HTX-SLM: Impact 10/27/2025

Check out some businesses in the Sugar Land-Missouri City area that have recently opened, as reported by Community Impact. This list is not comprehensive.

Bite Pizza Co.: Founded by a seasoned Houston chef with Punjabi roots, the family-owned restaurant serves a fusion of South Asian flavors and classic American pizza.

• Opened July 2
• 13500 W. Airport Blvd., Ste. C, Sugar Land

• Opened Aug. 9
• 3818 Cartwright Road, Missouri City

• Opened Aug. 25
• 4660 Sweetwater Blvd., Sugar Land

• Opened Sept. 21
• 1021 Lake Olympia Parkway, Ste. 150, Missouri City

Self-serve kayaks are coming back to Sugar Land Memorial Park.

What’s happening: At an Oct. 21 meeting, Sugar Land City Council unanimously approved a license agreement with Whenever Watersports LLC to operate a self-serve kayak station at Sugar Land Memorial Park.

The move comes after ShareKayak LLC, which has been in contract with the city since July 2022, opted out of its contract earlier this year, per agenda documents. 

Breaking it down: The city will receive a $100 per month rent allotment and a 5% share of monthly gross revenue for the 156-square-foot battery-operated rental station, which will hold eight kayaks in the Memorial Park lake, per agenda documents.

The contract is estimated to bring the city between $10,000 and $15,000 in gross revenue per year.

What’s next: The contract will last five years, with five additional one-year renewal terms, according to agenda documents. Construction of the rental stations is anticipated for this winter.

Harris County Public Health officials announced the launch of an online, public dashboard aimed at informing the community about human cases of mosquito-borne diseases.

Explained: As of Oct. 16, at least 192 positive mosquito samples across the county have been identified. Throughout the year, HCPH’s mosquito and vector control department officials track, test, and eliminate disease-carrying mosquitoes in the county, according to an Oct. 17 news release.

A closer look: In 2025, HCPH confirmed West Nile virus in the northern section of the county including parts of Tomball, Spring, Humble, Cypress, Katy and Kingwood.

Quote of note: Jennifer Kiger, director of the county’s office of epidemiology, surveillance and emerging diseases department, said in a news release the new dashboard is for residents to stay informed about potential mosquito-borne diseases in Harris County.

“While our current case numbers are low, it’s still important for everyone to protect themselves from mosquito bites—especially during the warmer months when mosquitoes are most active,” Kiger said.

NRG Energy Inc. will invest $360 million to expand power generation in Harris County through a new 456-megawatt natural gas facility at the existing TH Wharton Generating Station, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Oct. 21.

Explained: The project, which has been designated as a qualified initiative under the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology and Innovation (JETI) program, is expected to begin operations by summer 2026. Once complete, the facility will serve the Electric Reliability Council of Texas’ Houston Load Zone—including Houston, Pasadena and The Woodlands—helping meet growing energy demands across the fifth-largest metro area in the U.S., according to the release.

Offering input: NRG leaders said the project will bring both temporary construction jobs and permanent positions once operational.

“Texas energy powers our state’s booming economy,” Abbott said in the news release. “This $360 million investment by NRG in Harris County is a significant advancement in Texas' energy infrastructure. The new natural gas facility will expand power generation and provide reliable, affordable energy for homes and businesses.”