Hurricane Harvey devastated the Greater Houston area in August 2017, Katy-area governments have improved their emergency preparedness for the next big flood. Harris, Fort Bend and Waller counties as well as the cities of Katy and Fulshear have trained staff to use newly acquired equipment, such as high-water vehicles and swift-water boats, to help save more people in the event of a future flood. Additionally, area counties have continued to improve communication with all regional entities, enhance alert systems and update emergency plans to be better prepared for immediate emergency response. “Were there some things tha...

No Label Brewing Co. produces ‘beers everyone can enjoy,’ co-founder says

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact A few things have changed at No Label Brewing Co. since it sold its first barrel of beer in December 2010, co-founder Jennifer Royo said. The business sells to-go beer from the taproom and switched from bottles to cans. A playground and bathrooms were added, and the layout was rearranged. The brewery also produces a larger variety of beers. “Our head brewer wanted to do small, experimental batches at the taproom, such as our peanut butter and chocolate beer,” Jennifer said. “Things you can only get here.” She, her husband, Brian, and his parents founded the brewery togethe...

UHV chosen as best college in Katy by magazine poll

Monday, August 26, 2019

By: UHV Media Office KATY – Readers of Living Magazine have named the University of Houston-Victoria the Best College/University in the Katy and Fulshear area. More than 30,000 Katy and Fulshear area readers submitted votes for the magazine’s 2019 Best of Katy/Fulshear Readers’ Choice, which came out Aug. 1, said Sharon Hilburn, a Living Magazine account executive. “Receiving this recognition of our university is exciting,” UHV President Bob Glenn said. “We are grateful for the support from the Katy and Fulshear communities and look forward to serving them at our new instructional site this fall and for years to come.” The University of Houston-Victori...

Commercial development coming to residential area in Katy

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

By: Nola Z. Valente - Community Impact A development will expand the commercial corridor of northwest Fort Bend County. Archstone Real Estate LLC purchased 3 acres of land from local investors Farid R. Bakht and John R. Bakht to develop a retail and office project in Katy on Aug. 5. The development will be at the corner of Kingsland Boulevard and Main Street, and the site will support roughly 18,000 square feet of commercial space, according to a press release. Glenn Dickerson, the vice president of Houston-based NewQuest Properties, represented the local seller in a direct deal with Archstone. “This area of Katy is stron...

Submarket Spotlight: Katy Area

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

By: by A.J. Mistretta - Greater Houston Partnership Located about 30 miles west of Downtown Houston, Katy sits at the nexus of Harris, Fort Bend and Waller Counties. The city, which had an estimated population of just over 18,000 in 2017, is known for its picturesque residential communities that serve as home to employees working along the Energy Corridor and beyond. The one-time railroad town and the area surrounding it is today a hub of retail and industrial development thanks in part to ongoing highway and infrastructure improvements. We discussed Katy’s evolution with Lance LaCour, president and CEO of the Katy Area Economic Developmen...

Houston Facts 2019 report tracks the metro area’s growth: Here are 12 takeaways

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

By: Alex Hosey - Community Impact The Greater Houston Partnership released Houston Facts 2019, a compilation of data that covers Houston’s demographics, economic growth and more, at a networking and presentation event on Aug. 6. Patrick Jankowski, senior vice president of research for the Greater Houston Partnership, said the publication has been around for decades and has helped provide an accurate look at changes in Houston year after year. “When you look at Houston Facts, it’s facts,” Jankowski said. “It’s no spin, no varnish, no tweaking. If you want the unvarnished truth about Houston, you can pull it up in this publication. We wan...

First Street to reopen, FM 1093 widening update: 4 Katy-area transportation projects to know this August

Monday, August 19, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact Completed projects First Street improvements First Street will reopen to the public in mid-August, David Leyendecker of Clay & Leyendecker Inc. said. The project entailed installing new storm drainage from Cane Island Branch to Cane Island Parkway, widening the street to a two-way, three-lane concrete road and constructing sidewalks between Bartlett Road and Cane Island Parkway. Timeline: November 2018-August 2019 Cost: $4.5 million Funding source: Katy Development Authority Ongoing Projects FM 1093 widening The Texas Department of Transportation continues to widen FM 1093 from two lanes to four with a median. TxDOT Project Manager Kurt Lehmann said crews aim to open eastbound lanes late Augus...

Katy ISD receives A in Texas Education Agency’s 2018-19 accountability ratings

Monday, August 19, 2019

By: Jen Para - Community Impact The Texas Education Agency released the 2018-19 accountability ratings for school districts across the state Aug. 15. Katy ISD received an A for the 2018-19 school year. It received a total of 92 out of 100 points. “[KISD’s A rating] is a nice affirmation of the hard work that our teachers are putting in every day,” Superintendent Ken Gregorski said. Out of the 65 KISD campuses that received ratings, 34 earned an A, 26 earned a B and five earned a C. For a more in-depth look at how each school in KISD performed, visit www.txschools.org. Overall grades ar...

Katy Shoppers Uncover Treasures at Local Resale Stores

Saturday, August 03, 2019

From vintage clothes to designer handbags, Katy’s resale shops provide budget-friendly shopping adventures. If you are looking for a special occasion accessory, a gently used couch or a unique gift, your treasure hunt starts here. Read full article.

USDA, Texas Department of Agriculture OK Texas Rural Challenge commitments

Friday, August 02, 2019

AUSTIN -- The rural development arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of Agriculture recently signed a commitment to back the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Texas Rural Challenge. The initiative, which is overseen by UT San Antonio’s Institute for Economic Development, secured a commitment to increase access to financing in rural areas of mutual interest. TDA Commissioner Sid Miller and Texas state director for USDA Rural Development Edd Hargett approved the partnership at UT San Antonio’s 10th annual Texas Rural Challenge in New Braunfels. Read full article.

Best & Worst States to Start a Business

Thursday, August 01, 2019

Starting a business is never easy. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, about a fifth of all startups typically don’t survive past year one of operation, and nearly half never make it to their fifth anniversary. But startups fail for different reasons, a “bad location” among the most common. Choosing the right state for a business is therefore crucial to its success. A state that provides the ideal conditions for business creation — access to cash, skilled workers and affordable office space, for instance — can help new ventures not only take off but also thrive. Read full article.

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 th...

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 Platinu...

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 squar...

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 foun...

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 52...

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-edg...

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 ne...

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,&rdquo...

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. Marce...

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—betwee...

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 ...

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 experienc...

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 targe...

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 patien...

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 to...

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,&rdquo...

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/splas...

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 Dulane...

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 bette...

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 a...

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 expan...

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 ne...

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 t...

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 easemen...

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 ever...

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 Texa...

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 o...

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 an...

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 an...

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 b...

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 an...

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 o...

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 fo...

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 Buildin...

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 grea...

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. Chie...

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 ...

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 student...

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 Good...

Discover the Katy Area

Monday, November 04, 2019

First Street to reopen, FM 1093 widening update: 4 Katy-area transportation projects to know this August

Monday, August 19, 2019

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 you...

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 Ben...

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 ove...

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