News and Media

Katy area nonprofits spotlighted at November GA meeting

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Two Katy area nonprofits, Katy Christian Ministries and The Ballard House, served as headline presenters at the November Katy Area Economic Development Council General Assembly meeting which took place at Embassy Suites by Hilton Houston West-Katy on Tuesday, November 16. The two organizations provided members and guests with an overview of the work of their organizations and impact on the Katy area community. Deysi Crespo, Executive Director of Katy Christian Ministries, discussed the mission of the nonprofit which has become well-known for its contributions to the Katy area community. The organization has four key areas of focus: • Social Services – addressing basi...

Katy ranked as best place to retire in Texas in new study

Friday, November 19, 2021

By: Sierra Rozen - Community Impact A recent study found the city of Katy is the best city in which to retire in Texas. The study was conducted by SmartAsset, a financial technology company, and was released via email Nov. 18. According to the release, the study takes into account a city’s tax friendliness, availability of medical care and social opportunities for senior citizens. Per the website, SmartAsset's methodology included examining income and sales tax to determine a tax burden for someone who earns $35,000 annually as a retiree. It also measured the amount of seniors in each city compared to the tota...

City of Katy purchases land, historic Fussell Home as part of future master parks plan

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

By: Sierra Rozen - Community Impact The city of Katy is one step closer toward a new parks administration building after purchasing 1.42 acres of land located at 5402 Franz Road, which will be incorporated into the city's master parks plan that is being developed. The purchase was unanimously approved on Nov. 1 at a Katy City Council special session, with the city using roughly $350,000 in reserve funds for the land, according to agenda documents. Some items included in the purchase was the historic Fussell Home, open space, park equipment, a parking lot and legacy oak trees, Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harri...

Katy City Council approves water projects, facility repairs

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

By: R. Hans Miller - Katy Times Katy City Council authorized Mayor Bill Hastings to sign an agreement with ARKK Engineers for engineering design, repair and construction services for the rehabilitation of the water tanks at Katy’s Water Plant No. 6 at 27515 Highway Blvd. for about $1.6 million during their only regular November meeting. Funding for the project will come from the city’s Enterprise Fund, which may only be used for waterworks projects, City Administrator Byron Hebert said. Once constructed, the water tower will get a mural of geese following the same design as the ones by the Katy Police Departmen...

New Katy retail development The Shops at Ventana Lakes expected to break ground in 2022

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

By: Sierra Rozen - Community Impact Construction on The Shops at Ventana Lakes, a new retail development in Katy, is expected to break ground at the end of the first quarter of 2022. The development will be located near the northeast corner of Stockdick School Road and Peek Road, near Patricia E. Paetow High School and Stockdick Junior High School. After breaking ground in 2022, the stores are expected to open early in the third quarter of 2023, according to Jason Gaines, senior vice president at NAI Partners, a commercial real estate agency. Phase 1 consists of 15,000 square feet available for lease...

Boardwalk Lofts open at Katy Boardwalk District

Wednesday, November 03, 2021

By: Laura Aebi - Community Impact The apartment complex located in the Katy Boardwalk District has officially opened, according to a Nov. 1 press release. Boardwalk Lofts—developed by Sueba USA—houses 319 units with one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. Located at 122 Lakeview Way, Katy, the apartment complex is one part of the Katy Boardwalk District, a 90-acre development that will feature retail space, a nature preserve, offices, and a hotel and conference center near Katy Mills. The four-story mid-rise complex features 16 floor plans—ranging from 480 square feet to 2,087 square feet—as well as a pool, a spa, an athletic center, ...

Katy ISD dedicates Martha Lopez Aki Building

Wednesday, November 03, 2021

By: Laura Aebi - Community Impact Almost two years after the facility was initially funded and seven months after the building was completed, Katy ISD officials dedicated the Martha Lopez Aki Building—or Martha Lopez Aki Early Childhood Intervention Project Teach Your Kids Early Facility—formerly the L.D. Robinson Pavilion Agriculture Facility, on Oct. 18. The facility, located at 6361 S. Stadium Lane, Katy, houses two purposes for the district. One program made possible through the facility is the Project TYKE—Teach Your Kids Early—program, which provides education for parents of children with special needs. The second use of the building is as a professiona...

Katy focuses on public safety, recovery in fiscal year 2021-22 budget

Monday, November 01, 2021

By: Laura Aebi - Community Impact The city of Katy’s fiscal year 2021-22 budget focuses on street rehabilitation, park improvements and public safety with new staff added to the police, fire and animal control departments. The city will spend 6.2% more than last year on the Katy Fire Department and Katy Police Department, 40% more on funding for drainage and street projects, and 19% more for park improvements, Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris said in an email. The $34.5 million general fund budget, passed at a Sept. 27 City Council meeting, also features raises for city employees. The city is anticipating to receiv...

Katy-area’s first Korean spa offers traditional services and modern amenities

Monday, November 01, 2021

By: Laura Aebi - Community Impact Since it opened in September 2020, Spa World has been attracting visitors from all over the state, said Phillip Phan, Spa World’s sales and events manager. As the first Korean spa in the Katy-area, Spa World offers many traditional services, such as saunas and body treatments—but it also has more modern offerings, such as virtual golf, a movie theater and karaoke. According to Phan, the amenities and attractions aim to meet Spa World’s slogan, "more than you expected”. “Essentially, it’s just all of the amenities you need to really make a home away from home,” Pha...

EastGroup Properties Breaks Ground on 120,600 SF Industrial Project in Metro Houston

Thursday, October 28, 2021

By: Taylor Williams - Rebusiness Online KATY, TEXAS — EastGroup Properties, a Mississippi-based REIT, has broken ground on Grand West Crossing 1, a 120,600-square-foot industrial project in the western Houston suburb of Katy. The building, which will be situated within a larger Grand West Crossing master-planned development, will feature 28-foot clear heights and proximity to Interstate 10 and State Highway 290. JLL is marketing the building for lease. Construction is scheduled for a second-quarter 2022 completion. The master plan for Grand West Crossing includes five additional buildings or build-to-suit opportunities. Full Story

LaCour and Lombard honored with Stanley Awards at Katy Area EDC October GA

Monday, October 25, 2021

Embassy Suites by Hilton Houston West-Katy played host to the October Katy Area Economic Development Council General Assembly meeting on Tuesday, October 19. Two longtime Katy Area EDC employees, Lance LaCour and Frank Lombard, were recognized for their service to the organization. Flood mitigation and resiliency was also discussed by two experts in the area. Headlining the meeting was a surprise presentation of the annual Stan C. Stanley “Eagle” Leadership and Economic Development Awards to Lance LaCour and Frank Lombard. LaCour has been with the organization since 2005 as President/CEO and will be departing his role at the end of th...

Job Posting: Katy Area EDC hiring President/CEO

Friday, October 08, 2021

Job Posting: Katy Area Economic Development Council - President/CEO REGION AND ORGANIZATION The Katy Area Economic Development Council provides economic development services to the Katy and Cypress area which is more commonly known at the Katy Independent School District and Cy-Fair Independent School District which in nearly 400 square miles. The area is located 30 miles west and northwest of downtown Houston, is known for the world-famous Energy Corridor, and is one of the fastest growing regions in Houston and state of Texas with a population nearing 1,000,000 people. Target industries include energy services, data centers, research and development, headquarters, and engineerin...

Thomason appointed interim Katy Area EDC President/CEO

Wednesday, October 06, 2021

The Katy Area Economic Development Council Board of Governors has appointed Angie Thomason as interim Katy Area EDC President/CEO effective Friday, October 29.

8 statewide propositions on Texans' November 2021 ballot and what they mean

Monday, October 04, 2021

By: Jishnu Nair - Community Impact Voters will find eight propositions to amend the state constitution on the Nov. 2 ballot. Community Impact Newspaper spoke with Brandon Rottinghaus, the University of Houston’s political science chair, to break down each proposition. Proposition 1: rodeo raffles House Joint Resolution 143 What is it asking? This proposition allows voters to decide whether charities for teams sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association or Women’s Professional Rodeo Association can hold charitable raffles. According to Rottinghaus, these races need to be approved through a constitutional amendment to avoid falling foul of Texas’ gambling laws. Proposition 2: county infrastructure bonds for blighted areas House Join...

Katy area, Fort Bend County see notable increase in Asian population, data shows

Monday, October 04, 2021

By: Rynd Morgan - Community Impact New census data shows the Asian population in Fort Bend County and in Katy has significantly increased in the past decade. Local experts said this is driven by new construction in the area, desirable school districts and a growing number of businesses catering to the Asian community—as more than a dozen Asian-catering businesses have opened in the Katy area this year, according to new businesses confirmed by Community Impact Newspaper’s monthly reporting. Fort Bend County has Texas’ highest proportion of Asian residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 data released mid-August. The county’s Asian population made u...

Katy City Council approves $34.5 million budget, maintains same property tax rate

Monday, October 04, 2021

By: Rynd Morgan - Community Impact The city of Katy approved its $34.5 million budget at a Sept. 27 City Council meeting. The city also approved a property tax rate of $0.447168 per $100 valuation for fiscal year 2021-22, which is the same as the fiscal year 2020-21 tax rate. Of the $0.447168 total tax rate, $0.083633 will go toward debt service, and $0.363535 will fund maintenance and operation expenditures. Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris thanked city staff for their work on the budget at the City Council meeting. “Even with the current issues throughout the nation and the pandemic, we were able t...

MD Anderson Boot Walk set for November 6

Sunday, October 03, 2021

Presentation by Fort Bend County Judge KP George highlights September GA meeting

Friday, October 01, 2021

Katy Area Economic Development Council welcomed members and guests to its September General Assembly hosted by Aloft Katy on Tuesday, September 21. Fort Bend County Judge KP George served as the keynote presenter for the event which was followed by the first ever Katy Area Business Opportunity Conference. Judge KP George took office in January 2019 following several years of service on the Fort Bend ISD School Board. George oversees county operations which include over 3,000 employees and a budget of roughly $400 million. Recently, Fort Bend County has been recognized as one of the fastest growing counties in the countr...

Comcast Rise Investment Fund to award small business grants in Harris, Fort Bend counties

Monday, September 27, 2021

By: Rynd Morgan - Community Impact Comcast announced it will award $1 million to small businesses owned by people of color in Harris and Fort Bend counties in a Sept. 16 press release. This effort is part of the Comcast Rise Investment Fund program, a multiyear, multifaceted initiative launched in late 2020 to support small businesses owned by people of color. Beginning Oct. 1, small businesses owned by people of color in Harris and Fort Bend counties can apply for 100 grants of $10,000 each. Applications must be received by Oct. 14. As part of the company’s initial Comcast Rise Investment Fund program...

Katy Boardwalk District announces 'refined' site plan in fall, tenants in 2022

Monday, September 27, 2021

By: Laura Aebi - Community Impact Plans for the Katy Boardwalk District will be seeing a few changes, officials said in a Sept. 23 press release. According to the release, a refined site plan for the project is expected to be released this fall—with an announcement of the district’s first tenants expected to come in early 2022. Katy Boardwalk District’s development team said in the release that it is still continuing to focus on attracting “chef-driven restaurants and unique, first-to-market entertainment concepts” while working to enhance the property’s overall site plan. “The impact of COVID-19 gave us extra time to re-evaluate the sit...

How population changed in Texas counties between census counts in 2010, 2020

Thursday, September 23, 2021

By: Valerie Wigglesworth - Community Impact The latest Census data shows that 111 of the 254 counties in Texas gained in population since the last count in 2010. The greatest growth was concentrated among the state's urban areas of Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, Houston and San Antonio, data showed. In total, Texas added nearly four million people between 2010 and 2020. That amounts to a nearly 16% growth, according to the data. Hays County tops the list with 53% growth between the two census counts. That county south of Austin went from 157,107 residents to 241,067 residents in the latest census. Other counties in th...

New Available Space at G-Tech Innovation Center

Friday, September 17, 2021

Fort Bend County launches “Get Hired” program

Monday, September 13, 2021

By: Rynd Morgan - Community Impact Fort Bend County Judge KP George announced the launch of a “Get Hired” program, aimed to help small businesses and nonprofits in Fort Bend County, at a Sept. 8 press conference. The “Get Hired” incentive program is a county initiative that will offer employers hiring incentives to attract employees and encourage those individuals to stay employed by paying incentives after 90 days of continuous employment, according to a county press release. The program is funded by American Rescue Plan Act funds. George said the program would help business owners not only hire new employees, but retain the...

Katy Area EDC Office Closed 9/14

Monday, September 13, 2021

The Katy Area EDC office will be closed on Tuesday, September 14 due to inclement weather.

UHV-Katy staffer earns national Latino leadership award

Monday, September 13, 2021

By: R. Hans Miller - Katy Times Karla DeCuir, University of Houston-Victoria Katy senior director of enrollment management and external affairs, is one of 26 people across the nation as a National Latino Leader, according to a UHV-Katy press release. “I am extremely honored to be recognized as one of the Latino Leaders this year,” DeCuir said. “It is a privilege to be among so many great leaders from different areas of business in the country, and I love helping other Latinos achieve success in their fields.” DeCuir will be presented with the award during the sixth annual National Latino leadership Conference whic...

Lance LaCour Announced as Partnership Lake Houston’s Economic Development President

Wednesday, September 08, 2021

Release provided by Partnership Lake Houston HUMBLE, TX — Partnership Lake Houston CEO Jenna Armstrong recently announced Lance LaCour as their new president of Economic Development. LaCour replaces former Economic Development president Mark Mitchell who stepped down from his position in June following four years with the Partnership. LaCour will assume his position with Partnership Lake Houston on November 1 after more than 16 years leading the Katy Area Economic Development Council. During his tenure in Katy, he helped attract thousands of jobs to the Katy area through robust expansion and business attraction projects. Since he began leading the organization in 2005, the are...

Commissioner Tom Ramsey, growing R&D company headline Katy Area EDC August GA meeting

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Katy Area Economic Development Council hosted its August General Assembly meeting on Tuesday, August 17 at the Omni Houston Hotel at Westside. The meeting featured keynote presentations from Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey and Kent Kvaal President/General Manager of TSRC Specialty Materials. Commissioner Tom Ramsey was elected to his position in 2020 and brings a history of public sector experience to his role. Prior to his current position, Ramsey served as Mayor of Spring Valley Village from 2012-2020. Ramsey, a longtime civil engineer, has put his engineering experience to use in helping advocate for infrastructure projects within Harris Count...

SBA Announces Moratorium on Bona Fide Place of Business Requirements for the 8(a) Business Development Program

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

The U.S. Small Business Administration today announced a moratorium on the requirement that participants in SBA’s 8(a) Business Development Program must establish a bona fide place of business in a specific geographic area in order to be awarded any construction contract through the 8(a) Program due to the ongoing challenges of COVID-19. The moratorium is effective August 25, 2021, and applies to all 8(a) construction contracts offered to the 8(a) Program between August 25, 2021, and September 30, 2022. “The SBA is committed to finding innovative ways to assist small businesses, particularly small disadvantaged businesses that have been historically underserved,” sai...

Kingsland Boulevard to see new stop signs near Katy Boardwalk development

Friday, August 27, 2021

By: Rynd Morgan - Community Impact The city of Katy approved the addition of four new stop signs in the Katy Boardwalk area during a Katy City Council meeting Aug. 23. The stop signs will be added at the intersections of Lakeview Way and Kingsland Boulevard, and Lakeview Way and Boardwalk Drive; Prairie Parkway and Kingsland Boulevard, and Prairie Parkway and Boardwalk Drive; Boardwalk Drive and Prairie Parkway; and Boardwalk Drive and Lakeview Way, according to city documents. The motion passed unanimously. The Katy Boardwalk area, located south of I-10, has been under development since 2015 and broke ground in 2017. The developmen...

September GA meeting to feature presentation from Fort Bend County Judge, Business Opportunity Conference

Monday, August 23, 2021

You are cordially invited to our September 21st General Assembly Meeting and Business Opportunity Conference. Networking will begin at 8 a.m. with the meeting starting promptly at 8:30 a.m. What: Katy Area EDC September General Assembly Meeting and Business Opportunity Conference, including panel discussions and Q/A on Minority Business Development, Supplier Diversity and Procurement When: Tuesday, Sept. 21st 8 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. (Networking from 8-8:15 a.m., EDC Business from 8:15-8:25 a.m.; Conference to follow GA Mtg) Where: ALOFT Hotel - Katy Mills 25330 Kingsland Blvd. Katy, TX 77494 OR Join us by Virtual Meeting at 8:30AM Keynote Speaker: The Honorable KP George, Fort Bend County Judge PRIVATE/PUBLIC SECTOR PROCUREMENT PANEL: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, INC. - Jesse Greenberg...

2021's Top 10 Retail Experiences: No. 6 La Centerra At Cinco Ranch

Friday, August 20, 2021

By: Chain Store Age In the Houston suburb of Katy, packed with lots of people and lots of retail, La Centerra is an outdoor center with incredible space, a wide variety of stores and restaurants, a public park, and a clock tower that guides guests to the site from as far as 10 miles away. “There’s a great mixture of uses at La Centerra, and a lot of open spaces,” said Josh Poag, CEO of Poag Shopping Centers, which acquired La Centerra in 2017. “During the pandemic, all of the restaurants got quickly engaged in doing takeout orders. People were lined up...

Texas Heritage Parkway set to open Friday

Thursday, August 19, 2021

By: R. Hans Miller, News Editor - Katy Times Fort Bend County Commissioner for Precinct 3 Andy Meyers announced Monday that the long-awaited Texas Heritage Parkway will open Friday, Aug. 20 at 10 a.m. The roadway is a joint effort with the Texas Department of Transportation, Fort Bend County, Waller County and the cities of Fulshear and Katy paying for portions of the construction with additional resources provided by subdivision developers in the area. “The Kingsland to I-10 segment is the last bit of the (Texas Heritage Parkway) that is still being constructed, but all vehicles will have access to 10, th...

Katy Mills is future home to Texas' first construction theme park

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

By: Laura Aebi - Community Impact Katy will be the home of Dig World—Texas’ first all-ages, construction-themed adventure park—in a “few months,” according to an Aug. 18 announcement from Dig World. The 3.5-acre park will feature real, heavy construction equipment–such as excavators, skid steers, UTVs and more—for both adults and children to operate. Located near Katy Mills, the attraction is expected to host 100,000 guests in its first year, according to the statement. “At Katy Mills, we are committed to growing, evolving and supporting what the community needs,” said Lisa Connolly, Katy Mills' director of marketing and business development. “Dig World will surel...

Harris County Flood Control District receives nearly $250M for sediment removal

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

By: Danica Lloyd - Community Impact The Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded the Harris County Flood Control District nearly $250 million in federal funds for sediment removal in eight watersheds, officials announced in an Aug. 9 news release. Sediment that was deposited during flooding from Hurricane Harvey will be removed from the Willow Creek, White Oak Bayou, Spring Creek, Little Cypress Creek, Greens Bayou, Cypress Creek, Barker Reservoir and Addicks Reservoir watersheds. "This award allows us to continue the huge task of removing sediment from flood control district channels. It is estimated that more than 2.13 million cubic yards of sediment accumulated i...

Harris County to launch $30M small-business relief fund Sept. 20

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

By: Danica Lloyd - Community Impact Small businesses throughout Harris County that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic will soon be able to apply for grants ranging from $5,000-$25,000. The new $30 million relief fund is subsidized by the American Rescue Plan Act Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. County commissioners unanimously approved Aug. 10 a partnership with LiftFund, an independent nonprofit that provides loans for entrepreneurs. This organization will help manage the program and help business owners apply, according to Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. She said at a press conference that small-business revenue is down 38% since January 2020, according t...

