Sugar Land is launching a new economic development initiative designed to attract and incentivize startups to relocate to the city, officials announced in a March 4 news release.

The big picture: The Sugar Land Starts Innovation Fund aims to support the city’s long-term vision by building an innovation ecosystem, while revitalizing empty office space, according to the release.

The performance-based program will target startups in key industries including:

• Life sciences
• Advanced manufacturing
• Information technology
• Business and professional services

Fort Bend ISD is in the progress of gathering data to create its own district local designation system as part of the state’s Teacher Incentive Allotment.

The Teacher Incentive Allotment, which was funded by House Bill 3 in 2019, has been implemented in districts across the state as a pathway for teachers to earn a six-figure salary, according to the TIA website.

The big picture: Teachers can receive the incentive through a local designation or National Board Certification, which automatically qualifies teachers as “recognized,” Chief of Organizational Development Stephanie Williams said at a March 9 board meeting.

A teacher's allotment amount is determined by the designation level and the percent of economically disadvantaged students at the campus, according to the TIA system.

What’s next: In October, the district will turn in the data for state review and validation. By February 2027, FBISD will find out if they acquired full system approval with Cohort 1 teachers to receive bonuses by August 2027.

Legacy Thrift, a volunteer-run thrift store, has begun limited operations in Stafford.

The store is now open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays with a grand opening planned for May 6 from noon to 5 p.m., officials confirmed.

What they offer: Patrons can buy donated clothing, furniture, household items and decor to support Living Water International, a nonprofit aimed at providing clean water to communities across the world.

Also of note: The store is accepting donations with most desired items including clothing, shoes, furniture, books, home decor and housewares.

In addition to donation items, the store is also seeking individual and group volunteers to assist customers and run cash registers as well as process and pick up donations, according to its website.

• 4001 Greenbriar Drive, Ste. 100, Stafford

From road widenings and asphalt repairs to interchange work and transit upgrades, transportation projects are progressing across the Greater Houston region. Some are already under construction, while others are entering design, public input or bidding phases. 

Here are updates on 13 transportation projects that could affect commutes. This list is not comprehensive, and details are subject to change.

Upcoming projects
Shaw Road widening
Project: Shaw Road would be widened from two to four lanes between Northpointe Boulevard and Boudreaux Road, per Harris County Precinct 3’s website.
Update: The study phase has been completed, and future roadway options are being evaluated, according to Harris County Precinct 3 officials.

• Timeline: TBD
• Cost: TBD
• Funding source: Harris County Precinct 3

• Timeline: ongoing
• Cost: $1.33 million
• Funding source: Montgomery County road bond

Texas families now have an additional two weeks to apply for the state’s new education savings account program, a Houston federal judge ruled March 17.

What's happening: U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett ordered the state comptroller’s office to extend the application deadline to March 31 over concerns that no Islamic private schools had been greenlit to accept state ESA funds. In two lawsuits filed in early March, four Muslim parents said they felt deterred from applying for education savings accounts because the Islamic schools they send their children to were not among the 2,200 schools authorized to participate in the program.

Parents previously had until 11:59 p.m. March 17 to apply for the program.

Latest update: In a March 17 news release, the comptroller’s office confirmed that applications would be accepted through March 31 in compliance with the judge’s order.

Over 229,000 students had applied for the $1 billion program as of March 17, Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock said. The state will use a need- and income-based lottery system to determine who is accepted.