Members advanced major projects and milestones across energy, business, education, healthcare and innovation. Highlights include major acquisitions, energy infrastructure investments, healthcare funding, and new programs supporting Houston\u2019s talent, research and technology sectors.<\/p>\n
Business Moves
\nGrowth, Investment & Expansion<\/p>\n
BP Harris County Fifth Third Bank Phillips 66 and Kinder Morgan Real Estate, Development & Hospitality<\/p>\n Crown Castle Mergers & Acquisitions<\/p>\n Hewlett Packard Enterprise Quanta Services Awards & Recognition<\/p>\n Empower Pharmacy, Perry Homes and The Signorelli Co. Fervo Energy and Mercury Fund Harvey Cleary, JE Dunn Construction, Kids\u2019 Meals Inc., The Signorelli Co. and Transwestern Houston Methodist Prairie View A&M University St. Luke\u2019s Health Education<\/p>\n Houston ISD Rice University Rice University Rice University Rice University University of Houston-Clear Lake Energy<\/p>\n Chevron and ExxonMobil ExxonMobil NRG Energy Healthcare<\/p>\n Baylor College of Medicine University of Texas Medical Branch St. Luke\u2019s Health and Baylor College of Medicine Innovation<\/p>\n NASA
BP<\/a>\u00a0plans to sell Archaea Energy, its Houston-based renewable natural gas business, as part of a broader effort to streamline its portfolio and focus on higher-return operations.<\/p>\n
Harris County<\/a>\u00a0plans a $17 million flood and swiftwater rescue training facility to better prepare first responders for high-water emergencies. The project would give emergency personnel a dedicated site to practice rescues in realistic flood conditions, strengthening the region\u2019s disaster response capabilities and long-term resilience.<\/p>\n
Fifth Third Bank<\/a>\u00a0plans to open a new Houston office to support its growing Texas presence, including an expanding energy banking group. The move follows Fifth Third\u2019s broader Texas expansion strategy, which includes converting Comerica branches and growing its statewide retail footprint.<\/p>\n
Phillips 66<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Kinder Morgan<\/a>\u00a0reaches a final investment decision on the $5 billion Western Gateway Pipeline, a 900-mile system that will move gasoline, jet fuel and diesel from the Texas Panhandle to Arizona and California. The project is designed to deliver 230,000 barrels per day of refined products, expanding energy infrastructure from Texas to Western markets.<\/p>\n
Crown Castle\u2019s<\/a>\u00a013-story Houston office tower is now fully leased following new agreements with Superior Energy Services and Arium Networks, which together leased about 85,000 square feet. The company will continue occupying the balance of the tower, reinforcing its corporate presence in Houston.<\/p>\n
Hewlett Packard Enterprise<\/a>\u00a0clears a key milestone in its $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks after receiving court approval for its settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice. The approval allows the Spring-based technology company to move forward with expanding its networking business and strengthening its position in AI-driven enterprise technology.<\/p>\n
Houston-based\u00a0Quanta Services<\/a>\u00a0acquires Enerfab, a Cincinnati-area industrial construction and fabrication company, as Enerfab prepares to move its headquarters to Blue Ash, Ohio. The deal expands Quanta\u2019s industrial services capabilities and adds to its portfolio of companies supporting energy, utility and infrastructure projects across North America.<\/p>\n
Empower Pharmacy<\/a>,\u00a0Perry Homes<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0The Signorelli Co.<\/a>\u00a0were named to the 2026 Inc. 5000 list, which recognizes the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. Empower Pharmacy ranked No. 1,299 with 270% growth, The Signorelli Co. ranked No. 4,136 with 55% growth and Perry Homes ranked No. 4,998 with 12% growth, highlighting Houston companies\u2019 continued momentum across health care, homebuilding and real estate.<\/p>\n
Fervo Energy<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Mercury Fund<\/a>\u00a0leaders were named experts-in-residence for TEX-E, supporting student entrepreneurs developing energy and climate technologies. Their involvement will connect fellows with industry and investment expertise, helping strengthen Houston\u2019s energy innovation pipeline and support the next generation of climate tech founders.<\/p>\n
Harvey Cleary<\/a>,\u00a0JE Dunn Construction<\/a>,\u00a0Kids\u2019 Meals Inc.<\/a>,\u00a0The Signorelli Co.<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Transwestern<\/a>\u00a0were named among the Houston Business Journal\u2019s 2026 Best Places to Work. The annual awards recognize companies across multiple size categories for strong workplace culture, employee engagement and organizational leadership.<\/p>\n
