With longtime bars celebrating anniversaries and new sushi experiences and massage businesses launching in the area, the South Austin community has seen a range of changes in its business scene. This list is not comprehensive.

Kitsu Nori
Chef Paul Qui’s latest concept Kitsu Nori offers a Japanese handroll and sushi experience. The menu features crispy nori, warm rice, dry-aged fish, premium shellfish and farm-fresh vegetables.

• Opened Dec. 13
• 2310 S. Lamar Blvd., Ste. 102, Austin

• Opened Dec. 15
• 900 S. First St., Ste. 150, Austin

• 1415 S. Congress Ave, Austin; 1421 S. Congress Ave, Austin; 501 E. 53rd St, Austin

Austin is dedicating nearly $300,000 to support a joint regional food system plan with Travis County, the initiative's first city funding since officials signed off on it last fall.

What's happening: The Austin/Travis County Food Plan, created with input from hundreds of area residents, is meant to tackle challenges with food access and production through dozens of strategies related to land use, climate response and community initiatives. City Council authorized a $282,000 contract with Woollard Nichols Torres Consulting in December to implement the plan.

The city's nearly three-year consulting contract will support one piece of that work, the creation of an "implementation collaborative" involving residents and other groups working toward food system goals. The collaborative is kicking off early next year and also expected to receive county funding.

The regional food planning effort was established as nearly 1 in 5 Austin households face food insecurity, or a lack of access to healthy and affordable food. That estimate is higher than the national average, and comes as local and federal funding for food support is dwindling.