Sugar Land has increased its requirements for companies to receive tax abatements.

The overview: At an Oct. 20 meeting, Sugar Land City Council approved raising the minimum requirement for a tax abatement from a $4 million investment minimum to a $10 million investment minimum.

A tax abatement is a performance-based economic agreement that reduces a company’s property tax liability on the new value created by an investment for up to 10 years in key target industries such as information technology or life sciences.

The agreements are used as an economic development tool by cities to attract new investment and support business expansion and retention, said Alba Penate-Johnson, the city’s assistant director of economic development, at a Sept. 1 City Council meeting.

Looking ahead: The new tax abatement guidelines began Oct. 20 following council’s approval, per agenda documents. 

SheBlooms Floral, a floral arrangement shop, opened its doors in Missouri City, staff confirmed.

What it offers: The floral shop offers custom bouquets, seasonal flowers and arrangements designed for various occasions including homecoming and weddings, according to its website.

SheBlooms has membership plans that include monthly or weekly floral arrangement deliveries.

• 8735 Hwy. 6, Ste. C, Missouri City

Nearly 160,000 voters in Fort Bend County have already cast their ballots in person during the first week of early voting, county data shows.

Breaking it down: Fort Bend County data shows 159,605 ballots have been cast as of Oct. 25 for the Nov. 3 midterm election, which accounts for 27.38% of the county's 583,019 registered voters. Additional ballots have been cast by mail.

Some of the top polling locations include Cinco Ranch Branch Library, Four Corners Community Center and Bowie Middle School.

Zooming out: During the last county judge election in November 2022, 187,191 voters, or 35.89%, of the county's 521,611 weighed in during the entirety of early voting, according to data from the Texas Secretary of State's website.

Only 250,066, or 47.94%, participated in the 2022 election overall, data shows.

Looking ahead: Registered voters have until Oct. 30 to cast their ballot at one of the county's 38 early voting locations from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., according to Fort Bend County's website.

George Bush Intercontinental Airport welcomed travelers to its redeveloped Terminal B North Concourse on Oct. 22, following an official unveiling on Oct. 21.

The big picture: The three-level, 765,000-square-foot facility is part of United Airlines' $2.6 billion Terminal B Transformation Program. The project began in November 2023 and is expected to increase the number of customers who can fly on peak travel dates in 2026 by 40% compared to 2023.

Zooming in: The redeveloped terminal features the following amenities:

• A 54,000-square-foot United Club, which is the largest airline club in the Americas

• Seating for 800 travelers, two full-service bars and two buffet stations inside the club

• 22 mainline gates, giving United Airlines 48 gates in Terminal B

• 10 large-scale art installations and a dedicated sensory room

• 105,000 square feet of space for retail and concessions

• Climate-controlled jet bridges and a new baggage handling system

Looking ahead: The expansion will also allow United Airlines to add new international destinations, including service to Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico; Cartagena, Colombia; and Caracas, Venezuela.