HTX-PLF: Impact 12/4/2025

Good Morning, Pearland, Friendswood & Manvel!

Top Story

Friendswood officials question $73K nonprofit, outside entity contracts

Friendswood city officials are looking closely at the return on investments the city makes with outside entities, a figure city staff says totals nearly $73,000 spent in 2025.

The details: Friendswood City Council recently discussed at its Dec. 1 meeting the return on investment for several partnerships the city has with local and regional nonprofits and outside organizations, which cost the city a combined total of $73,000 per year, council member Robert Griffon said.

Looking ahead: Mayor Mike Foreman asked staff to consult with each of the organizations to gather more information on the justification for the costs and what the return is for the city to present to council for consideration at a future meeting.

On The Business Beat

Friendswood's Havana Heights Restaurant and Bar is closed

Nearly two years after opening in Friendswood, Cuban restaurant Havana Heights Restaurant and Bar closed its doors on Nov. 17, according to a social media post.

Prior to opening as Havana Heights Restaurant and Bar, the restaurant was known as The Cuban Flavor.

What else: The owners confirmed in the social media post that they are working on opening a new concept in the same space.

709 W. Parkwood Ave., Friendswood

Read here.

Stay In The Know

Houston to offer 1st direct flight to Rome through IAH

Travelers will be able to fly directly to Rome from George Bush Intercontinental Airport, or IAH, beginning May 1, 2026, Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced Dec. 2.

In a nutshell: Italian airline ITA Airways will offer the flights to Rome Fiumicino Airport, Whitmire said during a press conference. The new Houston connection marks the ninth U.S. destination for the airline, officials said.

Joerg Eberhart, CEO and general manager of ITA Airways, said the airline will start with three nonstop flights per week in May and ramp up to five flights per week by June. The flights are already available for purchase through the airline, he said.

Quote of note: “If we look at what’s going on in the Italian economy and the Houston economy, this gives us now the opportunity to go to Italian companies and try to track more of them and locate their U.S. headquarters here in Houston because we’ve got this great service now,” Houston Airports Director of Aviation Jim Szczesniak said.