Registration: August 2021 General Assembly Meeting

Tuesday, August 10, 2021

Members Register Here Non-Member Register Here

KISD schools recognized for energy conservation, saving district millions

Monday, August 09, 2021

By: Savannah Kuchar - Community Impact Multiple Katy ISD campuses have earned Energy Star certification by the Environmental Protection Agency. Among these were 19 Katy elementary schools, four junior high schools and Tompkins High School. According to a KISD press release, efforts by these schools has saved the district over $4 million in what would be energy and water usage, money that can then be redirected to the classroom. “Through approved bond projects, the Katy ISD Operations Division has been able to install new equipment that is both energy-efficient and more reliable for campuses and district facilities,” said Ted Vierling, chief operations office...

Land Tejas to bring on 15 homebuilders for Sunterra development

Monday, August 09, 2021

By: Laura Aebi - Community Impact Land Tejas will be bringing on 15 different homebuilders for the first phase of Sunterra, a Katy development with a 3.5-acre Crystal Lagoons amenity, according to an Aug. 5 press release from Sunterra. Builders for the 1,039-acre development include Adams Homes, Ashton Woods Homes, CastleRock Communities, Chesmar Homes, Colina Homes, DR Horton, Empire Communities, Gehan Homes, Hamilton Thomas Homes, Highland Homes, HistoryMaker Homes, Perry Homes, Pulte Homes, Shea Homes and Westin Homes. “We’re excited to have so many well-known and reputable home builders opening in the first phase of development in Sunterra,” said James Henrie, partner an...

Roundabout plan aims to increase safety, decrease congestion

Monday, August 02, 2021

By: Morgan Theophil - Community Impact Fort Bend County officials are implementing a new roundabout initiative in Precinct 3 to increase safety and ease congestion. As Precinct 3 becomes more dense, officials are seeing more intersections with high crash rates or that lack a traffic-control device and could use a traffic-calming measure, said Robert Pechukas, manager of policy and administration with the precinct. Thus, the county is working to implement changes and prefer roundabouts for several reasons, Pechukas said. The design of a roundabout limits T-bone collisions, which improves safety as most of the remaining accidents are less dangerous sideswipes, Pechukas said. Additionally, signal...

MD Anderson again ranks No. 1 in cancer by U.S. News & World Report

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

MD Anderson News Release July 26, 2021 The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center again has been named No. 1 in cancer in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2021-2022 annual “Best Hospitals” rankings. Since the ranking's inception in 1990, the institution has been selected as one of the top two hospitals for cancer in the country. “This year’s ranking is especially rewarding considering the exceptional teamwork and collaboration we have seen throughout our institution during an unprecedented pandemic that created heightened risks for immunocompromised cancer patients,” said Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president of MD Anderson. “No matter the challenge, w...

UH-Victoria's psychology program receives national accreditation

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

By: Laura Aebi - Community Impact The University of Houston-Victoria’s Specialist in School Psychology program received its national accreditation from The National Association of School Psychologists in July—making it one of only 13 Texas universities accredited by the association. The accreditation “will help the university recruit new students and streamline the professional certification process for the program’s graduates,” university officials said in a press release. “This is a historic accomplishment for the School of Arts & Sciences because school psychology is the first nationally accredited program in the school,” said Craig Goodman, dean of the UHV School of Arts & Sciences. “Doctors [Elise...

SBA Program Helps to Revitalize Restaurants in Houston

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Release provided by SBA The $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund provided much-needed relief to an industry that saw the negative impacts of the pandemic early on. Restaurants, bars, food trucks, and other food establishments were able to access grant funding to cover certain expenses like payroll and rent through the SBA program. In Houston, over 1,900 businesses received funding totaling more than $498 million with an average award amount of $258K. “The injection of $498 million from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund has helped to uplift an industry that generates billions of dollars to the Houston economy every year. With its closure, th...

2021 Katy Triathlon at Cane Island

Monday, July 26, 2021

Katy Area Business Opportunity Center aims to assist Katy area minority-owned and women-owned businesses

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

A website dedicated to highlighting and providing assistance to Katy area minority-owned and women-owned businesses was recently launched by the Katy Area Economic Development Council. The newly created website can be found at katyareabusinessopportunitycenter.com. Organized by the Katy Area Economic Development Council’s Diversity Committee, the website provides a Minority and Women's Business Directory for businesses located in the zip codes that include and touch Katy and Cy-Fair ISD areas. It also aims to advance the mission and vision of the committee in areas including but not limited to helping minority and women's businesses seek and obtain HUB (Historically and Underutilized Business) an...

Katy City Council approves new assistant city administrator

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

By: Laura Aebi - Community Impact Katy City Council voted to approve Anas Garfaoui as the city’s new assistant city administrator at its July 12 meeting—the first in-person meeting the city has held since the coronavirus forced the City Council to go remote in 2020. “This is very exciting for [Garfaoui],” Katy Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris said. “He did a great job with our Katy Development Authority. And he has saved me many times from giving the wrong answer by correcting me. He definitely is not a person that tells you what you want to hear—he tells you straightforward what th...

Governor Abbott Lauds Lone Star State’s Jobs Surge

Monday, July 19, 2021

July 16, 2021 | Austin, Texas | Press Release Governor Greg Abbott today issued a statement following the Texas Workforce Commission’s (TWC) release of June employment numbers showing continued economic expansion as Texas employers added 55,800 jobs over the month, marking job growth in 13 of the last 14 months, as the unemployment rate dropped to 6.5 percent as more Texans jumped back into the job market. “The Texas economy is booming. Businesses are investing in the Lone Star State at a record pace because we've built a framework that allows free enterprise to flourish and hardworking Texans to prosper,” said Governo...

Oil's Well!

Monday, July 19, 2021

By: Dr. M. Ray Perryman - The Perryman Group Published in syndication July 14, 2021 The energy sector remains a key driver of the Texas economy. It dominates state exports; drilling, production, transportation, and processing activity involve substantial investments; and the massive supply chain has been entrenched and expanding for over a century. Although the Texas economy is diverse and multifaceted, oil and gas and related activity from exploration through shipping comprise about 13-14% of overall business activity. The pandemic spawned sheer chaos in oil markets, with prices falling from the upper $50s per barrel to the mid-teens just two months later. I...

Cinco Ranch team CRyptonite wins second overall at the UIL Robotics State Championship

Monday, July 12, 2021

By: Savannah Kuchar - Community Impact A team of students from Cinco Ranch High School in Katy ISD earned multiple distinctions at this year's For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology UIL Robotics State Championship. Team 624 CRyptonite was one of 73 other teams, divided between two divisions, who participated in the FIRST Robotics Competition at the Alamodome in San Antonio June 15-17. The Cinco Ranch team was named first runner-up in the state, and as a finalist in their Lone Star division, they went on to compete against winners from the Bluebonnet division and earn the distinction of overall state finalists. “Th...

No Label Brewing Co. recognized in international contest for pandemic efforts

Monday, July 12, 2021

By: Morgan Theophil - Community Impact No Label Brewing Co. in Katy took home two awards during the international Craft Beer Marketing Awards for its COVID-19 face mask design and charity promotions during the pandemic. The Craft Beer Marketing Awards, which was established in 2019, is a worldwide competition that focuses on excellence in the artistic and creative marketing and packaging efforts of breweries, designers and agencies' craft beer, according to a press release. The CBMAs accepted entries from around the globe from five regions. A total of 196 awards were presented to winning brewers, designers and marketing agencies from around the world. “Ou...

City eyes late summer opening for portion of Katy Boardwalk District

Wednesday, July 07, 2021

By: Laura Aebi - Community Impact Even during the pandemic, Katy Boardwalk District projects did not stop, Katy City Administrator Byron Hebert said. The project was first discussed in October 2015. Once completed, the district will be located off of Kingsland Blvd., south of Katy Freeway near Katy Mills. It will feature a nature preserve, multifamily housing and a hotel. “The Katy Boardwalk District will be a game-changer for the area,” said Keith Dalton of KBH Ventures, the development team behind the district, in an email. “As a new lakefront destination, Katy Boardwalk District will be master planned as a hub fo...

Q&A with Katy Area EDC President Lance LaCour

Wednesday, July 07, 2021

By: R. Hans Miller - Katy Times, News Editor The Katy Area Economic Development Council’s motto is “energy grows here” and KEDC President Lance LaCour and his team are working on several projects to make that motto a reality. LaCour says the goal is to continue to build the economy of the area and bring good jobs for area residents as Katy continues to grow. Over the past year, the EDC has advocated on multiple occasions for assistance for local businesses as they faced the economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and continued to work on projects to build the region from a...

Riders will soon have access to free Wi-Fi systemwide on METRO vehicles

Wednesday, July 07, 2021

By: Andy Yanez - Community Impact Riders of the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County will soon have a new accommodation when traveling on its transportation vehicles: access to free Wi-Fi. "It's something we've been looking at for a couple of years now," METRO Chief Information Officer Denise Wendler said in a news release. “We’re excited to finally expand this service throughout our fleet." To use the free Wi-Fi, METRO riders will see "ridemetro-wifi" as an option from a list of available connections and will need to put in their email address and approve METRO’s terms and conditions, according to the release. METRO’s additio...

UH/HCC Engineering Academy accepting applicants - Application deadline July 15

Thursday, July 01, 2021

The University of Houston (UH- Main Campus) and Houston Community College (HCC) have created a unique engineering partnership: The UH/HCC Engineering Academy! Students are co-enrolled at both institutions and are official UH Engineering Cougars from the very first day! Students can now apply for the UH/HCC Engineering Academy at two locations: Katy – I10/Hwy 99 – 22400 Grand Circle Blvd., Katy, Texas 77449 Fraga Eastside – one mile east of Downtown Houston at the HCC Felix Fraga Campus–301 N. Drennan, Houston, Texas 77003 Ideal Candidate: Student is ready for Calculus I (MATH 2413) and Chemistry I (CHEM 1311) – options are available for Pre-Cal students, but encouraged to complet...

Public comment sought for flood-control project targeting South Mayde Creek in western Harris County

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

By: Morgan Theophil - Community Impact Harris County Flood Control District officials are moving forward with plans to improve the flow of stormwater and reduce flooding risks along lower South Mayde Creek, a tributary in the Addicks Reservoir watershed of northwest Harris County. During a virtual public meeting June 24, HCFCD Engineering Director Marcus Stuckett said the district has completed a draft preliminary engineering report for a project targeting the area and is seeking public input about the plans. The specific project area is bordered by Peek Road on the west, Lakes of Bridgewater on the east, Clay Road on the south an...

Events in Katy happening Fourth of July weekend

Monday, June 28, 2021

By: Savannah Kuchar, Andy Yanez - Community Impact July 3: Freedom Parade, Festival and Movie Night The Katy Heritage Society will have snow cones, a petting zoo, live music and crafts at Katy Heritage Park, followed by a children’s bicycle parade contest, where participants are encouraged to deck themselves and their non-motorized bikes, strollers, scooters and wagons out in patriotic red, white and blue. After the parade winners are announced, “The Sandlot” movie will be shown at 8:30 p.m. in the park greenspace. Attendees can purchase popcorn, snacks or drinks for donation. 6-10 p.m. $5 (admission, children age 13 and under). 5990 George Bus...

UHV named top college choice in Katy

Monday, June 28, 2021

Release Provided by UHV Readers of the Katy Times have named the University of Houston-Victoria a top choice to attend college in the Katy area. The university received a top spot this week in the 2021 Katy Times’ Best of Katy readers’ choice awards contest in the Best College category. The university has been named a top choice by Katy Times readers for several years. “It is a humbling and wonderful feeling for the university to receive this recognition and support from the Katy community,” said Chance Glenn, UHV provost and vice president for academic affairs. “UHV is proud to be a par...

Overview: American Rescue Plan Act and Harris County

Friday, June 25, 2021

Click Here to Learn More About the American Rescue Plan and What it Means for Harris County

Katy Wild West Brewfest founder discusses upcoming 2021 event, impact on Katy area at GA meeting

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Katy Area Economic Development Council welcomed members and guests to its monthly general assembly meeting on Tuesday, June 14 hosted by Embassy Suites by Hilton Houston West - Katy. The meeting, which was streamed for virtual attendees as well, featured a presentation from Katy Wild West Brewfest. David Loesch, founder of Katy Wild West Brewfest, provided an overview of the event which has become a Katy area staple. Since its inception 10 years ago, the beer festival has grown tremendously and so has its impact on the Katy area. The event has grown from 1,000 attendees to over 10,000. To date...

Texas Unemployment Rate falls to 6.5 percent in May

Monday, June 21, 2021

Date: June 18, 2021 Media Contact: James Bernsen Phone: 512-463-8556 AUSTIN — In May, the seasonally adjusted Texas unemployment rate was 6.5 percent, down 0.2 percentage points from April 2021. Texas added 34,400 total nonagricultural jobs over the month, making gains in 12 of the last 13 months. Texas added a total of 804,200 jobs since May 2020. "Texas employers continue to add jobs, strengthening our economy and creating opportunities for Texas workers to connect to a rewarding career," said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. "Job seekers can access skills enhancement resources to prepare for these newly created jobs via our local Workforce Solutions partners an...

Fort Bend County Public Transportation rebrands to Fort Bend Transit

Thursday, June 17, 2021

By: Morgan Theophil - Community Impact Fort Bend County Public Transportation on June 14 announced a rebranding that includes a name change to Fort Bend Transit, a new logo, a new color scheme, and new messaging that showcases local and regional transportation services. Fort Bend County commissioners in 2005 approved the creation of the Fort Bend County Public Transportation Department to serve the general public in Fort Bend County, the release said. Now, as Fort Bend Transit leaders look to add route expansions, grow ridership and introduce new technologies, they determined it was time for the image to change. “With the challenges o...

Fort Bend Entrepreneur initiative provides assistance to hundreds of small businesses

Thursday, June 17, 2021

By: Morgan Theophil - Community Impact Nearly 700 Fort Bend County small businesses have received free one-on-one coaching designed to help them stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic through the county's Fort Bend Entrepreneur program. Stephen Carter, co-owner of consulting group Carter Brothers, which partnered with the county to run the initiative, presented an update on the program to Fort Bend County commissioners at their June 8 meeting. The program started last July with the goal to provide educational and coaching services to businesses in the county that were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Carter said. At the time, the goal was to assist 400 businesses...

Nearly $400M project to boost Houston-area water supply by up to 500M gallons a day

Thursday, June 17, 2021

By: Emma Whalen - Community Impact A recently completed water supply project will help meet growing demand in the Greater Houston area, officials announced June 15. The Luce Bayou Interbasin Transfer Project will supply Lake Houston and the Northeast Water Purification Plant with an additional 240 million gallons of water per day from the Trinity River. Eventually, it could supply up to 500 million gallons of water per day, officials said. “The Luce Bayou Interbasin Transfer Project is helping to meet water supply demands of a growing population,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said at a ribbon-cutting for the project. “The [project] is a testament to our region’...

Texas Wins Ninth Gold Shovel Award For Job Creation And Business Investments

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

June 14, 2021 | Austin, Texas | Press Release Governor Greg Abbott today announced that Texas is again recognized with a Gold Shovel Award by Area Development magazine for leading among the most populous states in attracting high-value business investments in 2020 that will create a significant number of new jobs in communities across the state. This is the ninth year Texas has won a Gold Shovel Award. "It’s no surprise that Texas continues to lead the nation in job creation and economic expansion," said Governor Abbott. “The Lone Star State offers innovative businesses the freedom to flourish with our pro-growth economic policies...

New Katy ISD elementary school coming to Cane Island community

Monday, June 14, 2021

By: Morgan Theophil - Community Impact The Katy master-planned community Cane Island will add an on-site Katy ISD elementary school scheduled to open in the fall of 2022, according to a press release. The elementary school will be located at 7400 Innovation Drive near Cane Island Parkway, within walking distance for Cane Island residents, the release said. The district is expected to announce a name for the new school in the coming months. “As the primary driver of new home sales north of I-10, we knew it was just a matter of time before we could open an on-site elementary school right her...

UHV to offer new concentrations in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data science

Thursday, June 10, 2021

Release by UHV Beginning this fall, undergraduate and graduate students majoring in computer information systems at the University of Houston-Victoria can take new degree concentrations in the latest technologies, including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and data science. Students earning a bachelor’s degree will be able to select from concentrations in cybersecurity or data science, while those earning a master’s degree can choose from cybersecurity, data science and artificial intelligence concentrations. “There is a shortage of college graduates equipped with these skills, which are in high demand across almost all industries,” said Yun Wan, chair of the UHV computer science division and professor of compute...

Cane Island announces addition of 152 homesites

Wednesday, June 02, 2021

By: Laura Aebi - Community Impact The Katy master-planned community of Cane Island has opened three new sections of its popular 50-foot homesites. The sections will bring 152 additional three-, four- and five-bedroom family homes from David Weekley Homes and Perry Homes. “The 50-foot homesites are among our top sellers,” says Lawren Eckhardt, Cane Island director of marketing. “They provide buyers with the ability to design a large family room on a smaller, more affordable footprint.” David Weekley homes will start in the $349,000s while Perry homes are priced from the $370,000s, respectively. New move-in ready homes from both builders will become availabl...

Harris County Precinct 3 opens Steve Radack Community Center

Wednesday, June 02, 2021

By: Danic Lloyd - Community Impact Officials with Harris County Precinct 3 held a grand opening May 27 for the Steve Radack Community Center at 18650 Clay Road, Houston. The new facility was built above the flood plain to replace the Bear Creek Community Center, which was damaged beyond repair in Hurricane Harvey. The project cost nearly $7 million and was funded by Precinct 3 and federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery funds, officials said. It is named after the precinct’s former commissioner of more than 30 years. Radack was the first Harris County commissioner to establish senior education centers, and official...

HCESD 48 hires permanent fire chief

Wednesday, June 02, 2021

By R. Hans Miller, News Editor - Katy Times Harris County Emergency Services District 48 has a new fire chief after hiring George McAteer to fill the role. The department had been without a permanent chief since the retirement of former Fire Chief Jeff Hevey in October of 2020. “I’m very thankful to the ESD-48 Commissioners for their faith and confidence in me to guide this department forward. The fire service is about serving the community and being there to help during someone’s worst day ever,” McAteer said in a statement issued by the department. McAteer brings 36 years of experience to th...

Upcoming Greenbusch Road project to improve mobility, give ‘old, old road’ an upgrade

Wednesday, June 02, 2021

By: Morgan Theophil - Community Impact An upcoming project to repair and widen Greenbusch Road will improve mobility and provide a much-needed facelift to one of the oldest roads in Fort Bend County, according to county officials. The upcoming project, which aims to improve mobility in the area, will construct a four-lane concrete road on Greenbusch between Gaston Road and Westheimer Parkway as well as a new bridge over Buffalo Bayou. The road currently is two lanes wide and has ditches on both sides. Increasing the width of the road from two lanes to four lanes will help improve mobility and decrease congestio...

COVID-19 recovery, reopening discussed at May Katy Area EDC GA meeting

Thursday, May 27, 2021

May 25, 2021 - Katy Area Economic Development Council welcomed members and guests to its monthly general assembly meeting on Tuesday, May 18 held at Aloft Hotel Katy. With a return to pre-pandemic life and activities ongoing, Katy Area EDC hosted representatives from the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) and Fisher Phillips LLP to discuss the reopening process and how businesses can best navigate it. Mark Winchester, Deputy District Director for Houston District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration, provided an update on the ongoing efforts of the SBA to support the economic recovery from COVID-19. He discussed the numerou...

LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch Eyes Thriving Summer and Fall Seasons with New Stores, Restaurants and Events

Thursday, May 27, 2021

Release provided by LaCenterra Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch has remained a staple of family friendly activity in the Katy community and surrounding areas. Through obtainment of the Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation, the gold standard for prepared facilities, LaCenterra aims to deliver a fun and safe experience to its visitors through engaging events and customer-centric establishments. Many LaCenterra stores have seen a significant spike in sales and foot traffic in the early months of 2021, with multiple establishments reporting record numbers exceeding those of 2019 and previous years. Off the heels of th...

HCC Katy to open new campus in 2022

Friday, May 21, 2021

By: Laura Aebi - Community Impact Houston Community College will be moving its Katy campus to 22910 Colonial Parkway, Katy, in spring 2022. The new facility is a $55 million investment from HCC and will be more than 125,000 square feet, said HCC President Zachary Hodges during a May 17 presentation to Katy City Council. Since its inception, HCC had offered freshmen- and sophomore-level courses while the University of Houston offered junior, senior, and graduate courses. Hodges said the new HCC campus will now allow students to “start in Katy and finish in Katy.” “It's not easy to drive to the University o...

Katy ISD’s Partners in Education expands Food for Families program to include summer break

Friday, May 21, 2021

By: Morgan Theophil - Community Impact Katy ISD’s Partners in Education is asking the community to help families in need this summer by supporting the Food for Families program. For the first time, the Food for Families program is being expanded to include support for KISD families in need over the summer, according to a Partners in Education press release. Food for Families is a community initiative that uses monetary donations to purchase grocery store gift cards for KISD students and their families in need during the holidays, and now during the summer, the release said. Cards are distributed to students before schoo...

TxDOT, advocacy group look at feasibility of Hwy. 36A corridor through Brazoria, Fort Bend, Waller counties

Friday, May 21, 2021

By: Haley Morrison - Community Impact The Texas Department of Transportation is in the midst of the feasibility study and environmental study for the Hwy. 36A project. If it comes to fruition, the project would build 65 miles of Hwy. 36A, creating a corridor from Port Freeport to Brazosport to North Texas, Highway 36A Coalition spokesperson Jim Fredricks said. The project is separated into two sections: Hwy. 36A South would run from the existing Hwy. 36 south to the I-10 and Hwy. 90A intersection. Hwy. 36A would run from the I-10 and Hwy. 90A intersection to Hwy. 6 north of Hempstead. Th...

Typhoon Texas in Katy to kick off summer season May 28

Friday, May 21, 2021

By: Laura Aebi - Community Impact Typhoon Texas will be kicking off its 2021 summer season May 28. The water park will begin the season with a three-day Welcome Back Beach Bash from May 29-31 featuring live music and family-friendly activities. Tickets can be purchased in person or online at at typhoontexas.com. Season passes cost $69.99, any-day admission tickets cost $39.99 and choose-your-day admission tickets cost as low as $22.99. Located at 555 Katy Fort Bend Road, Katy, Typhoon Texas has family raft rides, tube slides, body slides, a kids area, a wave pool and a lazy river. The park also has on-site parking...

New funding available soon for small businesses hit by COVID-19 in Fort Bend County

Thursday, May 13, 2021

By: Morgan Theophil - Community Impact Small businesses in Fort Bend County that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic can soon apply for up to $25,000 in relief due to new funding made available by the county. Fort Bend County officials have made new funding from the American Rescue Plan Act available through the county's small-business emergency grant program, a program designed to help small businesses recover from the pandemic. Information about the program was shared during a virtual webinar May 12 hosted by the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with other area entities including the Katy Area Chambe...

Katy Area Economic Development Council Resolution for Economic Development Week

Monday, May 10, 2021

WHEREAS, the International Economic Development Council is the largest professional economic development organization dedicated to serving economic developers; and WHEREAS, the International Economic Development Council provides leadership and excellence in economic development for communities, members, and partners through conferences, training courses, advisory services and research, in-depth publications, public policy advocacy, and initiatives such as the Accredited Economic Development Organization program and the Certified Economic Developer designation; and WHEREAS, economic developers promote economic well-being and quality of life for their communities by creating, retaining, and expanding jobs that facilitate growth, enhance wealth, and provide a stable tax base; and WHEREAS, economic developers stimulate an...

First Texas PopStroke, designed by Tiger Woods, coming to Katy

Friday, May 07, 2021

By: Laura Aebi - Community Impact The first Texas location of PopStroke, a Florida-based golf entertainment facility designed by Tiger Woods, is coming to the Katy area in 2022. The attraction will be built on a 3.2-acre tract at the Katy Grand and feature an 8,000-square-foot restaurant. "PopStroke is the most innovative family-oriented golf concept in today's entertainment category. Choosing Katy Grand for its flagship location in Texas is an incredible honor," said Jeff Hayes, managing partner of NewQuest's land and tenant advisory services. The facility will consist of two 18-hole golf courses designed by Woods at a variety of skill levels. I...

TWC Approves $790 Million Assistance Package for Child Care in Texas

Wednesday, May 05, 2021

Release by TWC Media Contact: James Bernsen Phone: 512-463-8556 AUSTIN – The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) authorized $790 million to support the stability of the child care sector and assist providers in responding to impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency. These funds, which will be provided to all regulated child care providers, will assist them in addressing the increased operating expenses they have faced as a result of the pandemic. The funding comes from $1.1 billion that TWC received through the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. “A strong child care network is vital to Texas’ economy but increased operating expenses resulting fro...

Katy ISD $676.23M bond package passes; Rebecca Fox, Dawn Champagne win races for board of trustees

Monday, May 03, 2021

By: Morgan Theophil - Community Impact All four propositions making up Katy ISD's $676.23 million bond package received support from voters in the May 1 election, according to the unofficial final results. The bond package will fund more than 400 projects across the district, including the construction of five new schools, major renovations for aging campuses, safety improvements and technology upgrades for schools. According to the unofficial final results, 6,142 residents, or 71.76% of voters, cast their ballots in favor of Proposition A, while 2,417 residents, or 28.24% of voters, voted against it. The proposition makes up the majority of the bond packag...

Newcomers Dan Smith, Gina Hicks elected to Katy City Council; $6M bond package passes

Monday, May 03, 2021

By: Morgan Theophil - Community Impact Newcomers Dan Smith and Gina Hicks have been elected to serve on Wards A and B, respectively, of the Katy City Council, according to the unofficial final results. Smith received 72.17%, or 446 early and election day votes, for Ward A, while opponent Diane Walker received 27.83%, or 172 votes. The seat is currently held by Council Member William "Dusty" Thiele, who was appointed in November to fill a vacancy and did not seek re-election. Newcomer Hicks garnered 62.06%, or 476 votes, for Ward B. Incumbent Council Member Jenifer Jordan Stockdick received 37.94%, or 291 votes. Additionally, the majorit...

Fort Bend County transportation bond to fund ‘unique’ downtown Fulshear project

Friday, April 23, 2021

By: Claire Shoop - Community Impact To improve mobility in downtown Fulshear for both cars and pedestrians, the city, along with Fort Bend County, is working to convert Wallis and Main streets into a one-way pair. A one-way pair, also called a couplet, is two parallel one-way streets often used in downtown areas that provide for a safer flow of traffic, said Sharon Valiante, public works director for the city of Fulshear. Money to begin the Wallis project—which includes the reconstruction of the roadway as well as plans to widen the street and extend it to FM 1093—was approved by voters in Novembe...

Katy Area EDC GA features presentations from Mayor of Fulshear, Katy ISD

Friday, April 23, 2021

For the first time in over a year, Katy Area Economic Development Council welcomed members and guests for an in-person general assembly meeting while adhering to COVID-19 safety guidelines. The meeting, which was hosted by Embassy Suites by Hilton Houston West-Katy, was headlined by presentations from Aaron Groff, Mayor of Fulshear, and a presentation by Katy ISD covering the May 1 bond referendum. For those members not able to attend, the meeting was streamed. Groff, who was elected in 2018, leads the growing City of Fulshear which encompasses the southwestern portion of the Katy area. Recently named the fastest growing communit...

Governor’s Small Business Webinar: How Public Procurement Can Grow Your Business

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

When: April 28, 2021 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Where: Online About the Event: The next Governor’s Small Business Webinar will focus on how businesses can prepare to compete for public procurement contracts and the importance of business certifications in this process. It is essential for business owners to understand how to develop an effective business development strategy to win public procurement contracts. Join us as we bring together procurement experts from across the state to answer your questions on these topics through a live Q&A. Participation in the Webinar is FREE, however there is a maximum capacity of 10,000 attendees. Notice of Assistanc...

Texas, Florida and Washington ranked most innovative states

Friday, April 16, 2021

By: Hannah Mitchell - Beckers Hospital Institue The U.S. remains a global leader in innovation, while Texas, Florida and Washington are ranked the most innovative states, according to a March 26 article published by The Wall Street Journal. Research by the Draper Hero Institute created an index of emerging innovative hot spots to recognize the development of advanced technology and economic growth. Four things to know about the innovation results: Washington, Florida and Texas ranked as the top three U.S. states for innovation overall. California scored high for its thriving tech sector in the Silicon Valley but was marked down for high taxes and stat...

Gross Domestic Product by State, 4th Quarter 2020 and Annual 2020

Monday, April 12, 2021

Information from Bureau of Economic Analysis Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in the fourth quarter of 2020, as real GDP for the nation increased at an annual rate of 4.3 percent, according to statistics released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The percent change in real GDP in the fourth quarter ranged from 9.9 percent in South Dakota to 1.2 percent in the District of Columbia (table 1). Read the full story here

$6M Katy bond package would bring trails, building improvements

Wednesday, April 07, 2021

For years, Katy leaders have wanted to connect residents throughout the community to downtown and fix buildings in need of repairs. By: Morgan Theophil - Community Impact Now, they are hoping Katy residents will support a $6 million bond package to help them do that. Katy City Council members at a special meeting Feb. 12 voted unanimously to put a bond package on the May 1 ballot. Katy voters will also be electing two residents to fill City Council seats for wards A and B and will vote on 38 propositions related to changes in the city’s charter. At the Feb. 12 meeting, Cit...

Katy-area counties eye population growth and annual budgets

Monday, March 29, 2021

By: Community Impact - Laura Aebi At the State of the Counties event hosted by the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce on March 11, Waller, Fort Bend and Harris county officials discussed the hurdles of 2020 and their unusual start to 2021. Harris County Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo kicked off the event by acknowledging the gray area of early-2021—beyond what many hope was the peak of the pandemic, but before herd immunity has taken effect. “We are at a time of both hope—and despair,” Hidalgo said. “Despair because of how much we’ve lost. In Harris County, over 3,300 people have died. Countless hav...

As $676.23M bond package heads to voters, Katy ISD plans for district’s future

Friday, March 26, 2021

By: Morgan Theophil - Community Impact Katy Elementary School’s history dates back to 1898, when the first public one-room schoolhouse was built to educate students in the new town. The present school, which was built in 1965 and renovated most recently in 1995 to accommodate Katy’s growing population, sits on the same site and is still attended by descendants of some of the original settlers to the Katy area. While the decades of life have earned Katy Elementary a historic landmark designation, the years also have brought on challenges as the campus has aged. Lack of storage and classroom space, temperature issues an...

Texas to expand COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to all adults March 29

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

By: Olivia Aldrige - Community Impact Beginning March 29, all Texas adults will be eligible to receive a vaccine for COVID-19, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced March 23. According to the DSHS, the state's Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel recommended the shift because they expect vaccine supply to increase next week. “We are closing in on 10 million doses administered in Texas, and we want to keep up the momentum as the vaccine supply increases,” said Imelda Garcia, DSHS associate commissioner for laboratory and infectious disease services and the chair of the Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel, in a news release. Previously...

Katy Area EDC supports UH Katy campus expansion funding, Katy ISD bond propositions

Monday, March 15, 2021

Katy Area Economic Development Council announces its support for funding expansion projects on the University of Houston Katy campus and four Katy ISD bond propositions. Katy Area EDC passed a resolution in support of $92,250,000 million of state funding from the Texas Legislature for expanding the University of Houston Katy campus and facilities. The University of Houston at Katy and the University of Houston-Victoria at Katy campus, located on a 46-acre development within the Katy area, is part of the UH System and requires more space for programs in energy, engineering, and medical services and training. Specifically, Katy Area EDC supports the constructio...

Population, median income increased in Katy area from 2014-19

Monday, March 15, 2021

By: Morgan Theophil - Community Impact Spanning Harris, Fort Bend and Waller counties, the Katy area saw, on average, a 30.5% increase in population from 2014 to 2019 across its six ZIP codes. Five of the six area ZIP codes saw an increase in median household income. On average, the Katy area saw an increase of 11.8% in median household income from 2014 to 2019, slightly less than the increases in Harris, Fort Bend and Waller counties. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 American Community Survey, Community Impact Newspaper looked at population growth, changes in median household income, the age breakdown, local demographi...

Upcoming Katy transportation projects focus on increasing mobility to match continued growth

Thursday, March 11, 2021

By: Morgan Theophil - Community Impact Of all the priorities for transportation projects in Katy slated for 2021 and the years ahead, increasing mobility to keep up with the city’s growth is at the forefront, according to Katy’s State of the City presentation in mid-January. During the annual presentation, city officials acknowledged the elevated sales tax revenue and continued growth Katy saw during the past year despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “People are coming,” City Administrator Byron Hebert said at the event. “You can’t put a house on the market fast enough before it’s sold.” To meet that demand for growth, Hebert said, th...

IACCGH webinar: How to Grow Your Business using Proven Business Resources

Sunday, March 07, 2021

Stanley Award winners announced at Katy Area EDC GA meeting

Tuesday, March 02, 2021

Katy Area Economic Development Council hosted it February General Assembly meeting virtually on Tuesday, February 23. The monthly meeting was headlined by the announcement of the winners of the fifth annual Stan C. Stanley “Eagle” Leadership and Economic Development Awards. This year’s award winners are Downy Vickery (volunteer) and Steve Radack (elected official). Both men have provided outstanding contributions to the Katy area community and Katy Area EDC is honored to recognize their service. Vickery is a longtime Katy Area EDC Board member and previously served as President of Tradition Bank while Radack previously served as Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner. “O...

Once completed, Texas Heritage Parkway to connect I-10 to FM 1093

Monday, March 01, 2021

Construction on the $55 million Texas Heritage Parkway project connecting FM 1093 to I-10 is underway, according to Andy Meyers, Fort Bend County Precinct 3 commissioner. Meyers said construction from just south of FM 1093 to Kingsland Boulevard is 70% complete and is expected to be finished by the end of July. However, work on the segment connecting the new road from Kingsland Boulevard to I-10 is projected to begin in March and may not be completed until October. Meyers said that before the Texas Heritage Parkway, Grand Parkway and FM 1463 served as the two main connections from I-10 to F...

Texas Ranked Top Exporting State For 19th Consecutive Year

Monday, March 01, 2021

Release by Office of the Governor Governor Greg Abbott today issued a statement after the U.S. Census Bureau ranked Texas the top exporting state for the 19th consecutive year. With $279.3 billion in exports in 2020, Texas exports accounted for more than California and New York combined. The Lone Star State also led the nation in tech exports for the eighth year in a row. "Texas’ exporting prowess is a testament to our business-friendly climate, strong trade partnerships, and most of all, the millions of hardworking Texans in communities across our state,” said Governor Abbott. “The Lone Star State has fostered an environmen...

2020 Katy Area Development Map now available

Friday, February 26, 2021

Katy Area Economic Development Council has released its 2020 Katy Area Development Map. The aerial map, which is created annually, includes current and planned thoroughfares, residential communities, commercial developments, industrial areas, schools and hospitals, city, county boundaries, city limits, ETJ’s, retail areas and other pertinent community development information. The map is offered in two sizes: 42” X 58” and the 24” X 36". Included below is pricing information. Members of the Katy Area EDC are provided a limited number of free map(s) and discounts on the purchase of additional copies. 42” x 58” Large Map – Member (32% discount): $85.00 42” x 58” Large Map – Non-member: $125.00 24” x 36” Small Map – Member (50% discount)...

Governor’s Small Business Webinar: Updates on the New Round of PPP Funding

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

When: March 3, 2021 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Where: Online Webinar About the Event: Join us for the next Governor's Small Business Webinar for an update on the new round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding and other recovery resources through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Our panel of experts will provide up-to-date details on the PPP application process, loan forgiveness and other pandemic and disaster assistance available to Texas small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and/or the severe winter storms. The virtual event will also feature a live Q&A with our expert panel, including senior executives from the SBA and Smal...

TEDC Presents the 2020 Economic Excellence Recognition at 2021 Legislative Conference

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

For more information contact: Mr. Carlton Schwab President/CEO Texas Economic Development Council (512) 480-8432 carlton@texasedc.org February 23, 2021 - The Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) announced the recipients of its annual Economic Excellence Recognition program for 2020. The awards were presented on Tuesday, February 23rd, during the TEDC’s 2021 Legislative Conference hosted virtually, February 22-26, 2021. 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 the economic development director and professional staff. Certifications, professional memberships and activities, and organizational effectiveness of the economi...

SBA Stands Ready to Assist Texas Businesses and Residents Affected by the Severe Winter Storms: Virtual Recovery Centers to Open Tuesday, Feb. 23

Monday, February 22, 2021

Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to Texas businesses and residents as a result of President Biden’s major disaster declaration, U.S. Small Business Administration’s acting Administrator Tami L. Perriello announced. The declaration covers 77 Texas counties as a result of the severe winter storms that began on Feb. 11, 2021. See below for the list of declared counties. “SBA is strongly committed to providing Texas with the most effective and customer-focused response possible and with access to federal disaster loans to help businesses and residents affected by this disaster,” said Perriello. “Getting our businesses and communities up and running after ...

City of Katy officials provide State of the City update at January GA

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Katy Area Economic Development Council held its monthly General Assembly meeting virtually on Tuesday, January 19. Members and guests gathered to hear a State of City of Katy address from Mayor Bill Hastings and City Administrator Byron Hebert. Hastings, who took office in May of 2019, and Hebert addressed the events of the past year within the City of Katy. Despite the immense and unprecedented challenges in 2020, specifically the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Katy continued its growth both in population and among the business community. Hastings noted the City exceeded expectations in tax collections from initial projections at th...

2nd Annual Houston Business Matchmaker- March 5, 2021

Thursday, February 11, 2021

LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch Achieves GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation

Tuesday, February 09, 2021

Release provided by LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch Katy, Texas - February 9, 2021 - LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch has announced that it has achieved Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation, the gold standard for prepared facilities. Under the guidance of GBAC, a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch has implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention in its facility. As the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation, GBAC STAR™ helps organizations establish protocols and procedures, offers expert-led training and assesses a facility’s readiness for biorisk situations. Th...

Governor’s Small Business Webinar: Update on SBA Shuttered Venue Operators Grant

Thursday, February 04, 2021

Katy Area EDC accepting nominations for Stan C. Stanley “Eagle” Leadership and Economic Development Awards

Wednesday, February 03, 2021

In March of 2016, the Katy area community lost a beloved leader and community member in Mr. Stan C. Stanley. Stan was known throughout the Katy area for his big heart and volunteerism through numerous organizations such as the Boys Scouts of America, Katy Area Economic Development Council and Katy ISD. To honor his contributions and lasting legacy, the Katy Area EDC created the Stan C. Stanley “Eagle” Leadership and Economic Development Award. The annual award recognizes a volunteer in the Katy area who has made contributions in leadership and economic development to the Katy area. All persons volunteering (non-paid positions only...

