The Celina Economic Development Corp. is spearheading an initiative designed to make it easier for local businesses and organizations to get involved with their community.

The gist: The proposed program, called Celina Connection, would create a central platform for partnership opportunities like sponsoring city events or hosting a business roundtable.

Why it matters: City staff already fields requests from organizations looking to get involved, and Celina Connection would be a valuable resource to help find the best way for each partner to engage, said Stephanie Tucker, the CEDC’s director of strategy and partnerships.

What they're saying: “When someone comes to us, we want to be ready,” Tucker said.

Home2Suites by Hilton plans to open in Prosper by the end of the year, a hotel representative confirmed.

At a glance: Home2Suites is an extended-stay brand from Hilton that offers studio and one-bedroom suites, according to the company’s website.

A closer look: Each room features a full kitchen with a full-size refrigerator.

Zooming out: The hotel is 1.5 miles from downtown Prosper and 4 miles from Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, per the hotel’s website.

• 841 S. Coleman St., Prosper

The Denton County Commissioners Court will allocate a $40 million bond from the Denton County Housing Finance Corporation to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, according to an Oct. 20 news release.

The details:The TDHCA will use that money to assist around 132 households in buying homes, providing nearly $1.4 million in down payment assistance and more in closing costs, according to the release. 

The $40 million bond comes from the DCHFC’s end-of-year bond cap, the annual federal limit on tax-exempt private activity bonds. The DCHFC will receive annual fee revenue from the bond to support future housing projects, according to the release.

“By working with TDHCA, we can help more working families achieve the dream of homeownership while supporting our local workforce, all without taking on additional County debt,” Denton County Judge Andy Eads said.