Sugar Land officials took first steps toward creating a reinvestment zone at onshoring manufacturer Applied Optoelectronics Inc.’s new Sugar Land location.

What residents need to know: At a Dec. 16 meeting, Sugar Land City Council unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance to create the reinvestment zone, which is an area designated as eligible for incentives such as tax abatements by a governing body, Sugar Land Business Development Manager Jennifer Alexander said.

Zooming in: Alexander said the reinvestment zone would allow for a county-proposed tax abatement for the project, with goals including:

• Encouraging new investment in designated areas
• Supporting job creation and retention
• Promoting redevelopment of underutilized or declining properties
• Diversifying the tax base and stimulating long-term economic vitality

A bank with locations across the American Southwest has made its southwest Houston debut with a Sugar Land location. 

The gist: Origin Bank, a Louisiana-based bank, was founded in 1912 and operates more than 50 financial service centers in Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Texas, per the website. There are 32 locations in Texas, and the Sugar Land location is one of nine in the Greater Houston area, according to the website.

Per the website, Origin offers:

• Business, personal and private banking
• Mortgage warehouse lending
• Private mortgage banking
• Notary services

• 2245 Texas Drive, Ste. 180, Sugar Land

Central Texas counties could begin receiving up to $1.25 million each in state funding for flood warning sirens in the coming weeks and months, officials announced Dec. 16.

The overview: The funding comes less than six months after historic flooding hit parts of Central and West Texas over the July 4 weekend, killing at least 137 residents and visitors. During special legislative sessions this summer, state lawmakers approved requirements that 30 counties included in a July disaster declaration install flood warning systems with the help of $50 million in state grants.

Zooming in: Each county is expected to receive up to $1.25 million from the Texas Water Development Board. Counties seeking more money will need their requests approved by the three-member board.

Counties are required to submit detailed project plans to the TWDB and can use the grants to install physical infrastructure such as sirens, rain gauges, flood gauges and solar panels to power the warning systems. The money can also be used for local flood education, outreach and training programs, TWDB staff said.