Kelsey-Seybold Business Health Connect Series Featuring Benjamin Dillon, MD, Associate Chief of Urology and Associate Medical Director of Specialty Care

Friday, January 29, 2021

Governor’s Small Business Webinar Series: Information on the New Round of PPP Funding

Monday, January 25, 2021

Governor’s Small Business Webinar Series: Information on the New Round of PPP Funding When: January 27, 2021 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Where: Online Webinar About the Event: The Governor’s Small Business Team will host a webinar for Texas small business owners to provide an update on recovery resources through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), specifically the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Our panel of experts will include senior executives from the SBA and Small Business Development Centers. They will explain the recent changes and provide up-to-date advice on the new round of PPP funding, loan forgiveness, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL...

Typhoon Texas hiring roughly 1,000 summer employees

Friday, January 22, 2021

By: Claire Goodman - Houston Chronicle Typhoon Texas Water Park is already gearing up for its 2021 summer season. The water park is currently hiring 1,000 new part-time employees in advance of its opening day on May 29. According to Bernard Kaplan, public relations representative for Typhoon Texas, positions are available in water safety, food and beverage service, retail, cash control, front gate admissions and other areas. Seasonal employees will have complimentary friends and family passes and free admission to the park on their days off. Typhoon Texas also has a college and trade school scholarship program for outstanding employees. Job applications are availabl...

IACCGH Webinar: Thought Leadership Virtual meeting

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

IACCGH webinar: Thought Leadership Virtual Meeting Celebrating HCC at the center of Houston's Entrepreneurial Hub

Cane Island Parkway project nears completion

Monday, January 18, 2021

By: Laura Aebi - Community Impact The project at the intersection of Cane Island Parkway and I-10 is expected to finish early this year, widening the two-lane road into a four-lane road with the addition of a median and drainage improvements. Timeline: Completion is scheduled for the first quarter of 2021. Cost: $6.27 million Funding source: Fort Bend Mobility Bond funds Full Story

Proposed Katy ISD bond would fund 5 new campuses, facility renovations

Monday, January 18, 2021

By: Morgan Theophil - Community Impact Deliberations have begun about a bond proposed by Katy ISD that is designed to address the rapid student growth occurring in the district. About 110 community bond advisory committee members met Jan. 13 for the first of three meetings to review the district’s campus and facility capital needs in consideration of a May bond referendum. The proposed bond would provide funding for five new campuses as well as renovations to several of the district’s current facilities. Lisa Kassman, the district’s executive director of facilities, planning and construction, told the committee the renovations and proposed new facilities are “no...

Business Health Connect Webinar by KelseySeybold: January 19

Friday, January 15, 2021

PPP Loan Update - January 2021

Friday, January 08, 2021

As part of the recent stimulus package passed by the United States Congress, new funding is now available in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The application process will open Monday, January 11 for those businesses who have not yet received a PPP loan and on Wednesday, January 13 for those businesses who have previously received PPP funds. Please note, eligibility requirements and approved lenders have changed from previous PPP programs. For more information, please utilize the links below. SBDC PPP Update SBA PPP Update Presentation 2020 Approved Lenders

U-Haul Ranks 50 States by Migration Growth: Tennessee claims No. 1 spot for first time; Texas in top 2 for fifth straight year

Thursday, January 07, 2021

PHOENIX, Ariz. (Jan. 4, 2021) — If you’re of the opinion Tennessee is a fun place to visit and would be a beautiful spot to live, take a number and get in line. U-Haul® customers are well ahead of you. The Volunteer State posted the largest net gain of U-Haul® trucks crossing its borders in 2020, making it the No. 1 U-Haul growth state for the first time. Growth states are calculated by the net gain of one-way U-Haul trucks entering a state versus leaving that state in a calendar year. Migration trends data is compiled from more than 2 million one-wa...

Fort Bend County Vaccine Distribution Information

Wednesday, January 06, 2021

Information provided by Fort Bend County The COVID-19 vaccines are one of the best tools available for ending the pandemic. Now that the vaccines coming to Fort Bend County, arming ourselves with accurate vaccine information is critical. Read the facts about the COVID-19 vaccines. The first vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency use authorization (EUA), which will eventually allow millions of people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. As a result of this breakthrough, many people have questions about the vaccine and the road ahead. On this page, you will find answers to some of the most common questions peopl...

Fulshear fastest-growing city in Texas, census reveals

Monday, January 04, 2021

By: Claire Goodman - Houston Chronicle Fulshear is officially the fastest-growing city in Texas, according to numbers from the 2020 U.S. Census. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau were released Dec. 15 and published through the American Community Survey, a division of the Census Bureau responsible for disseminating the information. The results were not surprising to Fulshear-area community leaders. This is the second year Fulshear has earned the title, and the explosive growth in the area has only continued to increase. Only a decade ago, the population of Fulshear was 1,134 according to city demographic reports. Today, the population is more than 16,000 an...

Crystal Lagoons amenity coming to new Katy-area community

Monday, December 28, 2020

By: Marie Leonard - Community Impact The upcoming Sunterra development in Katy will soon be home to a 3.5-acre Crystal Lagoons amenity, featuring several beaches, an island, a clubhouse and a pool overlooking the lagoon. Construction is expected to begin on the lagoon before the end of the year on the property owned by developer Land Tejas along Clay and Pitts roads. “This will be the only place in Katy where you’ll have the turquoise blue waters and white sand beach experience within walking distance from your home or a short ride on your golf cart or bicycle using our 12-foot GreenBoLT trail,&rdquo...

Local non-profits, Pepperl+Fuchs present at December GA

Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Members and guests of Katy Area Economic Development Council gathered virtually on Tuesday, December 15 to hear from two Katy area non-profits, Rotary Club of Katy and Amazing Place, along with Katy area company Pepperl+Fuchs. While challenges have been felt by organizations throughout the community due to the COVID-19 pandemic, each presenter provided a positive outlook on their work within the Katy area. Jim Bolin, Executive Vice President at Pepperl+Fuchs discussed the work of the multi-national company and its Katy area facility. The company is a diversified industrial enterprise with over 6,000 employees worldwide and is a world leader in sensin...

Houston Methodist West Hospital celebrates 10 years

Friday, December 18, 2020

Bty; Claire Goodman - Houston Chronicle Ten years ago, Houston Methodist Hospital systems opened its Katy location. The facility had 100 beds and 336 employees, and opened with a promise to bring the best treatments in the medical field to Katy. Today, Houston Methodist Hospital West has 239 beds, 1,700 employees, and it continues to bring cutting-edge treatments to the area. “The growth of the hospital over the past ten years has been phenomenal,” said Houston Methodist Hospital West chief executive officer Wayne Voss. “We found that the community really wanted a hospital that could provide the type of comprehensive, advanced health car...

Katy ISD eyes May bond as district grows

Thursday, December 17, 2020

By: Laura Abei - Community Impact In response to the school district’s continued growth, Katy ISD discussed at its most recent board meeting the creation of a community bond advisory committee to review funding needs in consideration of a May 2021 bond referendum. The item was discussed shortly after the KISD board of trustees received the district’s annual demographic update from Populations and Survey Analysts, which delved into the district’s growth, despite the pandemic. In that presentation, PASA predicted the current KISD enrollment of 84,000 students would increase to more than 100,000 students by 2027. PASA predicted much of that growth woul...

Fort Bend County Small Business Emergency Grant Program: Addtional Funds Now Available

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

The Fort Bend County Commissioners Court has approved a small business emergency grant program to assist businesses impacted by Covid-19. Additional funds were approved December 8, 2020 to provide financial assistance to the small business community. These funds are committed from the federal CARES Act dollars allocated to Fort Bend County for Covid-19 relief efforts. For more details, click here.

Free Webinar: How to Become a Sustainable Supplier for Harris County

Friday, December 11, 2020

See how Harris County’s population has changed in the past 5 years

Thursday, December 10, 2020

By: Danica Lloyd - Community Impact From 2014-19, Harris County’s population grew by 8.8%—slightly more than the state’s overall 8.3% growth in population, according to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Dec. 10. The average Harris County resident is slightly younger and more educated than the average Texas resident with a median age of 33.5 and 31.5% of residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The state’s median age is 34.6, and 29.9% of residents have earned a bachelor’s degree of higher. Texas exceeded the county, however, in its increase in the median household income in the time frame o...

Kelsey-Seybold Business Health Connect Series Featuring Kenneth Janis, M.B.A., M.H.A.

Thursday, December 03, 2020

Katy-area business owners adapt to COVID-19

Wednesday, December 02, 2020

By: Nola Z. Valente - Community Impact Earlier this year, Meredith Lanning, owner of Pinot’s Palette in Katy, told Community Impact Newspaper she was taking measures to be extra sanitary and maintain social distancing rules in her classes at the beginning of quarantine; she even suspended in-studio classes for a while. Eight months and several regulations later, Lanning said it has been a challenging year. “The last eight months have been a roller coaster,” Lanning said. “I’m a small-business owner who is supposed to promote social gatherings to stay open in the middle of a pandemic. ... How do you do that?” While th...

Katy area health care providers share updates on care options, loan assistance discussed at November Katy Area EDC GA

Monday, November 30, 2020

Katy Area Economic Development Council members and community partners gathered virtually for the November Katy Area EDC General Assembly meeting. The meeting, held Tuesday, November 17, featured presentations from Houston Methodist West, Memorial Hermann Katy and Houston-Galveston Area Local Development Corporation. Jerry Ashworth of Memorial Hermann shared an update on the ongoing response of the hospital system to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ashworth serves as Senior Vice President & CEO of Memorial Hermann Katy and Memorial Hermann Cypress, and explained the hospital continues to put forth all resources to fight the pandemic. He noted case numbers have been slowly increasing, and th...

Fort Bend County Judge launches child care initiative to help families affected by COVID-19

Monday, November 23, 2020

By: Nola Z. Valente - Community Impact Fort Bend County Judge KP George launched an initiative with the YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and other private licensed child care facilities at a Nov. 18 press conference. This initiative will help families in the county who need child care services and virtual schooling while parents and caregivers return to work. “We are dealing with this pandemic in the most effective way,” George said. “Today is an exciting day. Child care need is an important one, and that is why we were able to put together a child care task force.” George thanked th...

Harris County Multimodal Thoroughfare Plan takes holistic approach to countywide connectivity

Monday, November 23, 2020

By: Hannah Zedaker - Community Impact Officials with the Harris County Engineering Department and EHRA, a Houston-based civil engineering firm, presented an update to the ongoing countywide Multimodal Thoroughfare Plan in a virtual webinar Nov. 17. The Harris County Multimodal Thoroughfare Plan is a comprehensive effort to assess current and future transportation needs in unincorporated Harris County, including roads for cars and trucks, mass transit, bike lanes and pedestrian routes. The plan, which is being spearheaded by Chris Browne, EHRA vice president and practice area leader of planning and visioning, is just one component of the Countywide Transportation Plan, which also includes the Equity in Transportatio...

No Label Brewing Co. celebrates 10-year anniversary on Saturday, Nov. 28

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Ten years ago, No Label Brewing Company became just the third brewery to open in the Houston area. On Saturday, Nov. 28, owners Garrett Hart and Tom Paynter celebrate that milestone with a special 10th anniversary event at their recently renovated and rebranded brewery at 5351 1st St., Katy, Texas. The all-day celebration will feature live music, axe throwing, Santa Claus, more than 24 beers on-tap and the release of three commemorative beers from new head brewer Ryan Traylor, who joined the brewery in August. Live music begins at noon with a two-hour performance by the Home Brew Brass Ensemble, followed by country and folk singer Jacob Asbill from 2-5 p.m. and Critter Taylor and Th...

Certainty and Predictability Are the Winning States’ Hallmarks

Friday, November 13, 2020

By: Mark Arend - Site Selection Magazine State business climates are exceedingly competitive in 2020, if Site Selection’s latest Business Climate Ranking is any indication. For the first time ever, two states claim the top spot — Georgia, which now has an eight-year run in first place, and North Carolina, which missed tying Georgia last year by just two points. What’s more, there are two additional sets of tied states in the Top 10, Texas and South Carolina in fourth place and Alabama and Arizona in seventh. Half the ranking is based on a survey of corporate executives and site selectors (aske...

Where FDI drives the bus

Friday, November 13, 2020

By: Adam Bruns - Site Selection Magazine Since the late 1980s, the global corporate facility projects database maintained and populated by Conway Data has tracked project locations and expansions by companies of every stripe in every U.S. state. But only within the past decade did we add to our columns of data a category tracking investing companies by country of ultimate beneficial owner. Now that a critical mass of projects has been tracked, this fall we analyzed the 1,686 U.S. projects we’ve tracked since 2015 that have had at least a share of involvement by a foreign-based firm (i.e. joint ventures count)...

Small Business Partners: Meet the Buyer Event

Monday, November 09, 2020

Register for IACCGH Power Dialogue "New Frontiers in Business Innovation" on November 17th at 9:00 am (CDT). with Former Congressman John Culberson:

Wednesday, November 04, 2020

IACCGH Power Dialogue with Former Congressman John Culberson: New Frontiers in Business Innovation on November 17th at 9:00 am (CDT) Former Houston Congressman John Culberson has been a champion of space travel as well as under sea exploration. He was recently awarded NASA's highest honor "The Distinguished Public Service Medal" and subsequently appointed to National Space Council Users' Advisory Group by President Trump. He has also been pivotal in funding undersea exploration including Captain Robert Ballard who discovered the Titanic on his famous ship 'The Nautilus'. Join Architect and IoT expert Quresh Tyebji of Shipcom Wireless in a fireside chat with Congressma...

Fort Bend County Child Care Assistance Program

Monday, November 02, 2020

Fort Bend County Commissioners Court has authorized $2 million in Cares Act Funds to support and help stabilize Licensed Child Care Providers, and to provide support for families who are facing financial instability in Fort Bend County due to COVID-19. Your business may be eligible to receive up to $8,000 to assist workforce families. Eligibility Criteria: Be a Texas Licensed Child Care Center/Program or Texas Licensed Child Care Home Provider Licensed facilities must be located in Fort Bend County Child Care Providers will have to demonstrate that their facility has been negatively impacted by COVID-19 Licensed Child Care Providers must agree to participate in the progra...

Clay Road Community Center slated to open in early 2021

Friday, October 30, 2020

By: Danica Lloyd - Community Impact Harris County Precinct 3 officials said they are halfway through the construction of a new community center at 18650 Clay Road, Houston. The new location—intended to replace Bear Creek Community center, which was damaged beyond repair by Hurricane Harvey—is slated to open during the first quarter of 2021, according to a press release. Clay Road Community Center features seven classrooms, three conference rooms, a 4,000-square-foot community hall and a lounge area to accommodate exercise classes, games, seminars, lectures and community meetings. "I am pleased we have been able to build the new Clay Road Community Center a...

Kelsey-Seybold talks new Katy area facility, Fort Bend County shares update on CARES Act at October GA

Monday, October 26, 2020

The Katy Area Economic Development Council hosted its monthly General Assembly meeting on Tuesday, October 20. The virtual meeting brought together members, guests and elected officials to hear presentations from Kelsey-Seybold and Fort Bend County. Kelsey-Seybold representatives Lisa Rowland and Shirley Israel shared information about the recently opened Kelsey-Seybold West Grand Parkway Clinic (2510 W. Grand Parkway). The clinic, which replaces a smaller facility in Cinco Ranch, opened in early summer and will provide enhanced healthcare services to the Katy area. Services offered at the cutting-edge facility range from cardiology and dermatology to pediatrics. The site also features ultrasound technology, ...

Feedback Wanted: Buffalo Bayou and Tributaries Resiliency Study

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Information by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Devastating flooding from Hurricane Harvey and several recent flood events in the Houston metropolitan area were a call to evaluate what could be done to further reduce flood risks to the communities along Buffalo Bayou and its tributaries, both upstream and downstream of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Addicks and Barker dams. The Corps, in coordination with the Harris County Flood Control District, began evaluating alternatives in 2018 with the goal of helping to reduce flooding under a range of flood events. This effort is the Buffalo Bayou & Tributaries Resiliency Study. To meet the study’...

Kelsey-Seybold announces new benefits plan geared to needs of small businesses

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

Health benefits with Kelsey-Seybold – designed for small businesses with 5-99 employees. The KelseyCare | Humana benefits plan offers the quality, flexibility, and cost savings Houston-area small business employers are looking for. KelseyCare | Humana offers a level-funded plan design that can be offered standalone or alongside other Humana plans. The KelseyCare | Humana plan will deliver significant savings based on KelseyCare’s coordinated, accountable care model. KelseyCare | Humana members can expect: Same-day and next-day access to primary care, and access to 450+ specialists. Access to hundreds of Kelsey-Seybold physicians at 24 state-of-the-art locations in the Greater Houston area. With no referral required to see a Kelsey-Seybold specialist. Personalized care coordination and secure information sharing for ...

The Fast 100 list by HBJ includes several area companies

Thursday, October 15, 2020

Recently, the Houston Business Journal released The Fast 100 list recognizing the fastest growing companies in the Houston region as ranked by two year revenue growth as of 2019. Several Katy Area EDC members and area companies made the list. Katy Area EDC would like to extend a special congratulations to the following companies for their inclusion on The Fast 100 list: Liberty Lift Solutions LLC. (#12) Encore Search Partners (#29) Velentium LLC (#30) Elevated Technologies (#43) Accurate Meter and Supply (#53) Uprite Services (#70) Alston Construction (#83) Salata Salad Kitchen (#96) Learn more about the The Fast 100 at bizjournals.com/houston/.

MD Anderson earns fifth Magnet designation for nursing excellence

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

MD Anderson News Release October 13, 2020 The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced achievement of its fifth consecutive Magnet designation, the highest distinction for nursing excellence granted by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program. MD Anderson received a unanimous vote from the appraisal team and joins an elite group of institutions, with only about 20 hospitals nationwide being recognized five times during the program’s 26-year history. “Magnet recognition is truly the gold standard in nursing, and we are honored to have maintained this designation since first receiving it in 2001,” said Carol Porter, D.N.P., RN, FAAN, senior vice presiden...

TEDC Announces Board Chair, New Board Members and Election of Board Treasurer

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Release provided by TEDC 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) at its Board Meeting on October 9th, 2020, recognized Greg Sims, President, Greenville Economic Development Corporation, as the 2021 Chair of the Board of Directors. Greg will serve as board chair effective October 9, 2020, through October 15, 2021. He has been a member of the TEDC’s Executive Committee since 2017. The TEDC’s Nominating Committee put forth the six individuals for election to the TEDC’s board of directors. The TEDC’s board officially elected these new board members fo...

SBA Webinar Series for the week of October 12

Monday, October 12, 2020

The following is a link to this week's SBA webinar schedule: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSBA/bulletins/2a50e1d Topics include: COVID-19 Regional Small Business Relief & Recovery Loan Program Webinar Common Issues Employers and Workers Face When Responding to COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Overview PPP Loan Forgiveness Overview and Q&A SBA Surety Bonding or Small Businesses and more

Katy Sip N Stroll profits to benefit The Ballard House this year

Friday, October 09, 2020

By: Nola Valente - Community Impact The biannual Katy Sip N Stroll will return this fall for an in-person fundraiser event. Attendance will be capped at 35%, and there will be safety protocols in place as attendees enjoy a selection of wines, according to a press release. "Sip N Stroll was created to raise funds for The Ballard House, and funding is needed especially now," said Constance McDerby, founder and co-producer of Sip N Stroll. "We had to find a safe way to move forward to help generate the funding they depend on from Sip N Stroll." Katy Sip N Stroll will be a...

