HTX-SLM: Impact 10/10/2025

Missouri City officials have updated the city’s incentive programs aimed at revitalizing key areas, including Texas Parkway and Cartwright Road.

What you need to know: At an Oct. 6 meeting, Missouri City City Council unanimously approved the second reading of an ordinance to update its economic development incentive programs by establishing criteria and a review process.

Zooming in: The incentive program includes up to $200,000 in tax benefits for “high-value new businesses,” with all other new developments—such as upscale, dine-in restaurants—and redevelopment projects being eligible for up to $100,000, according to agenda documents.

What else? Applications for incentives must be submitted to the city for review, where they will be scored using a new matrix composed of 100 possible points, Iyamu said.

What’s next? Applications for the program are set to open Nov. 1, Iyamu previously said.

Sushi Haya, a Greater Houston-based sushi restaurant, has expanded to a new location in Missouri City’s Sienna Crossing complex, owner and manager Eric Lin said.

What they offer: The restaurant’s menu features all-you-can-eat or single meal options including sushi, sashimi, hibachi and bento boxes. 

About the grand opening: The location will celebrate its grand opening Oct 12 at 3 p.m., featuring special deals, giveaways and a lion dance show, Lin said.

Zooming out: Sushi Haya also has locations in Cypress and Tomball which offer all-you-can-eat buffet options, Community Impact reported. 

This year, Sienna Crossing Shopping Center has also seen the opening of Craves Cookies, Torchy’s Tacos, Sienna Eye Care, Arici's Gelato, My Salon Suite and Ace Hardware, Community Impact reported.

Fort Bend Epicenter could see a full-service, first-class hotel and convention center after only three years in operation in Rosenberg.

Zooming in: At a Sept. 23 meeting, Rosenberg City Council heard a presentation on a $236 million expansion to Fort Bend County’s EpiCenter—a project that would bring a full-service, first-class flag hotel and convention center to the city, with hopes of adding retail space in the future.

Key project components include:

• A 218-room full-service, first-class flag hotel
• A 70,000-square-foot convention center
• Two parking garages, totaling 2,600 spaces

The University of Houston is launching UH Next, a new transfer program designed to help community college students more easily and affordably complete their bachelor’s degrees, starting in spring 2026.

The details: Housed in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, the pilot will streamline transfers after students complete associate degrees at one of five Houston-area community colleges, reducing the cost of a four-year degree.

UH Next is part of UH’s broader effort to improve affordability, alongside programs like Cougar Promise and various scholarships and financial aid options.

How it works: Enrolled students will follow four-year degree maps, co-created by advisors at both UH and the partner college to ensure they take the right courses in the right order, minimizing credit loss and keeping them on track for graduation, although the program is only available for select majors within each partner community college. 

Next steps: While there is no timeline for expansion to other colleges, officials said several are assessing opportunities to create a UH Next pathway.