HTX-BAY: Impact 10/8/2025

Houston-based Ambriza Social Mexican Kitchen is slated to open by the second quarter of 2026, owner Julio Garcia said.

On the menu: Starters will include street corn, empanadas and ceviche, among other items. Main courses include fajitas, tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas and flautas, among other items, according to the restaurant’s menu.

More details: This will be the fourth location to open in the Greater Houston area, with three other locations in Katy, Cypress and Houston on Louetta Road.

📍 110 Osprey Drive, Webster

RCC Resale Shop opened a Texas City location on Sept. 5, according to a social media post from the business.

What else: The store accepts new and gently used clothing, furniture, housewares, working electronics, books, records and many other items.

Why it matters: RCC Resale stores are owned and operated by the Resource and Crisis Center of Galveston County and proceeds from sales support the purchase of clothing, furniture and household items for clients in need, according to the non-profit's website.

📍 2312 Palmer Highway, Texas City

The Public Utility Commission of Texas on Oct. 2 authorized CenterPoint Energy to issue a customer rate increase—totaling approximately $1.2 billion—to cover repair and recovery costs from Hurricane Beryl and two other Greater Houston storms.

The overview: The restoration costs will add about $2 per month to the average customer’s electricity bill, with the rate change expected to take effect later this year or early next year, according to an Oct. 6 statement from CenterPoint Energy. The decision allows CenterPoint to spread the cost to residential customers across 15 years, saving more than $265 million in interest charges, per the statement. 

Looking back: According to previous Community Impact reporting, more than 2.2 million customers in the Greater Houston area lost power during Hurricane Beryl in July 2024, and over 4,400 Harris County homes were damaged. The Category 1 storm led to an estimated $32 billion in losses nationwide.

Odyssey, a New York-based tech company, has been selected to manage Texas’ $1 billion education savings account program, the state comptroller’s office announced Oct. 6.

The overview: Odyssey will work with the comptroller to launch the program, deemed “Texas Education Freedom Accounts,” ahead of the 2026-27 school year. Families can begin applying for the program early next year, and those accepted will receive thousands of dollars in state funds to send their children to private school or homeschool them.

Zooming in: Odyssey will develop and manage an online platform to administer Texas’ education savings account program. State law also tasks the company with:

• Collecting applications and determining which families are accepted to the program
• Approving vendors for education-related materials and services, such as textbooks, transportation and tutoring
• Reviewing inquiries and complaints about the program
• Advertising the program and communicating with interested families