Kelsey-Seybold shares healthy workplace insights webinar on Oct. 6

Monday, October 05, 2020

Harris County Precinct 2: Virtual Job Fair

Thursday, October 01, 2020

Fort Bend County Vote 2020 Webinar

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Fort Bend County Small Business Funding Sources Free Webinar

Monday, September 28, 2020

Katy Safety Fest goes virtual

Friday, September 25, 2020

By: Claire Goodman - Houston Chronicle Each year, Harris County Emergency Services District 48 hosts Safety Fest, a fun, free and educational event geared towards educating the community on issues like workplace safety, pet safety, drowning prevention and safety in and around the home. This year’s Safety Fest will be held virtually from Oct. 19 through Oct. 24 in order to accommodate social-distancing protocols while still bringing vital information to the public. The event is a joint effort between HCESD 48, local law enforcement agencies, fire departments, area nonprofits and other safety-oriented organizations. The event will also offer in-person promotions like a fl...

Katy Area EDC September GA focuses on diversity, upcoming Fort Bend County bond proposals

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

September 22, 2020 - On Tuesday, September 15, Katy Area Economic Development Council hosted its monthly General Assembly meeting. The event, which took place virtually, was headlined by presentations from Katy Area EDC Diversity Committee Chair Karla Hernandez DeCuir, Fort Bend County Commissioner Andy Meyers and Capital Real Estate. Decuir, Senior Director of Enrollment Management & External Affairs at UHV Katy, leads the Katy Area EDC Diversity Committee. During her presentation, she noted the importance of diversity and the role which Katy Area EDC can play in promoting opportunities to the Katy area business community. She further explained a primary objective o...

Fort Bend County Virtual Job Fair

Monday, September 21, 2020

Texas Adds 106,800 Nonfarm Positions Over the Month

Monday, September 21, 2020

Media contact: James Bernsen Phone: 512-497-6725 AUSTIN - In August, Texas saw a decrease in the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate to 6.8 percent. This is the fourth consecutive monthly decrease and the lowest rate since March 2020 when the Texas economy was initially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Texas is below the national seasonally adjusted rate of 8.4 percent. “The Texas unemployment rate continues to move in a positive direction as job seekers and employers adjust to current challenges,” said TWC Chairman Bryan Daniel. “TWC will continue our efforts to implement strategies designed to help strengthen the Texas economy.” In August, the Professiona...

University of Houston-Victoria sees growth in enrollment even amid pandemic

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

By: Tracey Maness - Houston Chronicle Higher education institutions across the nation have seen a decrease in enrollment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the University of Houston-Victoria has experienced a more than 9 percent growth in its preliminary enrollment. On Wednesday, Sept. 9, the university reported its preliminary enrollment as approximately 4,970 students, which is a 9.2 percent growth over fall 2019’s enrollment, according a news release. The University of Houston-Victoria at Katy reported that it had approximately 2,340 graduate and undergraduate students enrolled from Harris and Fort Bend Counties. “UHV’s increase in enrollment is an encouraging sign for the university,” UH...

Katy ISD named in 'Forbes Magazine' list of America’s Best Employers by State

Monday, September 14, 2020

By: Nola Valente - Community Impact Katy ISD is one of two Houston-area public school districts to be named as one of the country’s best in-state employers, according to Forbes Magazine’s second annual list of America’s Best Employers by State. "The foundation of our District’s success is the talent, dedication and hard work of our teachers, staff and school community—all of whom contribute to supporting and educating our nearly 84,000 students, every day of the school year,” KISD Superintendent Ken Gregorski said. “As superintendent of this great school district I am honored to be working alongside such an outstanding team." The rankings were compile...

U.S. & Texas Lead the Way in 2020 Global Groundwork Index Rankings

Wednesday, September 09, 2020

By: Adam Bruns - Site Selection Magazine Could infrastructure investment swing the heavy lumber in a comeback from the COVID-19 deficit? If so, there are a few places already poised to leverage past momentum to their competitive advantage. The third annual Global Groundwork Index rankings — a result of Site Selection’s exclusive collaboration with infrastructure advisory and events firm CG/LA in Washington, D.C. — offer a snapshot of which territories are seeing concurrent strong investment trends in infrastructure projects and corporate end-user facility projects. Cross-pollinating raw project data from Site Selection’s Conway Projects Database (for corporate projects) and CG/LA’s similar infrastructure database...

Hurricane Laura Emergency Supplies Drive

Wednesday, September 02, 2020

Sunday, August 30, 2020 - Monday, September 14, 2020 Address: The Fellowship, 22765 Westheimer Parkway, Katy, TX US 77450 Contact: Glenn Lerich - glenn@thefellowship.org It is our turn to step up for our neighbors to the east of us. Louisiana helped us during Harvey ... now we can help them with Laura. The Fellowship is a collection point for emergency supplies needed NOW. We are partnering with Katy Responds to get donated supplies. The list is provided below. We have adopted the Hackberry community, which was the ground zero landfall point for the storm and we will be sending teams when all is clea...

Workplace Preparation Webinar and Q&A Session Hosted by Houston Methodist

Tuesday, September 01, 2020

Workplace Preparation Webinar and Q&A Session Thursday, Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. We have received many questions from employers about best practices for return-to-work, and testing in particular. Join Dr. Victor Fainstein and Brett Brosseau in an open question and answer session. We'll start by answering those questions that we see the most frequently, and will allow ample time for live questions of your own. Please send your questions in advance to ehsrsvp@houstonmethodist.org so that they can be addressed during this webinar. Register Here

Norris Centers opens its newest facility in Katy area

Monday, August 31, 2020

By: Roy Kent - Houston Chronicle Norris Centers recently announced the opening of its news venue in the Houston market, The ARK in Katy. The ARK is a standalone building is located at 21402 Merchants Way in Katy, north of I-10 and east of Mason Road. The facility is available for meetings, corporate usage and social gatherings. It features a large main ballroom with adjacent patio as well as two meeting rooms. This is the sixth facility for Norris Centers, which has been operating conference centers and social venues for more than 30 years in Texas. Related: 2020 census non-response follow up begins i...

New coworking location to open in Katy in 2021

Monday, August 24, 2020

By: Nola Z. Valente Katy's Boardwalk District will become home to a second Ranch Office at Katy location next year. The Ranch Office at Katy will be located at the intersection of Kingsland Boulevard and the AMC Drive entrance to Katy Mills mall, according to an Aug. 17 NewQuest Properties press release. "We feel we've picked a spot that is geographically favorable to the Katy community and located in a booming area with exciting development in the works," Ranch Office founder Michael Haapanniemi said. The grand opening is anticipated to take place by the first quarter of 2021. The Ranch Office at Katy is th...

Christ Clinic’s premiere fundraiser Breakfast for a Blessing goes virtual celebrating 20 years of community blessings

Friday, August 21, 2020

Christ Clinic's Board of Directors is excited to announce its 9th Annual Breakfast for a Blessing - Celebrating 20 years of community blessings. This year’s event, presented by title sponsor Houston Methodist Hospital and hosted by Don McCoy, President of the Katy/Fulshear Chamber will take place on Saturday, October 10, 2020 at 8:00 am and will be presented virtually via Christ Clinic's YouTube channel. Breakfast for a Blessing is Christ Clinic’s premiere fundraising event, raising close to $100,000 each year. This year's speaker will be Thomas Goetz, Chief of Research at GoodRx. Thomas is an expert in applying data and desig...

Avison Young leases 16,603 NRSF at 24285 Katy Freeway

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Avison Young today announced the successful lease negotiation of 16,603 NRSF Class A office space in the newly developed Katy Ranch Office Phase 2, located at 24285 Katy Freeway, in Katy, TX to Hoover Material Handling Group, Inc (‘Hoover Ferguson’). Principals Sam Hansen and Doug Pack represented the landlord, Katy Ranch Offices, LP and Management, Freeway Properties on this transaction. “Sam and the Avison Young team have been a pleasure to work with throughout the process of identifying our new office space,” said Matt Schmidt, Chief Human Resources Officer, Hoover Ferguson. “In these unprecedented times, they have provided great flexibility an...

City of Houston Small Business Economic Relief Program (SBERP)

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

The Small Business Economic Relief Program (SBERP) provides grants for small businesses in Houston that are in most financial need and exhibit a reasonable likelihood of surviving the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Local chambers of commerce are also eligible to apply for the SBERP.

Houston MBDA: Small Business Partners Event

Monday, August 17, 2020

Fort Bend County to Host Virtual Job Fair

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

American Furniture Warehouse opens in Katy

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

By: Nola Valente - Community Impact American Furniture Warehouse opened Aug. 1 at 500 Pin Oak Road, Katy. The business is also expected to bring about 400 jobs to the Katy area and bring in additional sales tax revenue for the the of Katy, Council Member Janet Corte said. "American Furniture Warehouse is going to be a huge boost to our economy," Corte said. "They will be great community partners. ... AFW already partnered with a buyers' group this year to purchase the grand champion steer at the KISD FFA Livestock Auction." Since 1975, American Furniture Warehouse has provided traditional, contemporary and moder...

Magazine poll names UHV best college in Katy for second year in row

Thursday, August 06, 2020

Release by UHV The readers of Living Magazine have once again named the University of Houston-Victoria as Best College/University in Katy/Fulshear for the second year in a row. Readers in the Katy and Fulshear area nominated UHV this summer for the magazine’s annual “Best of” Readers’ Choice awards. The university will be featured on a list of other winners in the August issue of Living Magazine. Readers cast votes by writing in UHV on the online ballots this past spring. “It is an honor to once again receive this recognition from the Katy and Fulshear communities,” UHV President Bob Glenn said. “UHV i...

Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital earns Level 3 trauma designation

Monday, August 03, 2020

Media Contact: Jade Waddy (o) 713-242-4789// (713) 984-6804 jade.waddy@memorialhermann.org HOUSTON (Aug. 3, 2020) – Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital has been designated as a Level 3 Trauma Center by the Texas Department of State Health Services after consistently demonstrating its ability to provide advanced trauma life support, evaluation, stabilization and diagnostic services. This designation advanced Memorial Hermann Katy from a Level 4 to a Level 3 Trauma Center. “This designation is an example of how Memorial Hermann Katy takes the lead in serving our community and beyond,” said Heath Rushing, Sr. Vice President and CEO of Memorial Hermann Katy. “Trauma is recognized as a leading caus...

Katy city council approves major flood mitigation project

Friday, July 31, 2020

By: Claire Goodman - Houston Chronicle Residents of Katy are one step closer to better flood mitigation after Monday’s city council meeting. At the July 27 meeting, city council unanimously voted to award a $3,777,954 contract to Fused Industries, LLC for the improvement to the drainage channel on Patna Drive in the Riceland Terrace subdivision. The Patna Drive drainage improvement project will address better rainwater conveyance from Morton Road through Caloro Street. Notes from a meeting with Ralph Saldana and Stephen Wilcox with Costello Engineering, the firm responsible for the project surveying, state that the project will convert the residential road to ...

TxDOT proposes plans to expand Hwy. 90 lanes between Katy, Brookshire

Thursday, July 30, 2020

By: Jen Para - Community Impact Hwy. 90, which runs parallel to I-10, may receive road improvements in the future. The Texas Department of Transportation published a prerecorded virtual public meeting July 28 regarding proposed changes—intended to improve mobility and safety—to 10 miles of the roadway between FM 1463 near Brookshire and I-10 in Katy. If the $113 million in federal funds are secured, construction would start in 2025, according to the presentation. And estimated completion date was not provided. The existing Hwy. 90, excluding a section within the city of Brookshire, is a two-lane undivided roadway for traffic in both directions with n...

BUSINESS FACILITIES' 2020 STATE RANKINGS REPORT: TEXAS TOPS IN BUSINESS CLIMATE. VIRGINIA WEARS CYBER CROWN

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

TINTON FALLS, NJ - July 29 –Texas is the state with the Best Business Climate and Virginia tops the chart of Cybersecurity Leaders in Business Facilities' 16th Annual Rankings Report, released this week. Texas, BF’s 2019 State of the Year, adds to its unmatched portfolio of top awards and rankings from the magazine, including a record four SOTY awards. “Texas has established its hegemony in an impressively diverse array of growth sectors. A rapidly expanding skilled workforce, solid infrastructure, readily available renewable energy and a vibrant innovation ecosystem are just a partial list of the must-haves TX puts on the table fo...

REDnews event to feature Katy Area EDC President/CEO Lance LaCour

Sunday, July 26, 2020

Fort Bend Entrepreneur Initiative launches to provide free consulting services to small businesses

Friday, July 24, 2020

BY: Jen Para - Community Impact Fort Bend County reinforced its commitment to helping small businesses recover from the coronavirus pandemic at a July 23 press conference. In addition to offering a COVID-19 small business assistance grant program, the county launched the Fort Bend Entrepreneur Initiative with consultants Carter & Carter to provide free one-on-one business coaching to small businesses, according to the conference. “We're looking at small businesses, like nail salons, beauticians, barbershops [and] small restaurants,” said Sterling Carter, co-owner of Carter & Carter. “We're wanting to mirror the funds that they're receiving with the education that they need so they ca...

July 2020 Economic Update from GHP

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

By: AJ Mistretta - Greater Houston Partnership The U.S. and Houston area economies are showing tepid signs of recovery on some fronts while other indicators continue to struggle as COVID-19 cases rise. Partnership Senior Vice President of Research Patrick Jankowski provided insight in areas such as jobs, housing and when growth might return in this latest economic update on July 21. Here are a few takeaways: Nationwide, nearly 21 million jobs were lost in March and April. So far, the U.S. has recovered close to 7 million of those jobs, leaving a deficit of about 15 million. From January 2014 to the beginning of this year, the natio...

June Texas Unemployment Rate Falls to 8.6 Percent

Sunday, July 19, 2020

July 17, 2020 Media contact: Cisco Gamez Phone: 512-463-8556 Texas Adds 225,200 Non-Farm Positions over the Month AUSTIN - The Texas economy added 243,900 private sector positions over the past month. In June, Texas saw a decrease in the state unemployment rate to 8.6 percent. This is the second consecutive monthly decrease and the lowest rate since March 2020 when the Texas economy was initially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Texas is below the national rate of 11.1 percent. “June’s labor market numbers demonstrate we are moving in the right direction,” said Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Chairman Bryan Daniel. “As the COVID-19 Pandemic continues t...

TxDOT: Virtual Hearing on US 90 project

Friday, July 17, 2020

Notice by TxDOT Given the unique circumstance of the COVID-19 outbreak, along with our commitment to protecting public health during this national emergency, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Houston District is conducting this virtual public meeting to avoid in-person contact. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is proposing to widen United States Highway (US) 90 from Interstate Highway 10 (I-10) to Farm-to-Market (FM) 1463 in Waller, Fort Bend and Harris counties, Texas. The virtual public meeting will be available on the TxDOT website beginning Tuesday, July 28, 2020, at 5:30 P.M. through 11:59 P.M. on Wednesday, August 12, 2020. T...

July 2020 Port Report

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

PORT REPORT Stay in the loop on all the latest insights, news and happenings at the port. VOLUME 20, ISSUE 4 Port Houston Receives Nearly $80 Million INFRA Grant This June Port Houston was awarded $79,472,000 from the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program toward our efforts to restore and improve wharf and yard space at our Barbours Cut Container Terminal. This was the full amount requested for Port Houston's total $198 million project, and possibly the largest amount ever awarded by INFRA to a port. Port Houston Launches Community Grants Program We’re committed to investing in our local community and now we’ve established a ne...

The Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities of Mid-Year 2020

Monday, July 13, 2020

July 9, 2020 By Karl Pischke, Vice President , Gregg Logan, Managing Director Total new home sales among those communities tracked in both our 2019 mid-year survey and 2020 mid-year survey are up over 16%, despite the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 50 Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities (MPCs) in the country sold almost 7% more homes than the communities that made up last year’s Top 50 list (note that those communities that comprise the Top 50 changes from year to year). The Villages retiree-focused community once again claims the top spot in RCLCO’s ranking, along with two other Florida communities tha...

A sneak peek inside American Furniture Warehouse: furniture retailer focuses on community integration, waste reduction

Thursday, July 09, 2020

By: Claire Goodman - Houston Chronicle American Furniture Warehouse, a furniture store featuring traditional, contemporary and modern design, will be opening its doors in August. The store, located at 500 Pin Oak Drive directly off I-10, features a 150,000-square-foot showroom and a 350,000-square-foot warehouse. The furniture store will be bringing new jobs to the area, and city council members also believe its presence will draw in more businesses to the area, which will in turn generate important tax revenue. American Furniture Warehouse also has a strong commitment to waste reduction and recycling. The store’s primary goal is to provide customers with furniture tha...

July 9 Update: Harris County Announces $30 Million Grant Program to Assist Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

Thursday, July 09, 2020

July 9 Update FAQ Sheet Program Overview (English) Program Overview (Spanish) Release provided by Harris County June 30, 2020 Harris County, Texas - June 30, 2020, County Judge Lina Hidalgo and each of the Harris County commissioners voted unanimously to approve the Small Business Recovery Fund (SBRF) program, a $30,000,000 grant program established to assist struggling small businesses who have been unable to obtain financial assistance from other COVID-19 relief programs. The program will provide eligible businesses a grant of up to $25,000 to help cover payroll costs, rent, accounts payable and other operating expenses. The SBRF targets businesses with 30 or fewer employees and i...

Crews work on Cane Island Parkway bridge for widening project

Monday, July 06, 2020

By: Jen Para - Community Impact Construction is ongoing for a bridge substructure as part of a project to widen Cane Island Parkway from a two-lane road to a four-lane road with a median and drainage improvements between I-10 and FM 1463, county assistant engineer Ike Akinwande said in a June 23 email. Crews completed working on the bridge’s abutment and retaining wall foundations and are now working on the on the intermediate bents, which vertically support the bridge, and retaining walls of the bridge substructure. Timeline: March 2020-first quarter 2021 Cost: $6.4 million Funding source: Fort Bend County Full Story

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR EXPANDED Fulshear COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program

Thursday, July 02, 2020

June 30, 2020: The City of Fulshear has expanded its small business grant program for qualifying Fulshear businesses to include businesses who do not remit sales taxes to the City in addition to those that do. The program will distribute $161,250 in remaining funds available to directly support our City of Fulshear businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19. This program is being administered by the City and funded through the City’s two Economic Development Sales Tax Corporations. This second round of applications is open to all businesses, whether or not they remit sales taxes for the City of Fulshear. Businesses who received a grant unde...

Fort Bend County grant program expanded

Wednesday, July 01, 2020

Fort Bend County, TX- The Fort Bend County Commissioners Court expanded the county’s Small Business Emergency Grant Program (SBEGP) to address the financial hardships small businesses have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The $22 million dollars allocated to the program initially has been expanded to total $38 million in available grant money. The funds allocated come from the federal CARES ACT. In addition to the increased funding, Commissioner’s Court expanded eligibility of the program to businesses with revenues from $25,000 to $99,999 and $2,000,001 to $5,000,000 (which were previously excluded from the program) and replaced the single $10,000 grant pe...

Katy Returns to Work: July 7 Free Webinar

Wednesday, July 01, 2020

Hear from Houston District Director of the SBA, Tim Jeffcoat as he discusses the rules that your business must follow in regards to the Paycheck Protection Program so your company doesn't have to pay your loan back.

