In July, construction on a new Valvoline location is expected to kick off in New Caney. The building is scheduled to be completed by June 2027.

Learn more: Valvoline offers oil changes—without required appointments—as well as services such as air filter, wiper blade and light bulb replacements; fluid exchanges; tire rotations; and safety inspections. The chain has locations across the U.S. and in Canada.

• 20484 FM 1485, New Caney

Construction is winding down on the Porter Fire Department’s new Station 125 as officials begin preparing for their next project: Station 126.

What’s new: Station 125 is a new three-bay station that will host a full-time crew of four and house a fire engine and an evacuation boat. Chief Carter Johnson said the $6.5 million project is expected to wrap up in mid-to-late March, and the department plans to host a grand opening for the public a couple of months later.

“We’re looking to decrease the response time from our current administration station to the southern part of our district, so [Station 125 will] decrease the response time to that area,” Johnson said.

What’s next: In the next six months to a year, Johnson said construction is expected to begin on Station 126. Located in Valley Ranch, the new facility will serve as both a new fire station and the department’s new administration facility, which is currently housed at Station 121 on Loop 494.

Select Houston-area residents who have the Waymo app downloaded are now able to take the first public rides in the fully autonomous vehicles, the company announced via news release Feb. 24.

What you need to know: Waymo will continue to invite new riders on a rolling basis to use the service as it kicks off service in Houston. Its service area in the city includes The Heights, downtown Houston and Montrose. Service will open to everyone later this year, according to the release.

Some context: The company previously announced its expansion to Houston last fall, Community Impact previously reported.

Quote of note: “I'm thrilled that we are now launching limited access public rides here in Houston,” Houston City Council member Sallie Alcorn said via news release. “It will give both Houstonians and visitors another safe, high-tech way to get around during exciting upcoming events like the World Baseball Classic and the World Cup."

Texas attracts dozens of company headquarters to the state annually, with at least 314 businesses moving their main office to Texas from other states between 2015-2024, data from the governor’s office shows.

Zooming in: At least 24 companies moved their headquarters to Texas in 2024, with more than half landing in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Two companies relocated from other countries, with data center developer Hive Digital Technologies bringing its home base from Canada to San Antonio and pharmaceutical company IntraBio Inc. moving its headquarters from the United Kingdom to Austin.

How we got here: State officials and experts said Texas’ economic incentives and light regulatory environment are key reasons why companies brought their operations to the state in recent years.

“Texas wants companies to move here, and [company leaders] know that,” Megan Mauro, interim president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business, told Community Impact. “Our legislative policy is really impacted by the voices of employers here.”