Staying local: The City of Colleyville’s economic development update showed the city has increased its retail occupancy rate to 96% and given out over $7.8 million in grants to local businesses since 2018.

The details: The market median rent rate in Colleyville is $27 per square foot and 91% of businesses in Colleyville have less than 20 employees, according to the report.

The action taken: Grants given directly to businesses include seasonal programs like Colleyville Gives, and a Brighten Up the Boulevard while other programs like SAFER, SIGN and BEST are more regularly available.

What’s changed: Italian Crust in Grapevine is permanently closed, according to a notice attached to the store’s door.

The restaurant first opened in 2005 as a delivery and take-out location in Irving but moved to Grapevine in 2018 and expanded to include dine-in.

The notice thanked customers and the community for continued support over the years as the restaurant’s farewell message.

• Closed Oct. 1

• 2140 Hall-Johnson Rd #100, Grapevine

Check out five upcoming, ongoing and completed transportation projects around Dallas-Fort Worth.

Upcoming projects

1. John Hickman Parkway construction

Project: John Hickman Parkway in Frisco will be constructed from Dallas North Tollway to Parkwood Boulevard. The project borders The Mix at the corner of Lebanon Road and Dallas North Tollway.

Update: The project is in the design phase and project details are not yet available.

• Timeline: early 2027-mid 2028

• Cost: $7.5 million

• Funding source: city of Frisco

Ongoing projects

2. Eldorado Parkway and Virginia Parkway rehabilitation

Project: Reconstruction of failing concrete panels and broken curbs will occur in McKinney along Eldorado Parkway between Ridge Road and US 75 and along Virginia Parkway between Stonebridge Drive and US 75.

Update: Work on Eldorado Parkway is complete. Work continues on Virginia Parkway between Lake Forest Drive and Hardin Boulevard. Any remaining work on Virginia Parkway between Hardin Boulevard and US 75 will be completed in summer 2027 after the project is rebid.

• Timeline: June 2025-October 2026

• Cost: $10.8 million

• Funding source: city of McKinney

The University of North Texas will open its brand-new science and technology building in the spring after breaking ground in August 2024. Officials hosted a tour of the nearly complete facility Oct 9.

The collaborative space and research facility is for UNT’s growing biomedical engineering, life sciences, chemistry, kinesiology, psychology and data science research footprints on its Denton campus, according to the university website.

Two-minute impact: The four-story, 110,000-square-foot building is located at the southwest corner of West Mulberry Street and Avenue C in Denton.

The project was funded by $103.4 million in tuition revenue bonds authorized by the 87th Texas Legislature in 2021, according to UNT’s website.

Looking ahead: The official spring opening date for the research building has not been announced yet, said Amanda Lyons, assistant director of media relations at UNT.

She added that a ribbon-cutting ceremony will occur in early 2027.