Free Webinars and Training from University of Houston

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

The University of Houston Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a part of the UH Bauer College of Business, is offering a series of on-demand webinars to grow and manage your business. These webinars—more than 150—are taught by industry professionals and cover such topics as Marketing, Technology, Money and Finance. There also is a section of topics delivered in Spanish. Find more information or register on their website. Additionally, Steven Lawrence, executive director of the SBDC, invites your thoughts on additional business trainings his team can create as resources. *** To help reduce community spread of COVID-19, the University of Houston College o...

How effective is a mask?

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

How effective is a mask?

Houston MBDA Business Center Events

Friday, June 26, 2020

Fort Bend Small Business Grant Program Expanded

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Release by Fort Bend EDC The Fort Bend County Small Business Emergency Grant Program was revised this week in commissioners court, expanding the size of eligible businesses and opening up the process to businesses that HAVE received assistance from other sources, such as the PPP or EIDL programs. The revisions are an effort to assist as many businesses as possible. The court also approved supplementing the program with additional funds, bringing the total amount of available funds in the program to $38 million. There is no minimum on annual revenue requirements and the program was expanded to includes businesses with up t...

Fort Bend County COVID-19 small-business grant program funds increase

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

By: Jen Para - Community Impact More businesses in Fort Bend County will be able to receive grant funding to help them cover costs related to the coronavirus pandemic. The Commissioners Court approved in a 4-0 vote an amendment to the Fort Bend County COVID-19 Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant Program to expand the program, which launched June 15. Precinct 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage was absent from the meeting, Under the amendment, the total amount of funds available for small-business grants has increased from $22 million to $38 million, according to the motion read by Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers. An additional $...

Texas Workforce Commission Expands Training Grants

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

June 23, 2020 Media Contact: Cisco Gamez Phone: 512-463-8556 AUSTIN – Today, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) took additional action to promote economic recovery and support the health of all Texans by expanding the eligibility for Skills Development Funds training grants. The Texas Workforce Commission took action to expand the eligibility for Skills Development Fund COVID-19 training to include publicly funded hospitals, small business owners and sole proprietors operating in demand sections. To better address workforce needs, the commission adjusted the prevailing wage threshold to allow Skills Development Fund participants who are training for new jobs to meet the 10 percentile wage level for prevailin...

TWC expands program to ensure all UI claimants have access to skills enhancement services

Monday, June 22, 2020

AUSTIN – The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) has allocated funds to offer rapid skills enhancement opportunities to eligible workers in Texas. This new program includes all individuals receiving Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits during COVID-19 and will provide access to virtual skills enhancement opportunities. Texas has a historic number of UI beneficiaries as a result of COVID-19, which has resulted in an increased need for a range of services to support Texas businesses and workers, including the need to enhance the skills of unemployed Texans so they can prepare to reconnect to the workforce in valuable opportunities made available by Texas employers. Th...

SBA and Treasury Announce New EZ and Revised Full Forgiveness Applications for the Paycheck Protection Program

Thursday, June 18, 2020

WASHINGTON—Today, the U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, posted a revised, borrower-friendly Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness application implementing the PPP Flexibility Act of 2020, signed into law by President Trump on June 5, 2020. In addition to revising the full forgiveness application, SBA also published a new EZ version of the forgiveness application that applies to borrowers that: Are self-employed and have no employees; OR Did not reduce the salaries or wages of their employees by more than 25%, and did not reduce the number or hours of their employees; OR Experienced reductions in busines...

Joint Statement by Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza Regarding Enactment of the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act

Thursday, June 11, 2020

WASHINGTON—U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin and Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza issued the following statement today following the enactment of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Flexibility Act: “We want to thank President Trump for his leadership and commend Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, and Leader McCarthy for working on a bipartisan basis to pass this legislation for small businesses participating in the Paycheck Protection Program. “We also want to express our gratitude to Chairman Rubio, Ranking Member Cardin, Senator Collins, Congressman Roy, Congressman Phillips, and other members of Congress who have helped to create and guide our implementatio...

Texas GLO Procurement Q&A Sessions

Thursday, June 11, 2020

The Texas General Land Office Community Development and Revitalization division (GLO-CDR) will be conducting a series of Question and Answer Sessions focused on federal procurement requirements. The goal of these sessions is to provide practical knowledge on federal procurements associated with CDBG funds. The Procurement Q&A session will begin on Monday, June 15, 2020, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM, continuing weekly through June 29, 2020. Participants are encouraged to submit questions before the Q&A session to cdr@recovery.texas.gov Questions specific to mitigation should be submitted to cdr.mitigation@recovery.texas.gov. Considering the limitations on time, questions that cannot be addressed during the session will be subsequently answere...

Fort Bend County Creates $22 Million Small Business Emergency Grant Program

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Fort Bend County, TX- County Judge KP George and the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court today created a Small Business Emergency Grant Program to address the financial hardships our small businesses have experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The $22 million dollars allocated to the program comes from the federal CARES ACT. As Fort Bend County gets back to work, County Judge KP George emphasized this initiative targets the small business sector specifically as they often have unique challenges. “Our business community will bounce back, but assistance is needed to get the commercial engine roaring once again. The grant program i...

Jax Grill to open in Katy on Monday, June 8

Monday, June 08, 2020

Gr8 Plate Hospitality will open a new Jax Grill in Katy (9910 Gaston Rd., Suite 200) on Monday, June 8, at Stableside at Falcon Landing in Cinco Ranch. This is the third Jax Grill location in Greater Houston, and the first new location in more than 25 years. The fast-casual counter-service restaurant was established in 1993 in Bellaire and opened a second store on Shepherd Drive in 1994. Gr8 Plate Hospitality owner Paul Miller, who bought Jax Grill in 2015, is a Katy resident. Miller and Gr8 Plate also are gearing up to open a seventh The Union Kitchen at Stableside a...

TxDOT: FM 1093 widening project in Fulshear ‘basically done’

Monday, June 01, 2020

By: Jen Para - Community Impact Only a few minor activities remain for the final phase of widening FM 1093 between an upcoming intersection with the Texas Heritage Parkway and James Lane, said Trent Kubena, a general supervisor with the Texas Department of Transportation. “The project is basically done,” he said, stating that some striping, U-turns, shaping of medians and clean-up processes remain. Additionally, the second of two new permanent traffic signals will be activated in the next one to two weeks, he said. The signal at FM 1093 and Bois D’Arc Lane was activated about two weeks ago, but the new signa...

Community Blood Drive - MD Anderson West Houston

Friday, May 29, 2020

COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE MD ANDERSON WEST HOUSTON 13900 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77079 TUESDAY, JUNE 2 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Mobile Collection Bus On-site Due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, the MD Anderson Blood Bank is in need of blood for our patients. We need your help to keep our shelves full. And remember, friends and family are always welcome Please click on this link to schedule your donation: https://tinyurl.com/West-Houston-6-2-2020 All blood donations at MD Anderson Blood Donor Center locations are being held by appointment only to help control donor flow and manage the number of individuals in one room. If you can’t donate, you can hel...

HCC launches new initiative showcasing in-demand occupations and accelerated certificate programs

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Houston Community College (HCC) has launched a new initiative, JobsNowHouston.org, showcasing in-demand occupations and the accelerated certificate programs offered by HCC needed to obtain these jobs. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced more than 1.5 million Texans to file for unemployment. However, across the state, nearly 481,000 job openings have been posted in the last several months. The focus of this initiative is to let Houstonians know that there are jobs available right now, and encourage them to come train at HCC for in-demand industries, such as healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, information technology, and construction. HCC has 270 certifications and 100 instructional programs i...

Governor Abbott Announces Phase Two To Open Texas

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

May 18, 2020 | Austin, Texas | Press Release Governor Greg Abbott today announced the second phase of the State of Texas' ongoing plan to safely and strategically open Texas while minimizing the spread of COVID-19. Under Phase II, restaurants may increase their occupancy to 50% and additional services and activities that remained closed under Phase I may open with restricted occupancy levels and minimum standard health protocols laid out by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Additionally, the Governor announced that public schools in Texas have the option to provide in-person summer school so long as they follow socia...

Community leaders launch Katy Returns to Work Task Force

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

By: Jen Para - Community Impact To help local businesses navigate the complexities of reopening their stores, offices, plants and clinics during the coronavirus pandemic, several Katy-area community leaders have started a new program. The Katy Returns to Work Task Force launched May 8, according to a press release from the Katy Area Chamber of Commerce. Jeanette Winters of Parrish Partners Leadership is spearheading the program as its chair and facilitator. The task force will support local businesses with resources to help them follow the reopening guidelines directed by local, state and federal COVID-19 regulations to help prevent a second wave of th...

Texas makes room for another Cup in its cabinet

Monday, May 11, 2020

By: Mark Arend - SIte Selection Magazine Texas has lots of economic development bragging rights, not the least of which is its 8th consecutive Site Selection Governor’s Cup for total capital investment projects — it was awarded to Governor Greg Abbott in March. Now it’s claimed another: the 2020 Prosperity Cup, which recognizes the successful business recruitment and retention efforts of state-level economic development efforts. The prize is based on a 10-point index of competitiveness criteria, most of which are based on project data resident in Site Selection’s Conway Projects Database (see Prosperity Points sidebar on facing page). In addition to Sit...

Governor Abbott, OneStar Foundation Announce Texas COVID Relief Fund

Thursday, May 07, 2020

Governor Greg Abbott and the OneStar Foundation yesterday announced the Texas COVID Relief Fund, which will provide critical funding and resources to organizations across the state working on the ground to support the economic recovery of local communities. Funds raised will be distributed through grants focused on the areas of community and economic development, healthcare, and education. Funds will also be used to support local priorities and organizations serving the unmet needs of vulnerable populations and underserved communities. "There is nothing more powerful than Texans helping Texans, and the Texas COVID Relief Fund is another way we can come together t...

Katy Area EDC celebrates National Economic Development Week

Wednesday, May 06, 2020

Katy Area Economic Development Council is marking National Economic Development Week from May 4-9, 2020 to celebrate the contributions of positive economic development and explain the role of the profession in our local community, including stewardship of: Policies that government undertakes to meet broad economic objectives including inflation control, high employment, and sustainable growth. Policies and programs to provide services such as building highways, managing parks, and providing medical access to the disadvantaged. Policies and programs explicitly directed at improving the business climate through specific efforts, business finance, marketing, neighborhood development, business retention and expansion, technology transfer, real estate development and others. Now i...

Port Houston to hold Virtual Public Hearings

Friday, May 01, 2020

Port Houston has commissioned a disparity study to assess equal opportunity and fairness in its procurement and contracting process.In the interest of preserving public health amidst COVID-19 concerns, Griffin & Strong, P.C., a law and public policy consulting firm, will conduct two virtual public hearings in webinar format on behalf of Port Houston. We encourage your participation and look forward to your feedback on how Port Houston can promote diverse representation in public contracting. Dates: Tuesday, May 12, 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. and Wednesday, May 13, 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Click here to register on Eventbrite OR type https://bit.ly/3cZSxLs into your search bar

Katy Area EDC Launches Data Tool to Provide Free Updates About Open Businesses Amid COVID-19

Thursday, April 30, 2020

The Katy Area Economic Development Council has launched ZoomBusiness, an online tool that enables local businesses across the region to communicate with customers for free in real time. ZoomBusiness, created by GIS Planning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, is an interactive, mobile-responsive mapping directory for communities that ensures customers can find open restaurants, stores and services in their region at no charge. Businesses can list themselves for free on the Katy Area EDC ZoomBusiness site to help residents find the businesses and services they need. The businesses can provide customized details including websites, modified hours, delivery or curbside pickup options, promotion...

ML Deer hosting Katy area Blood Drive on May 2

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Katy Area EDC member ML Deer will be hosting a Blood Drive in support of the Katy area community at Embassy Suites Katy on Saturday, May 2. The drive is taking place in partnership with the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, Embassy Suites and on our organization. Below you will find information about the Blood Drive. The drive will take place by appointment only. What: Blood Drive hosted by Katy Area EDC member ML Deer When: Saturday, May 2 by appointment only Where: Embassy Suites Katy (16435 Katy Fwy Houston, TX 77094) Make an Appointment Here

BP supercomputer to aid global healthcare researchers in race to halt COVID-19

Thursday, April 23, 2020

HOUSTON – BP is joining forces with the U.S. government, leading universities and the world’s largest technology companies by providing access to its supercomputer to help researchers halt the spread of COVID-19. BP will donate its significant supercomputing capability to the public-private consortium formed in March 2020 by the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, the U.S. Department of Energy and IBM. The group, known as the COVID-19 High Performance Computing Consortium, will pool resources and expertise from Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, BP and others. They aim to provide COVID-19 researchers worldwide with access t...

The Changing Value of Economic Development: What a Difference a Virus and 60 Days Can Make

Thursday, April 23, 2020

By: Strategic Development Group Just 60 days ago, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had reached an all-time high, capping off the longest economic recovery in history: 127 months! At the apex of this economic growth, the nation had reached a point of near full employment. Economic developers and their mission to create sustainable jobs and capital investment were increasingly under fire from elements of the media, political factions and existing companies competing for employees. The question of why spend time and money recruiting new businesses when we are struggling to find qualified workers became an endless refrain for many economic developers across th...

Statement from Katy Area EDC regarding establishment of Strike Force to Open Texas

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

For Immediate Release: Katy Area Economic Development Council Lance LaCour 281-396-2200 lancelacour@katyedc.org April 21, 2020 - On Friday, April 17 Governor Greg Abbott announced the Strike Force to Open Texas. According to the Office of the Governor, the Governor’s Strike Force to Open Texas will safely and strategically restart and revitalize all aspects of the Lone Star State - work, school, entertainment, and culture. You can learn more about the plan and its parameters here: https://gov.texas.gov/organization/opentexas Below, please find a statement from Katy Area EDC regarding the Strike Force to Open Texas. Governor Greg Abbott recently announced a plan to begin reopening our state. The working group...

FORT BEND COUNTY EXPANDS COVID-19 TESTING SITE TO ALL RESIDENTS

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Fort Bend County, TX – County Judge KP George announced publicly on Tuesday that the Fort Bend County testing site for COVID-19 is now open to all residents -- whether or not they are experiencing symptoms from the novel coronavirus. The Judge announced the expansion in the open session of the Commissioner’s Court. “I am pleased that we have found the resources to open our county testing side to everyone who wants to be tested, at no cost to them,” Judge KP George said shortly after the Commissioners Court meeting. “I want to thank all the hard working Fort Bend Count...

Texas Heritage Parkway to break ground May 2020, engineer says

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

By: Jen Para - Community Impact After almost a year of delays, crews are expected to break ground on the Texas Heritage Parkway in May. That is according to Gary Gehbauer, an engineer with BGE Inc., who is involved with the project. Once construction begins, Texas Heritage Parkway is expected to take about 13-16 months to complete. The design plans for the Texas Heritage Parkway involve building a 6.4-mile, 200-foot-wide thoroughfare with two lanes in either direction and a median. Additionally, this new north-south road will have a total of 10 roundabouts from I-10 at Pederson Road to McKinnon Road just south of F...

Katy Igloo factory ramps up efforts to send coolers to healthcare workers, pledges profits to CDC

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

By: Rebecca Hennes - Houston Chronicle Igloo Coolers is ramping up efforts at its Katy factory to help send water jugs and Playmate coolers to healthcare workers and first responders at area hospitals and COVID-19 testing sites. The company has enforced "strict new health and safety protocols" to ensure fast delivery of items to healthcare workers, according to a recent Facebook post. In addition to providing supplies for hospitals and testing sites, the company has pledged to donate all online proceeds from Playmate coolers to the CDC Foundation Coronavirus Response Fund, according to a news release. “As a proud American manufacturer, we wan...

Katy-based Igloo, Guy Fieri team up to help restaurant workers affected by COVID-19

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

By: Roy Kent - Houston Chronicle Acclaimed chef Guy Fieri is teaming up with Igloo to produce a limited-edition Playmate cooler to support restaurant employees currently laid off or struggling amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Many restaurants have curtailed service to just take-out, curbside or delivery services with some simply closing until the outbreak is over. Many employees have been idled and the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation’s Restaurant Employee Relief Fund is helping many of those workers survive in the meantime. “If you don’t have a need for a good cooler, I don’t think you’re having enough fun! When we get through thi...

Governor Abbott, Goldman Sachs, LiftFund Announce $50 Million in Loans For Texas Small Businesses

Monday, April 13, 2020

Release From Office of the Governor Governor Greg Abbott today announced that Goldman Sachs and the LiftFund, along with other community development financial institutions (CDFIs), are partnering to provide $50 million in loans to small businesses in Texas that have been affected by COVID-19 as part of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. These loans, made through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), will primarily be used for payroll so that employees can continue to receive paychecks and small businesses can retain their employees and will be partially or wholly forgiven. ...

County pitches loans for small biz

Wednesday, April 08, 2020

By: Zach Despart - Houston Chronicle Gerardo Torres poured his savings into opening the Mesquite Grill, his first restaurant, after decades as a busboy and waiter. Torres and his two partners held a grand opening on Feb. 29 for the Tex-Mex eatery off NASA Parkway, which did brisk business for two weeks. Then the unthinkable happened: Harris County on March 17 restricted restaurants to takeout and delivery to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus in crowded dining rooms. “It was like a nightmare,” Torres said. “We saw the (order) come down and it was like, ‘Oh, we never expected this.’ ” The Mesquit...

UH/HCC Engineering Academy at Katy accepting application for Fall 2020

Wednesday, April 08, 2020

The University of Houston (UH) and Houston Community College (HCC) are proud to introduce the UH/HCC Engineering Academy at Katy! The UH/HCC Engineering Academy students are co-enrolled at both institutions from the moment they are accepted into the academy and are official UH Engineering Cougars from the very first day! Students take their core curriculum courses through HCC while taking engineering courses from UH Cullen College of Engineering faculty at the University of Houston at Katy. After completing all academy requirements, students then transition to the UH main campus to complete their bachelor’s degrees in civil, electrical, computer, industrial or mechanical engineering. I...

With $349 Billion in Emergency Small Business Capital Cleared, SBA and Treasury Begin Unprecedented Public-Private Mobilization Effort to Distribute Funds

Wednesday, April 01, 2020

WASHINGTON – Following President Trump’s signing of the historic Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza and Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin?today announced that the SBA and Treasury Department have initiated a robust mobilization effort of banks and other lending institutions to provide small businesses with the capital they need.

Katy Area EDC partnering with local banks to offer Business Recovery Loan program

Friday, March 27, 2020

The impact of COVID-19 on Katy area businesses has prompted the Katy Area Economic Development Council to partner with Katy area banks to reinstate a Business Recovery Loan program which was implemented during Hurricane Harvey. “For the COVID-19 Loan Program, TDECU is participating to provide low-interest loans to help impacted businesses responding and/or recovering from economic damages that need gap financing,” said Lance LaCour, President/CEO of the Katy Area EDC. “The program is based on a national loan program model developed by the Galveston Economic Development Partnership.” LaCour also noted that all banks and financial institutions in the Katy area/West Houston are welcom...

SBA Disaster Assistance Webinars March 23rd-27th

Friday, March 20, 2020

Info provided by SBA SBA is coordinating with Texas Department of Emergency Management and is processing Texas' SBA Disaster Request for the State of Texas. Once the SBA declaration for Texas is finalized at disasterloan.sba/Declarations, we are directing all businesses that have significant economic injury to https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/ to begin the registration and application process for Economic Injury Disaster Loans. The SBA Texas Declaration will be posted once it is finalized, allowing businesses to complete their loan application. Any such EIDL assistance declaration issued by the SBA makes loans available to small businesses and private, non-profit organizations in designated areas of a state or territory t...

