Officials with the Houston First Corporation launched a new five-year strategic plan in early October to expand the city's film and media production industry.

The overview: The plan aims to establish Houston as a premier production destination in the South and drive economic impact. The plan's strategies include:

• Incentive innovation

• Marketing and promotion

• Workforce development

• Studio and infrastructure expansion

• Cross-sector stakeholder engagement

Commission leaders previously launched the Houston Feature Film Incentive Program in 2025, which provides a 10% rebate on approved area spending up to $100,000 per project.

More details: In 2024, film projects generated over $81 million for the Houston economy. By 2030, the Houston Film Commission hopes to have a fully operational studio campus, earn national recognition for training programs and double annual major productions.

Quote of note: “Houston has all the ingredients to become a much larger player in the film and media industry—extraordinary locations, a diverse population, talented professionals and the scale and infrastructure of a global city,” said Houston First CEO Michael Heckman.

Arsin Rug Gallery will host a grand opening celebration Oct. 29 for a new nearly 7,000-square-foot standalone venue on Westheimer Road, according to a news release.

This is the gallery’s second location in the city, with its first occupying a space inside Decorative Center Houston at 5120 Woodway Drive, Houston.

What they offer: Arsin Rug Gallery is a family-owned business specializing in handmade, antique, contemporary and one-of-a-kind rugs from around the world.

It is owned by Saeid Arsin, who founded the gallery decades ago as part of Houston’s local design community, per the release.

Respecting the craft: The new showroom will spotlight Arsin’s carefully curated inventory of rare and luxury pieces globally sourced from expert artisans in its own dedicated space. In doing so, the gallery will further its mission of preserving the artistry and heritage of traditional rugmaking.

• 5346 Westheimer Road, Houston

Early voting for the November general election in Harris County begins Oct. 19 and runs through Oct. 30.

The details: Registered voters can cast ballots at any of the county's 75 early voting locations. Voting hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., except on Oct. 25, when polls are open from noon to 7 p.m. The general election will take place Nov. 3 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Contested races in Harris County include:

• County judge: Letitia Plummer and Orlando Sanchez

• County attorney: Abbie Kamin and Jacqueline Lucci Smith

• District clerk: Chris Daniel and Darrell Jordan, Jr.

• County clerk: Teneshia Hudspeth and Mike Wolfe

• County treasurer: Marc Cowart and Carla L. Wyatt

• County Department of Education, Place 5: Sartaj Bal and Erica Davis

• County Department of Education, Place 7: Denise Dick and Silky Joshi Malik

• County Commissioner Precinct 2: Adrian Garcia and Richard Vega

• County Commissioner Precinct 4: Lesley Briones and Steve Radack

Three Harris County leaders held a press conference Oct. 15 to call for local data center development oversight and protections for residents.

The overview: County Attorney Abbie Kamin and commissioners Adrian Garcia and Lesley Briones are asking the state legislature to expand the county's authority, as counties currently have little to no authority to stop these developments.

Harris County has 55 operating, under construction or planned data centers. During an Oct. 15 meeting, the Harris County Commissioners Court passed a motion requiring:

• County departments to notify the court when major data centers apply for permits

• The County Attorney’s Office to report on existing county authority and oversight

• The Office of Intergovernmental and Global Affairs to advocate for statutory changes to strengthen county oversight in unincorporated areas during the next legislative session

The impact: Residents have raised concerns regarding grid reliability, noise, water and energy use, and utility costs. CenterPoint Energy expects to connect eight gigawatts of new data center load in the Houston area by 2029.