HTX-COM: Impact 10/7/2025

Gardenwright, which offers a boutique gardening experience, will hold a grand opening in Conroe Oct. 15, owner and operator Mary Cummings confirmed.

“I’ve spent almost 40 years working in and managing retail nurseries in Houston and Conroe. It was time for me to fulfill my dream of doing things a little differently. I fell in love with Conroe, as it reminds me of where I grew up,” Cummings said.

What they offer: Alongside annuals, perennials and specialty shrubs, Cummings said the business has antique pottery, house plants, garden supplies and garden-themed gifts. Cummings said she has invited small local businesses to share the space and offer items including candles, soap, loose-leaf specialty tea blends and sourdough bread on weekends.

The owner said she will also be hosting rare plant markets with local growers and events for the deaf and blind community.

• 512 N. Second St., Conroe

PNC Bank officials said a new location is in the works and plans to open by the second quarter of next year.

The details: Per the website, PNC Bank offers personal, corporate, institutional and small business banking services. Services offered include checking, credit cards, savings, home loans, retirement, auto loans and merchant services. 

• 765 Fish Creek Thoroughfare, Montgomery  

Officials with the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo announced in an Oct. 1 news release that Kyle Olsen, a seven-year veteran of the organization, will be the new chief show operations officer. He is the first CSOO of the show in over three decades.

What we know: According to the news release, Olsen brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in managing large-scale, high-profile events and complex public venues. His career background includes:

• Director of events and production at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona
• Event services at NRG Park
• Director of operations for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

Lone Star College System board members voted to lower the college system’s property tax rate for fiscal year 2025-56 during the board’s Oct. 2 meeting.

The action taken: The board unanimously approved a FY 2025-26 tax rate of $0.1060 per $100 valuation, down from last year’s rate of $0.1076. Trustee Rebecca Broussard was absent from the Oct. 2 meeting.

Diving deeper: According to the Oct. 2 meeting documents, the tax rate is made up of:

• $0.0785 per $100 valuation for the maintenance and operations tax rate, up from last year’s rate of $0.0757.
• $0.0275 per $100 valuation for the interest and sinking rate, down from last year’s rate of $0.0319.