Texas Workforce Commission: Office of Employer Initiatives Update

Friday, March 20, 2020

Information provided by Texas Workforce Commission Office of Employer Initiatives (OEI) continues to support our training partners across the state during these difficult times. The OEI and Contracts offices are working together to continue to serve those with active grants, pending approvals and those projects that are in development. In lieu of face-to- face meetings, we are available by phone, MS Teams, Zoom (and possibly other tech tools) for our continued collaboration on projects. TWC recently shared the following information with employers across the state: The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) encourages employers to enroll in Shared Work program as an alternative to layoffs...

SBA Disaster Assistance for Businesses in Response to COVID-19

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Release from Office of the Governor On March 12, 2020, the Small Business Administration (SBA) designated COVID-19 as a qualifying event for the provision of Economic Injury Disaster Loans for businesses and private non-profits in affected communities. Texas is currently working with the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM) and the SBA to qualify for this declaration and we need your assistance to facilitate the declaration and certification process. Small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and some private non-profit organizations that have suffered substantial economic injury due to COVID-19 may be eligible for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) of up to $...

Leadercast Katy 2020: Sponsor Information

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

LEADERCAST KATY 2020: This year's theme: "POSITIVE Disruption" Friday, May 22, 2020 Disturbance. Disorder. Disarrangement. Many people think these are negatives in the workplace. But Leadercast 2020 will explain why disruption is the best way to make positive, lasting change in your company. The speakers who will take the stage are change makers. They are trailblazers. They are people who face big ideas head on and take their teams to new heights. Register Here Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Click Here *This is not a Katy Area EDC event

A look inside the new Urban Air Adventure Park in Katy

Monday, March 09, 2020

By: Claire Goodman - Houston Chronicle The highly anticipated Urban Air Adventure Park- Katy has officially opened. On March 7, the trampoline park, located at 25307 Kingsland Blvd., opened its doors to throngs of eager patrons. The Urban Air facility features a two-story, 31,000 square-foot indoor play area. The park has 16 unique attractions. There are multiple trampoline zones with features like trampoline dodgeball and trampoline basketball. Tubes Playground is a winding maze of tunnels and slides perfect for smaller children. The Sky Rider Coaster is a zip line that hurtles patrons across the park high above the action. In the Ropes Course...

Houston No. 2 Among Major Cities for Corporate Attraction, Investment; Texas Leads Nation

Wednesday, March 04, 2020

By: A.J. Mistretta - GHP Texas is the top state in the country for new economic development projects while Houston scores the No. 2 spot among the nation’s largest cities, according to the latest rankings from Site Selection, a corporate real estate and economic development publication. With 276 qualifying capital expenditure projects in 2019, Houston jumped two spots from fourth place in 2018 among the largest U.S. metros. The Bayou City came in ahead of the Dallas region (261 projects) and Atlanta (145 projects) but behind the Chicago area (416 projects). Texas secured the top spot for the eighth year in ...

City of Katy water tower to feature new mural

Monday, March 02, 2020

By: Claire Goodman - Houston Chronicle The iconic geese murals that adorn the City of Katy’s municipal water tanks will soon have a matching water tank on Franz Road. At Monday’s city council meeting, the council unanimously voted to approve the painting of a similar mural for the water tank located at 6801 Franz Rd. The city has authorized the hiring of Rolf Goetzinger of Artistbrothers to paint the mural on the 500,000 gallon elevated storage tank. Goetzinger also painted the other two towers. City council also authorized the use of $60,250 in water and sewer reserve funds to fund the project. Th...

Katy Area EDC receives EDC 2019 Economic Excellence Recognition

Thursday, February 27, 2020

The Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC)announced the recipients of its annual Economic Excellence Recognition program for 2019. The awards were presented at a breakfast held Thursday, February 20, 2020,at the TEDC’s WinterConference. The two and one half-day conference was held February 19-21at the Hilton Hotel in College Station, Texas. 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 the economic development director and professional staff. Certifications, professional memberships and activities, and organizational effectiveness of the economic developmen...

Expanding Katy area higher ed opportunities discussed at February GA

Sunday, February 23, 2020

On Tuesday, February 18, Katy Area Economic Development Council hosted its General Assembly meeting at the recently opened University of Houston-Victoria Katy facility (shared with University of Houston). UHV Katy served as the perfect setting for the meeting which centered on higher education opportunities in the Katy area with presentations from host UHV Katy, Houston Community College and University of Houston. HCC leaders Dr. Kathleen Anzivino, College Operation Officer, and Susan Thompson, Director of Engineering & STEM Initiatives Science, Technology, Engineering & Math, provided an update on the new HCC Katy area campus which is expected to break ground in earl...

Katy ISD HS students taking advantage of manufacturing engineering program

Friday, February 21, 2020

By: Melissa Correa - KHOU 11 KATY, Texas — An area high school is providing its students with a learning environment that will help them soar past the competition. A manufacturing and engineering competition. Students in Katy are getting the hands-on training NASA scientists dream about. And, it's all free. "It’s like a robotics class on steroids," Monica Raumaker said. Raumaker and Connor Brown are both seniors and are part of Katy Independent School District's latest Career and Tech Program: Manufacturing Engineering. "It’s awesome. It’s definitely a big opportunity to get work experience before ever going into the workforce," Brown said. The program is boosting college application...

Houston Community College eyes fall 2020 construction start date for new Katy campus

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

By: Jen Para - Community Impact Houston Community College is a little closer to relocating its Katy campus. HCC plans to break ground on the new campus this September at 228 Colonial Parkway, Katy, HCC College Operations Officer Kathleen Anzivino said at the Feb. 18 Katy Area Economic Development Corp.’s general assembly meeting. HCC aims to open the campus January 2022 and relocate students, instructors and staff from its existing location at 1550 Foxlake Drive, Katy, to the new location, she said. The three-story building will be about 140,000 square feet with capacity for about 7,000 students, Anzivino said in an email. “We’re focusing o...

Fort Bend County to break ground on Fulshear-area public safety substation

Monday, February 17, 2020

By: Jen Para - Community Impact The Fulshear area will soon have a new public safety substation. The Fort Bend County Precinct 3 commissioner's office is planning a 2 p.m. Feb. 13 groundbreaking ceremony for the new substation located on a 2.3-acre parcel at the northwest corner of FM 1093 and FM 1463, said Robert Pechukas, Precinct 3's manager of policy and administration, in an email. The project is funded by Proposition 4 of 2015 facility bonds. Commissioners Court approved a resolution at the regular Feb. 11 meeting to advance $1.5 million in funding for the property purchase. The new public safety substation i...

Cane Island Parkway widening project to begin spring 2020

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

By: Jen Para - Community Impact The Fort Bend County Engineering Department will soon begin construction on a road in Katy. The county plans to break ground in March on a project to widen Cane Island Parkway between I-10 and FM 1463, said Ike Akinwande, an assistant engineer with Fort Bend County. The project entails widening the two-lane road into a four-lane road with a median and drainage improvements. The $6.3 million project, entirely funded by Fort Bend County, is the second phase for Cane Island Parkway, he said. The first phase extended Cane Island Parkway from I-10 to FM 1463, Akinwande said. Accordin...

Harris County Flood Control District to break ground on wetlands project near Katy Hockley Road

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

By: Jen Para - Community Impact The Harris County Flood Control District will soon start construction on a new flood mitigation project that will benefit the Katy and Cy-Fair areas. The district plans to break ground this spring or summer on the Katy Hockley Wetlands mitigation bank, located near the intersection of Katy Hockley and House and Hahl roads in Cypress, according to a Feb. 6 public meeting held at the Richard & Meg Weekley Community Center. HCFCD expects the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to approve the design plans any day, said Rick Howard, a project manager and ecologist with SWCA Environmenta...

Announcing: The UH/HCC Engineering Academy in Katy

Wednesday, February 05, 2020

An exciting new Engineering Academy has been created to begin Fall 2020. We would like to invite everyone to attend an Information Session on February 20th. Representatives from the University of Houston and Houston Community College will share more details about the partnership and its benefits. Please forward this information to everyone! YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHimTNZywqA For more information: www.hccs.edu/engineering-uh

Grand Parkway projects in Katy area to break ground in 2020

Monday, February 03, 2020

By: Jen Para - Community Impact Major projects on the Grand Parkway in the Katy area are expected to break ground in 2020, Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers said. His office is working with the Texas Department of Transportation and the Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority to widen the Grand Parkway, create new direct connectors and add more frontage roads. “We are now becoming increasingly certain that the first heavy construction will begin moving dirt in 2020,” Meyers said in a Facebook post about the three projects. Plans to widen the Grand Parkway from a four- to six-lane divided highwa...

City of Katy finishes construction on downtown plaza buildings, hosts first event

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

By Nola Z. Valente, Jen Para - Community Impact The Katy Downtown Plaza, located between avenues B and C, is closer to becoming a space that officials expect will draw tourists, shoppers and new businesses. Construction for the civic center and visitors center buildings was completed in October for the Katy Rice Festival, city of Katy Director of Tourism Kayce Reina said. Local organization Keep Katy Beautiful hosted the plaza’s first event Jan. 20 at the civic center, Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris said. “We are very excited to open up the plaza area for public gatherings,” Harris said. “Events like these keep th...

UH Expands Courses, Degree Offerings in Katy, Sugar Land

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

By: Jeannie Kever - University of Houston In a significant move to expand higher educational offerings across the Houston region, the University of Houston has received approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to offer three new undergraduate engineering degrees in Katy. The UH Bauer College of Business also will offer upper division classes at the UH at Sugar Land instructional site. “The UH at Katy and UH at Sugar Land instructional sites offer a University of Houston Tier One education to residents across our region in disciplines that are in great demand,” said Paula Myrick Short, senior vice president for academi...

Kramer, Mann Jr. named winners of Stanley Awards at January Katy Area EDC GA meeting

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

One of the Katy area’s newest hotels, Aloft Katy, hosted the January Katy Area Economic Development Council General Assembly meeting on Tuesday, January 21. The event featured the unveiling of the winners of the Fourth Annual Stan C. Stanley “Eagle” Leadership and Economic Development Awards. With well over 100 people in attendance, Marshall Kramer (elected official) and Woody Mann Jr. (volunteer) were named the winners of the prestigious Stanley Awards. Kramer is currently the elected Board President of Harris County ESD #48 and Mann Jr. serves as President of Vista Equities Group and Senior Vice President of Vista Management Company. Both me...

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...

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...

METRO $3.5B bond referendum includes projects in Katy area

Sunday, November 03, 2019

By: Nola Z. Valente - Community Impact The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County with the Houston-Galveston Area Council and other community partners developed the METRONext Moving Forward Plan, which calls for systemwide transit updates over the next 20 years and beyond. To facilitate these improvements, the METRO board of directors approved a bond referendum, which, if approved by voters Nov. 5, would allow the agency to borrow up to $3.5 billion, repayable by future METRO revenue, to be paired with federal matching dollars and local funds. The bond would not raise METRO’s 1% sales tax rate. Project leaders have asked residents t...

Katy Area EDC supports Proposition 8, MetroNext and Fort Bend Drainage Bond

Monday, October 28, 2019

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING TEXAS PROPOSITION 8 TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT STATE FLOOD INFRATRUCTURE FUND WHEREAS, the State of Texas is calling for funds to expand Texas Water Development Board programs to leverage federal and local drainage infrastructure projects; and WHEREAS, both Houses of the 86th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 7 and House Joint Resolution 4 without opposition; and WHEREAS, Senate Bill 7 and House Joint Resolution 4, along with Senate Bill 500, will provide $793 million for a Flood Infrastructure Fund and approximately $1.2 billion for other recovery and flood control programs; and WHEREAS, House Joint Resolution 4 will appear as Proposition 8 o...

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.

City of Katy may expand 10 acres for new retail development

Friday, July 19, 2019

By Jen Para | 9:43 pm July 17, 2019 CDT The city of Katy may get a few acres bigger. According to Houston City Council documents, the city of Katy provided a letter to Houston expressing its intent to annex about 10 acres of land inside Houston’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, or a band of unincorporated land surrounding a city’s limits which it can eventually annex. Council approved an ordinance July 17 to release the land. The land is located near the intersection of FM 1463 and Spring Green Boulevard, according to council documents. Property owners plan to sell the land to developer Cross Development LLC, which plans t...

Katy Economic Development Council applauds positive impact of Katy Ranch Offices

Friday, July 19, 2019

Houston, TX – Avison Young, the world’s fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm, announced today that it has been appointed as the exclusive leasing agent for 150,920 square feet (sf) of office space under construction at 24279 Katy Freeway in Katy, TX. The project, Phase II of the Katy Ranch Offices development, has broken ground and is available for preleasing for summer 2020 delivery. Avison Young Principals Sam Hansen and Doug Pack, who are based in Houston, will represent the landlord, Mike Baker, CEO of Freeway Properties. Avison Young and Freeway Properties held a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday together with Lance LaCour, President and CEO of the Katy Area Economic Development Council(EDC); A.J. Breneman, Principal of Powers Brown Architecture and Kerry LaGrone, Managing Partner of LSI Genera...

Katy to see more development northwest of I-10

Friday, July 19, 2019

By Nola Z. Valente | 6:30 am July 18, 2019 CDT Sources: Population and Survey Analysts, KISD/Community Impact Newspaper | Designed by Anya Gallant After years of accelerated growth, residential development in south Katy is approaching build-out. Demographics firm Population and Survey Analysts projects Katy ISD’s boundaries will be built-out south of I-10 by 2028, while the construction of thousands of new homes is expected to continue north of I-10 and southwest into Lamar CISD. Six years ago, 31% of the land within KISD boundaries was undeveloped, according to PASA. In 2018, 21% of the land was undeveloped. PASA demographer Pat Guseman, who has been working with KISD sinc...

MD Anderson Cancer Center opens outpatient center in Katy-area

Saturday, July 13, 2019

By Jen Para | 8:00 am July 13, 2019 CDT MD Anderson Cancer Center hosted an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony of its new 260,000-square-foot West Houston outpatient center at 13900 Katy Freeway, Houston, on June 20, according to a press release. MD Anderson relocated the teams, services and staff at an existing campus at 19770 Kingsland Blvd., Houston, to the new facility, which offers oncology and therapy services and a diagnostic laboratory. New MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas tops the U.S. for real estate development spending and jobs

Monday, July 01, 2019

For the second year in a row, Texas topped the nation in real estate development activity in 2018. With almost $26 billion in direct spending on real estate projects, the Texas building sector contributed more than $62 billion to the state's economy last year, according to a report from the NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association. The development sector supported more than 400,000 jobs in the state last year, the industry trade group said in its annual economic impact report. 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...

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 an...

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...

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 tha...

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...

State Representative Gina Calanni District Office Opening Event

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

View Flyer Here

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...

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 wil...

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...

Local spirits bar MKT Distillery focuses on Katy’s heritage, family-friendly fun

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

By: R. Hans Miller - Community Impact Nick and Nici Jessett opened MKT Distillery on Oct. 6 in the silos on First Street in downtown Katy. The bar offers whiskey and moonshine distilled in-house as well as a selection of nonalcoholic drinks. The Jessetts decided to open the distillery after volunteering at No Label Brewing Co. and taking a trip two years ago to Tennessee, where they toured a distillery. “We decided then and there, ‘let’s bring something like this to Katy,’” Nick said. Named after the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad that runs next to the distillery, MKT sells Aged Texas Corn Whiskey, Bonner’s Point Vodka...

November GA showcases Katy area veteran-owned business

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Members Choice Credit Union corporate headquarters played host to the November Katy Area Economic Development Council meeting. Members and guests gathered for the monthly meeting which featured a presentation by Katy area company Veterans Manufacturing. Michael Hlozek (pictured above), co-founder of Veterans Manufacturing, headlined the meeting by sharing information about the growing company which he helped start. The organization, which is veteran-owned and located on Katy Hockley Road, specializes in manufacturing high-quality ultralight body armor, vehicle shields, bomb blankets, blast mitigation systems, ballistic pfd’s, ballistic clipboards, luggage and other ballistic systems. Notably, the organization is now manufacturing U.S. Coast Guard approve...

Katy ISD reaches 80,000 students

Thursday, November 08, 2018

Katy ISD has officially enrolled 80,000 students across its many campuses. The 80,000th student enrolled at Davidson Elementary School, and the district will celebrate Nov. 9 with a welcome party attended by board of trustee members, superintendents and school administrators, according to a press release. “Expecting to end the year with an enrollment of 80,000 students, or fairly close to it, Katy Independent School District has reached this monumental milestone two months prior to the end of 2018,” the release states. The fast-growing school district will open two new schools for the 2019-2020 school year to accommodate its soaring student population. Four mor...

Australian energy company to build world’s fastest supercomputer in Katy

Sunday, October 28, 2018

By: Paul Takahashi - Houston Chronicle DownUnder GeoSolutions, an Australian oil and gas exploration company, plans to build the world's fastest supercomputer in Katy. The company announced Thursday it is under construction on the new supercomputer facility at Skybox Datacenters' Houston campus, located at 22000 Franz Road near the Energy Corridor. Once finished by February, the facility will house more than 40,000 servers with more than 250 petaflops of computing speed. A computer with one petaflop of computing speed can execute one thousand trillion operations per second. "Houston was a natural choice given the low cost of power and the fact that Skybo...

In-N-Out Burger Picks Katy For Second Houston-Area Location

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

By: Amy McCarthy - Eater Houston In-N-Out Burger may have taken its sweet time in heading to Houston, but fresh off announcing its first Space City outpost, it appears a second area location is in the works. The California-based burger chain has purchased property in Katy at the intersection of I-10 and Katy Fort Bend Road, according to KHOU. A statement issued by In-N-Out after Houston realtor BPI Realty Services made this announcement is characteristically cautious — vice president of real estate and development Carl Arena told KHOU that the chain is “enthusiastic” about the Katy location, but seemed skeptical as t...

Building The UH Engineering Legacy At Katy: From Foundation To New Heights

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Q & A With Founding Director Phaneendra Kondapi Plans for the Cullen College of Engineering to expand into the Katy area grow more concrete each day as the construction of the University of Houston Katy Campus progresses. The 84,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art building will open its doors to hundreds of UH engineering students in fall 2019. It started out with baby steps – launching two energy-focused engineering courses at the Houston Community College (HCC) Northwest-Katy Campus in 2016 – and has since grown to more than 15 graduate-level courses. The 2019 offerings will be a giant leap: a full roster of undergraduate courses, graduate courses an...

Katy ISD tops Houston area elementary school list

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

By: Mike Glenn - Houston Chronicle A Pittsburgh, Pa.-based data analysis firm said the top elementary schools in the Houston area are all part of the Katy Independent School District. Niche, the educational data analysis company, compiled data from the Department of Education along with student and teacher surveys to determine the list of top schools. According to Niche, the best elementary campus in the Houston area is Fred & Patti Shafer Elementary School, 5150 Ranch Point Drive. One of the comments from a parent said “We love Shafer! Great teachers and staff. Caring environment.” Katy ISD schools also took second place along wit...

Katy soon to be hub for higher education

Wednesday, October 03, 2018

By: Michelle Iracheta - Houston Chronicle In less than five years, the area at Grand Parkway and Partnership Way in Katy off Interstate 10 could be filled with eager students rushing to get to classes from three different educational institutions. As part of a collaborative effort to make it easier for students to achieve their academic goals, specifically in engineering and nursing; and for the Houston Community College to tap into the growing population that the Katy Independent School District and surrounding districts have experienced, the college system is moving its existing Katy campus to be closer in proximity to the futur...

