Fulshear businesses will have the opportunity to receive funds from a new grant program aimed at promoting economic development within the city.

The details: At a Dec. 16 meeting, Fulshear City Council unanimously approved the Fulshear Development Corporation Small Business Grant program.

The program invites small businesses to apply for grants to reimburse up to 50% of project costs, not to exceed $10,000, Fulshear Director of Economic Development Annel Guadalupe said.

How it works: Retail and commercial property project proposals should include quotes or estimates for:

• Facade enhancements
• New amenity construction and open space improvements
• Pedestrian-oriented improvements
• Commercial awnings
• New signs and signage updates
• Parking lot repaving or open space conversion
• Public art installations
• Right of way and infrastructure improvements
• Landscaping and beautifications

Fuzzy's Taco Shop has opened the third location of its newest concept in Katy following the launch of Sugar Land and Kingswood locations.

The concept, dubbed Fuzzy’s Tacos and Margs, offers tableside service rather than the restaurant’s typical counter service, officials announced in a Dec. 18 news release.

On the menu: According to the release, Fuzzy's Tacos and Margs locations features a revised menu with a focus on tacos, including:

• Texas brisket taco
• Cali-style steak taco

• 233 S. Mason Road, Katy

Lamar Consolidated ISD Superintendent Roosevelt Nivens has been named a 2026 National Superintendent of the Year finalist by The School Superintendents Association, or AASA, according to a Dec. 15 news release.

The Texas Association of School Administrators nominated Rivens for the award Nov. 6, Community Impact reported.

The details: Nivens, who is also TASA’s president-elect, is one of four finalists for the award, along with superintendents from Kentucky, Maine and Maryland, per the release. The award recognizes superintendents for leadership and dedication to advancing public education in their communities.

“Dr. Nivens is an inspiration to everyone who knows him,” TASA Executive Director Kevin Brown said in the release. “His personal story is powerful, and it fuels his desire to help children and serve his community so very well.”

Remember this: Nivens was named 2025 Texas Superintendent of the Year by the Texas Association of School Boards on Sept. 12, Community Impact previously reported.

Looking ahead: The 2026 Superintendent of the Year will be announced at AASA’s National Conference on Education, which takes place Feb. 12-14.

A historic 20-story downtown Houston building has officially been renamed and dedicated after the late U.S. Rep and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on Dec. 17.

The gist: ​​​​​The Harris County Sylvester Turner Administration building is located at 1010 Lamar St., Houston, and houses Harris County’s Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity and will be the future site for members of the Harris County Attorney’s Office, according to county officials.

Quote of note: Members of Sylvester Turner’s family attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside both the city of Houston and Harris County officials. His daughter Ashley Turner Captain said her father took a lot of pride working with the county.

“Thank you all so much for voting unanimously to honor my dad in this way by naming a building after him,” Captain said. “You know, he took a lot of pride in working closely with the county. That wasn't by accident. He really did feel like we needed to work together as the city of Houston and Harris County.”

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from Dec. 15-19.

Did you know? Grand Parkway, or State Hwy. 99, is now moving into the southeastern region, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. 

The project will extend the highway 14 miles from FM 646 in League City to south of FM 2403 in Alvin, TxDOT documents show. The expansion project is slated to start construction in 2027.

In case you missed it: Two Spring ISD schools, Link Elementary School and Dueitt Middle School, will close next school year as the district faces falling enrollment and a $13 million fiscal year 2025-26 budget shortfall, according to a Dec. 10 SISD news release. 

Check this out: From a new burger spot to a new taco truck, read six dining updates across the Greater Houston area, including restaurants that recently opened or are celebrating anniversaries, as reported by Community Impact.

Community Impact compiled important holiday travel-related information, including what to know about traffic and airport activity, gas price data, and driver safety tips ahead of the year-end travel season, which runs Dec. 20-Jan. 1.

The overview: Texans should give themselves extra time to reach their destinations the weekend before Christmas, with many travelers expected to hit the road Dec. 21-22. Congestion is also expected as some Texans return home Dec. 26, according to INRIX, a transportation data company.

Minimal traffic is expected Dec. 24-25 and Dec. 31-Jan. 1, although AAA warned in a Dec. 10 news release that unexpected delays could arise from severe weather or crashes.

For the first time, more than 8 million people nationwide are expected to take domestic flights during the year-end holidays.

More information: Texas drivers will likely pay less for gas this holiday season than in recent years, AAA fuel data shows. On average, one gallon of unleaded gas costs about $2.51 in Texas as of Dec. 18, down from $2.65 one year prior.