Fort Bend ISD residents will have the opportunity to learn about the inner workings of the district with the return of the Board of Trustees Leadership Academy.

The details: The academy—which was established in 2017—allows residents to apply for a seven-month program featuring a behind the scenes look at all major systems and processes used by the district, officials announced in an Aug. 17 news release.

Academy members will attend four evening learning sessions and a retreat as well as a road trip around the district and to the Texas Capitol.

Get involved: Applications opened Aug. 17 and will close Sept. 4 at 4 p.m., per the release. Tuition for the academy is $125.

The Peach Cobbler Factory is set to open a new location in Sugar Land, officials confirmed.

On the menu: The eatery offers a number of desserts including various cobblers, banana pudding, cheesecake in a cup, cookies, cinnamon rolls, brownies, shakes, churros and ice cream, according to its website.

Cobbler flavor options include:

• Sweet potato pecan

• Cinnamon praline peach

• Caramel apple

• Strawberry peach

In their own words: Franchisee Kim Haynes said choosing Sugar Land was intentional as she wanted to open a business in a community that truly feels like family.

"Sugar Land has such a strong sense of community and family, and those are the same values I want our location to represent," she said. "My hope is that we become one of those special neighborhood places that people simply consider their spot."

• 19914 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land

Apple officials opened a new manufacturing facility in Houston as part of a $500 billion initiative from the company to strengthen production in the U.S. and the Houston area.

The big picture:  The new 20,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Center will be the second largest facility that produces Apple technology in the U.S., according to an Aug. 13 news release. The new facility will also provide interactive classes and trainings for businesses and entrepreneurs on principles such as:

• Advanced manufacturing 
• Smart technology use in manufacturing
• Advanced automation techniques

Houston City College has received another investment to meet Greater Houston workforce needs. 

What’s happening: The college has received a $103,000 investment from NRG Energy Inc. to broaden apprenticeships for students seeking employment in the growing energy industry, officials announced in an Aug. 17 news release.

A closer look: HCC’s instrumentation and controls programs include classroom instruction as well as employer established hands-on training, per the release.

Graduates can expect to gain knowledge in operating, maintaining and troubleshooting automated systems that support power generation and industrial operations.

What they’re saying: “Industry is no longer simply advising higher education, it is helping shape it,” HCC Chancellor Margaret Ford Fisher said. “Through partnerships like this with NRG, Houston City College is preparing students for careers that are in demand today while building the workforce Texas will need tomorrow.”