Memorial Hermann to merge with Baylor Scott & White creating largest health system in Texas

Monday, October 01, 2018

By: Todd Ackerman - Houston Chronicle Memorial Hermann Health System and Baylor Scott & White Health, the state's largest not-for-profit system, have signed a letter of intent to merge, the institutions announced Monday. The merger would create a mega-system stretching from Dallas to Austin to Houston, treating patients in more than 30 Texas counties and employing more than 73,000 people across the state. "This is an opportunity for two progressive, like-minded organizations, who do similar service, to come together and provide a better model of health care," said Chuck Stokes, Memorial Hermann's president and CEO. "Through this combined system, we can reinvent healt...

Visions of Katy: Leadership Institute

Monday, October 01, 2018

Visions of Katy: Leadership Institute Date: October 24, 2018 Time: 6:45 AM - 9:30 AM CDT Event Description: You are cordially invited to Visions of Katy: Leadership Institute. As a visionary leader in the Katy area, please join us for this special event scheduled for Wednesday, October 24 from 6:45 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. at The Club at Falcon Point. The cost is $25. Breakfast will be provided. As with previous Visions of Katy events, our intention is to gather a broad and diverse group to share ideas about the opportunities and possibilities for this topic in our prosperous and growing community. All we ask of yo...

iRace Entertainment now open in Katy

Friday, September 28, 2018

iRace Entertainment opened Aug. 13 at 24984 Katy Ranch Road, Katy. The new entertainment venue features kart racing, NASCAR simulators, boutique bowling, laser tag, virtual reality machines and an arcade. Party suites, 5,000 square feet of meeting space and The Garage Bar & Restaurant are also included in the new facility. 832-304-7223 www.iraceusa.com

New wave of tenants to open in Katy Grand by early 2019

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

By R. Hans Miller - Community Impact Katy Grand continues to develop in the northeastern corner of the Grand Parkway and I-10 in Katy, said Heather Nguyen, a partner with NewQuest Properties, the developer of the site. Nguyen said she expects the first building on the site to be completed in December. The site broke ground in June on its first retail building, she said. A Cinemark theater and Whiskey Cake restaurant are already in operation as the anchor for the shopping center. Construction on the first of the separate retail buildings began earlier this year, Nguyen said. “You know, we actually starte...

Asian population growth spurs suburban Chinatown in Katy

Monday, September 24, 2018

By: Paul Takahasi - Houston Chronicle Restaurants in this sprawling new strip mall serve a smorgasbord of Pan-Asian cuisine, including Malaysian fried rice, Vietnamese noodle soup, Taiwanese boba tea and Japanese cream puffs. One might think this Asian-themed plaza sits in the heart of Chinatown, for decades the cultural center of Houston’s fast-growing Asian community. However, this grocery-anchored shopping center is rising from the flat prairieland of Katy, some 20 miles west of Bellaire. “We’re trying to bring a taste of Asia to the mainstream,” said Josie Lin, the center’s leasing representative. “I believe this is going to become another landmark, just lik...

Big Business: Corporations build headquarters in Katy

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

By: Lindsay Peyton - Houston Chronicle Big business is making it big in Katy. There are now more than 200 major corporate headquarters in the greater Katy area, including Academy Sports and Outdoors, Shell Exploration and Production, WoodGroup Subsidies, BP North America, Igloo, ConocoPhillips, Expro Americas, Schlumberger, Gulf Island Fabrication, Aecom, Salata and DNV-GL. Lance LaCour, president and CEO of the Katy Area Economic Development Council, said there are a number of reasons why the area has become a prime location for businesses to set up shop. Companies come to Katy for the school districts, the accessibility to Houston and the quality of lif...

BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF HOUSTON STUDENTS SHINE AGAIN IN IB DIPLOMA RESULTS

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Release provided by British International School The British International School of Houston students have achieved strong results in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for the 2017/18 academic school year. The British International School of Houston’s average score this year is 5.2 base points higher than the IB global average, widening the gap between ourselves and other IB schools around the world. One student from The British International School of Houston received full marks — the maximum score of 45 points. This is an incredible achievement for this student is only 1% of students worldwide who received full marks this year on the IBDP. -Three students achieved impressive scores of 44 points. -BISH students'...

Ribbon-Cutting Held for Completion of Spring Green Roundabout

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Release by Fort Bend County On September 7, 2018, Fort Bend County officials gathered in Precinct 3 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the Spring Green Boulevard Roundabout, the first two-lane roundabout constructed by Fort Bend County. The new roundabout, located at the intersection of Spring Green Boulevard and Katy Flewellen Road, connects Spring Green Boulevard, Katy Flewellen Road and Cinco Trace Drive. Part of the project also included realigning Crossover Road to intersect north of the roundabout. The total project cost is $4.4 million funded by bonds from the 2013 Mobility Program as well as contributions from Newlan...

Texas Children’s Urgent Care opens new Katy location

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

By: Houston Chronicle Texas Children’s Urgent Care West Campus clinic is now open, offering pediatric care in a convenient community location. Located at 18200 Katy Freeway, Suite WD-200 Houston, TX 77094, this clinic is next to the Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus Emergency Center, to provide an alternate care site for families in the West Houston area in need of lower-acuity care. The 4,250 square-foot clinic has 11 exam rooms, X-ray on-site and a spacious waiting area adorned with vibrant murals, providing a relaxing, child-friendly atmosphere. Texas Children’s Urgent Care West Campus is open seven days a week, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m...

Four new retailers announced for Katy area’s Grand Morton Town Center

Wednesday, September 05, 2018

By: R. Hans Miller - Community Impact NewQuest Properties released a statement Monday that the company will be breaking ground on what Rebecca Le, vice president at NewQuest, said is the last portion of Phase 1 for Grand Morton Town Center. The new building will be built just north of the Kroger store that is already in operation in the shopping center. Four tenants for the building were announced in the press release announcing the construction of the 66,000-square-foot building. HomeGoods, Michaels, Petco and Hallmark have all signed leases for space in the new building. “These retailers will bring a tremendous amount o...

Katy Area EDC set to relocate to new office

Tuesday, September 04, 2018

The Katy Area Economic Development Council will be relocating to a new office effective Monday, September 10. The organization will move to an office in the Grandway West Business Park located at Grand Parkway and Franz Road. Currently, Katy Area EDC leases space from Katy ISD in the former Brazos Valley Schools Credit Union at 438 FM 1463 in Katy. In 2017, Katy Area EDC signed a one-year lease with Katy ISD following its purchase of the former credit union building. The building currently houses human resources operations for Katy ISD in the majority of the facility. Following a search conducted b...

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 governin...

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 ...

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 th...

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 ...

Commissioner Tom Ramsey, growing R&D company headline Katy Area EDC August GA meeting

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Katy City Council approves final Downtown Plaza landscaping plan

Monday, January 18, 2021

Katy city council moves forward with proposed lower tax rate

Monday, September 14, 2020

2020 Top States for Doing Business Showcase Their Pro-Business Environments

Thursday, September 03, 2020

Texas One of Best States for Businesses to Survive COVID-19 Economic Turmoil

Monday, July 13, 2020

New ranking: These are Houston's best places to live

Friday, May 15, 2020

Development: Updates to 5 Katy-area commercial real estate projects

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

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

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. Tomm...

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...

U.S.-Russia Chamber of Commerce: 8th Annual Ambassador Speaker Series

Monday, April 01, 2019

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...

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 b...

Late spring opening set for sports park

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

American Omni Trading Company relocates HQ to Katy

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

By: Community Impact American Omni Trading Company relocated its headquarters from a 10,00-square-foot office space at 15354 Park Row in Houston to a 32,000-square-foot space at 1221 West Park Green Drive. The new offices opened Sept. 24. AOT imports tires from Asian manufacturers and delivers them across North and South America. 281-600-8473. www.american-omni.com

British International School of Houston Open House

Friday, November 16, 2018

You want the best for your child. So do we. Please join us for an Open House to explore our state-of-the-art campus and experience what makes our school special. We are an international school for ages 2 to 18, part of the Nord Anglia Education - the world’s leading premium schools organisation. Learn about our exciting programmes, explore and tour our campus, meet our Principal and members of our admissions team. Date: Wednesday 28th November Time: 6pm Location: British International School of Houston, 2203 N Westgreen Blvd, Katy, Texas 77449 RSVP via: Online https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WML8NK5 Call: 713 290 9025 Email: admissions@houston.nae.school Website https://www.nordangliaeducation.com/our-schools/houston/british-international/event www.bishouston.org

Pot hole repairs, Cane Island Parkway extension: 4 Katy-area transportation updates to know this November

Thursday, November 15, 2018

By: Jen Para - Community Impact Repairs to five roads Work has begun to repair portions of five roads that are showing cracks and pot holes. The contractor is completing mobilization to the area, said Eric Heppen, a project manager for Harris County Precinct 3. Elrod Road will be repaired from Clay Road to Morton Ranch Road, and then from Morton Ranch Road to Franz Road. Katy Hockley Cut Off Road will be repaired from FM 529 to a half mile south of Beckendorf Road. Katy Gap Road will be repaired from Kingsland Boulevard to the limits of the asphalt near th...

First Street upgrade begins in Katy

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

West Katy residents met Nov. 8 at Katy City Hall to learn more about a multi-million project to upgrade First Street that includes flood mitigation. Several of the approximately 30 residents at the meeting asked what would happen after the project is completed if another Harvey visits the area. David Leyendecker, the city engineer, said the project capacity is designed for a 100-year storm. After Harvey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration set newer standards for rainfall amounts within a 24-hour period to define a 100-year event. The NOAA chart shows 16 inches within a 24-hour period. In 2017 — when Hurrican...

Katy Pitmaster’s Wish: Eat Brisket and Go Fishing

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

CHEF RANDY DUNCAN WON BOTH the judge’s top award and the people’s choice award at the 2018 Houston BBQ Throwdown, and last month, his family-owned food truck Daddy Duncan’s BBQ announced it would open its first brick-and-mortar location in spring 2019 at Katy Hockley Cut-Off and Clay Road, right behind the Four Seasons Park. It’s been a good last few weeks for him. Duncan told Houstonia he was in a bidding war for the two-acre land because the area is extremely popular. Strip centers and new home construction (with prices ranging from $350,000 to $500,000) are being proposed. “It’s unrestricted land—we can d...

Katy Area EDC holds Visions of Katy: Leadership at The Club at Falcon Point

Thursday, November 01, 2018

Katy Area EDC holds Visions of Katy: Leadership at The Club at Falcon Point

Thursday, November 01, 2018

The Katy Area Economic Development Council held Visions of Katy: Leadership on Wednesday, October 24 at The Club at Falcon Point. The event brought together roughly 50 Katy area community members to discuss leadership and strengthening partnerships within the Katy area. For the past several years, Katy Area EDC, led by the Katy Area EDC Leadership Task Force chaired by Stan Goss, has been hosting Visions events which bring together a diverse group of Katy area community members to discuss topics relevant to quality of life in the area. The events serve as a tool to help identify solutions to mak...

Leasing Begins at New Newmark Homes Complex

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

For information contact: Melissa Guerra @ 281.433.3984 mguerra@newmarkhomes.com Leasing has started for a new 24,000-square-foot office building located in Parkside Capital’s University Center along Interstate 10 just east of the Grand Parkway in Katy. Owned by Newmark Homes, the building will be the builder’s new corporate headquarters. It will also house the Newmark Design Studio. “We chose this location because of its proximity to many of our communities,” said Mike Moody, president of Newmark Homes. “With our company growing, it was time for a move.” More than 30 Newmark employees will office out of the building’s second floor, and the design studio will encompass approximately 4,50...

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Katy Area District Council Event: Why are my water rates going up?

Monday, October 29, 2018

Join us for a FREE event featuring a panel discussion with representatives from the 3 Regional Water Authorities about water supply, distribution, costs, and other water-related topics impacting Municipal Utility Districts and their constituents.

Texas Bullet Train presentation headlines October Katy Area EDC GA

Friday, October 26, 2018

The Katy Area Economic Development Council held its October General Assembly on Tuesday, October 16 at iRace Entertainment. Members and guests gathered for the event which featured a presentation regarding the planned Texas Bullet Train project. Michael Moore, Regional Vice President of Texas Central Railway, served as the meeting’s keynote presenter providing information on the planned Texas Bullet Train. According to Texas Central, a private company leading the project, the approximately 240-mile high-speed rail line will offer a total travel time of less than 90 minutes, with convenient departures every 30 minutes during peak periods each day, and every hour durin...

Energy Corridor District Commuter Bus Survey

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Survey created by Energy Corridor District The Energy Corridor District is in the process of developing a new commuter bus service to provide round-trip transportation between a suburban location and Energy Corridor workplaces. If you currently work in the Energy Corridor, we need your input to determine where this service is most needed and what factors would encourage or discourage you to use any new service. Please CLICK HERE or copy and paste the link below into your browser to complete a brief survey. It should take less than 2 minutes to complete. http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07efqtc2nbjmtlufh1/start Thank you! Energy Corridor District

Fort Bend County awarded 2018 Workplace Heath Assessment Wellness Champion Award

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Release by Fort Bend County On October 23, 2018, Fort Bend County was awarded the American Cancer Society’s Workplace Health Assessment Wellness Champion Award for providing excellent wellness opportunities for its employees. Fort Bend County received second place in the greater Houston area for providing wellness services such as nicotine cessation programs, exercise programs, wellness classes, and multiple health screenings. Also included in these benefits is an employee health clinic providing basic medical care to all that work at the County. Fort Bend County Risk Management has been a partner of the American Cancer Society for many years by serving on the ACS Wellnes...

Next generation entertainment center now open in Katy

Monday, October 22, 2018

Katy is now home to a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience at iRACE, a 60,000-square-foot facility. According to iRACE officials, the new facility features the only two-level indoor race track in Texas along with high tech virtual reality games, NASCAR simulators, iBLAST, bowling, arcades and Mike’s Garage restaurant. iRACE is located at the Katy Ranch Shopping Center behind Northern Tools. It has more than 37,000 square feet of racing surface, a ¼-mile track with two race levels, a tunnel and the fastest indoor electric go karts in Texas. Director of Operations, Michael Barron says iRACE takes entertainment to a new level. “We visited entertainment centers al...

Greenbusch Road improvements, Porter Road reconstruction: 4 Katy-area transportation updates to know this October

Thursday, October 18, 2018

By: R. Hans Miller - Community Impact Greenbusch Road improvements Greenbusch Road from Gaston Road to Westheimer Parkway will be converted from a two-lane asphalt road with ditches into a two-lane concrete road with an underground storm sewer, said Stacy Slawinski, Fort Bend County assistant engineer. The project will begin in fall 2019 and last about a year. The road will still be widened and made safer with the deep ditches currently in place replaced with underground drainage. Timeline: Fall 2019-fall 2020 Cost: $7.4 million Funding sources: Fort Bend County Katy Flewellen expansion Katy Flewellen Road will be expanded from Spring Green Boulevard to Gaston Road. Th...

Katy ISD Education Foundation: Fireflies and Foodtrucks

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Event organized by Katy ISD Education Foundation Join us for our legendary kick-off-the-school-year fundraiser for the year's Inspiring Imagination teacher grants! Thursday, October 18, 2018 No Label Brewery 5:30 - 8:30 pm? Individual Tickets: $50 Includes unlimited access to No Label brews and all food trucks Party Pak: $500 for a party of 8 All of the above plus swag and Fireflies & Foodtrucks shirt for each guest VIP Bar Experience: $25 Enjoy select brews set aside by No Label Brewery just for this crowd (Adults Only Event) NEW THIS YEAR: Our first ever wine garden (additional cost to purchase wine) Register Here

Katy ISD Education Foundation: Fireflies and Foodtrucks

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Join us for our legendary kick-off-the-school-year fundraiser for the year's Inspiring Imagination teacher grants! Thursday, October 18, 2018 No Label Brewery 5:30 - 8:30 pm? Individual Tickets: $50 Includes unlimited access to No Label brews and all food trucks Party Pak: $500 for a party of 8 All of the above plus swag and Fireflies & Foodtrucks shirt for each guest VIP Bar Experience: $25 Enjoy select brews set aside by No Label Brewery just for this crowd (Adults Only Event) NEW THIS YEAR: Our first ever wine garden (additional cost to purchase wine) Register Here

Katy Cares and Memorial Hermann Katy headline September Katy Area EDC GA

Monday, September 24, 2018

The Katy Area Economic Development Council held its September General Assembly meeting on Tuesday, September 18 at Memorial Hermann Katy. Katy area non-profit Katy Cares and the host, MH Katy, served as presenters for the meeting. Longtime Katy Area EDC employee Frank Lombard was also recognized for his service following his recent retirement. Representing Katy Cares, Harry Chapman, President of the Board, and Denise Mayfield, President and CEO, shared information about the non-profit organization which provides specialized therapeutic-housing services to mothers and their children affected by situational homelessness. According to Chapman and Mayfield, homelessness is a problem facing hundreds of Kat...

Spring Green roundabout open, Crossover Road widening: 6 transportation projects to know in the Katy area this September

Friday, September 21, 2018

By: Rebecca Hennes and R. Hans Miller - Community Impact Spring Green Boulevard roundabout now open The roundabout, which opened Sept. 7, connects Spring Green Boulevard to Cinco Trace Drive and Katy Flewellen Road. According to Fort Bend County Engineer Stacy Slawinski, a single lane of the roundabout and the Spring Green north connector opened July 9. The roundabout project had an original completion date of July 2018, but Slawinski said that was delayed by changes in the contract and utility delays. Three lanes connect each road to the roundabout: The two left lanes enter the traffic circle while the far righ...

Katy Area EDC forecast: More growth

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

By: Karen Zurawski - Houston Chronicle It’s mid-September and Katy Area Economic Development Area Council is adjusting to its new home in the Grandway West Business Park. Lance LaCour, who’s led the nonprofit the last 13 years as its CEO/president, said the Class A office with just over 2,000 square feet is more effective in terms of space and operations. The arrangement also offers more stability - a longer term lease compared to the year-to-year lease it had from the Katy Independent School District to occupy the former Brazos Valley Schools Credit Union near Interstate 10 and FM 1463. It also opens u...

Katy focuses on Riceland Terrace drainage

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

By: Karen Zurawski - Houston Chronicle As construction begins in one neighborhood to improve drainage, Katy City Council hired engineers to begin design services for work in another subdivision. Katy City Council on Sept. 10 authorized the mayor to sign an agreement with Costello Engineering & Surveying for engineering design services for the initial phase of drainage and paving reconstruction improvements for Riceland Terrace subdivision excluding Fortuna Drive. Costello Engineering & Surveying was hired by the city last year to do design work for Pine Forest subdivision after it completed a flood protection study for the city in October 2017 following the 201...

Top Katy area stories from the past month

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Katy Area Top Stories Katy area company FireDisc Cookers ranks #374 on the 2018 Inc. 5000 fastest-growing private company list Houston Methodist West hosts August GA, Katy ISD Education Foundation featured New August Katy Area EDC members Here are the latest updates on 4 Katy-area transportation projects Voters Say YES to $2.5 Billion Flood Control Bond Katy Area EDC President/CEO Lance LaCour awarded re-certification in economic development designation Katy Area EDC set to relocate to new office Register for Katy area TradeLink Conference Groundbreaking of Crossover Road Meet the Katy Area EDC summer 2018 interns New class A medical facility to break ground at Katy Green by early 2019 TEDC Presents Economi...

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

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 ...

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 beg...

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 tree...

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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