ATX-SCA: Impact 10/3/2025

Austin is updating its incentive program for local film, television and other media projects in the wake of Texas' significant boost in state funding for production incentives.

The details: The city's Creative Content Incentive Program established in 2014 has been used to support a movie, video game and seasons of several TV shows over the past decade, with "Yellowstone" spinoff "1923" being the most recent. The program has resulted in thousands of jobs for local employees who were paid tens of millions of dollars total for their work, alongside city incentives totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.

While the CCIP has drawn interest so far, city representatives expect a program update approved Sept. 25 can further stimulate the local creative economy. Austin is rolling out the changes soon after Texas lawmakers voted to expand funding for a separate incentive program with hundreds of millions of dollars reserved for new productions around the state.

Rainey Street’s dining scene has expanded with Veracruz All Natural’s recent food trailer launch.

On the menu: Whether diners are in the area for breakfast or lunch, the business showcases options for all taste buds. Customers can find bites such as a Barbacoa Taco, a Shrimp Macha Taco, a Migas Taco and salads and tortas, which are currently exclusively available at the newest location.

How we got her: The Austin-based taco eatery was launched in 2008 by sisters Reyna and Maritza Vasquez with its first truck in East Austin. Today the business operates eight locations across East Austin, South Austin, Downtown Austin and Round Rock.

• 75 Rainey St., Austin

A San Antonio-based grocery chain with a stronghold across Texas is now facing a change in leadership.

In case you missed it: H-E-B President Craig Boyan announced his intention to step down from his role, effective in January 2026.

He’ll subsequently retire at the end of next year, according to a Sept. 30 news release from the company.

As a result, current H-E-B Chief Operating Officer Roxanne Orsak will take his place.

Zooming in: Orsak started her career at H-E-B in 1988 as a store manager, rising through the ranks to become the COO in 2022, according to the release.

“I am honored to continue to shape the future of this great company with integrity, heart and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” Orsak said.

The context: The leadership change comes in tandem with H-E-B’s continued expansion in Texas.

New storefronts in San Antonio, Georgetown, Prosper and more have opened within the last two months, as previously reported by Community Impact.

Austin Community College is aiming to meet a growing demand for dental hygienists in Central Texas through an expanded dental hygiene clinic.

What's happening: ACC officials celebrated the opening of the newly renovated space at the ACC Eastview Campus with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 1. Through the facility, ACC is projected to nearly double the dental hygiene program’s enrollment and provide affordable dental care to more community members, said Michelle Landrum, ACC Dental Hygiene department chair.

The details: Since 2003, ACC’s two-year program has trained students to become dental hygienists through hands-on work experience at its on-site dental clinic. The new 13,800-square-foot dental hygiene facility has increased the number of operatories from 16 to 32, allowing students to treat more patients.

The highly-competitive ACC program has now increased its annual cohorts from 18 to 34 students.

What they're saying: “Across Texas, dentists are having a very difficult time treating all of their patients because there are just not enough dental hygienists,” said Dr. Shailee Gupta, local dentist and member of Capital Area Dental Society.