Houston Methodist<\/a>\u00a0was named one of the 20 best hospitals in the country on U.S. News & World Report\u2019s Honor Roll. The recognition marks Houston Methodist\u2019s 15th consecutive year as the No. 1 hospital in Texas.<\/p>\n
Prairie View A&M University<\/a>\u00a0celebrates its 150th anniversary with signature events and milestone moments honoring the university\u2019s legacy of opportunity, excellence and impact. The celebration recognizes the generations who shaped PVAMU\u2019s mission in teaching, research and service while inviting alumni, students and supporters to help define the next chapter of \u201cThe Hill.\u201d<\/p>\n
St. Luke\u2019s Health<\/a>\u00a0hospitals were recognized for excellence by U.S. News & World Report. Baylor St. Luke\u2019s Medical Center and St. Luke\u2019s Health\u2013The Woodlands Hospital earned Best Hospital rankings, while three St. Luke\u2019s community hospitals were rated High Performing for 2026-2027.<\/p>\n
Houston ISD<\/a>\u00a0launches its Future 2 model at Gregg and Clemente Martinez elementary schools, incorporating Alpha School\u2019s AI learning platform into a new K-8 approach. The model pairs morning academics with afternoon hands-on, screen-free learning focused on skills such as critical thinking and collaboration. The pilot reflects HISD\u2019s broader effort to prepare students for an AI-enabled workforce.<\/p>\n
Rice University<\/a>\u00a0expands The Rice Investment to provide free tuition for undergraduates from families earning up to $200,000 a year beginning next fall. The move raises the previous full-tuition threshold and builds on Rice\u2019s loan-free financial aid model, helping make the university more accessible.<\/p>\n
Rice University<\/a>\u00a0receives a $6 million gift from Harris and Chris Kraft to support construction of the Kraft Family Football Operations Pavilion. The new facility will expand space for student-athlete training, sports medicine, nutrition, meetings and recruiting, strengthening Rice Athletics\u2019 football infrastructure and supporting the university\u2019s broader investment in competitive excellence.<\/p>\n
Rice University<\/a>\u00a0receives a major gift from alumnus James Whitehurst to create the Sallyport Leadership Program, a new initiative focused on developing student leadership across campus. The program will support experiential learning, mentorship and leadership development opportunities.<\/p>\n
Rice University<\/a>\u00a0and the U.S. Army enter a five-year, $30 million research agreement to develop next-generation wireless networks and radio frequency electronics. The work will support efforts to modernize military communications while advancing research in secure, resilient wireless systems<\/p>\n
University of Houston-Clear Lake<\/a>\u00a0launched Hawk Promise, a new program guaranteeing free tuition and mandatory fees for eligible incoming freshmen from families with adjusted gross incomes up to $65,000 beginning in fall 2026.<\/p>\n
Chevron<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0ExxonnMobil<\/a>\u00a0reported 11-digit second-quarter earnings as higher oil prices and record production boosted results. ExxonMobil more than doubled its earnings from the prior year, while Chevron\u2019s earnings roughly quadrupled.<\/p>\n
ExxonMobil<\/a>\u00a0signed a carbon capture and storage agreement with Williams to transport and store CO\u2082 from Williams\u2019 natural gas processing operations in Louisiana. The project marks ExxonMobil\u2019s seventh commercial CCS customer and fifth CCS contract in Louisiana.<\/p>\n
NRG Energy<\/a>\u00a0plans to supply 295 megawatts of power to new data centers on two company-owned sites in Texas, with initial service expected in the second half of 2026 and full operations targeted by 2030. The agreements reflect rising electricity demand from AI and data center growth while positioning NRG to serve large-scale digital infrastructure across the state.<\/p>\n
Baylor College of Medicine<\/a>\u00a0partners with United Therapeutics on a clinical trial exploring genetically modified pig kidneys as a potential solution to the shortage of transplantable organs.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0University of Texas Medical Branch<\/a>\u00a0receives a record $180 million commitment from the Sealy & Smith Foundation to expand cardiovascular care and research. The gift includes $130 million in new funding, following $50 million already given to establish the Sealy Heart & Vascular Institute and the Sealy Department of Cardiovascular Medicine. The contribution is the largest in UTMB history and will support efforts to fight heart disease.<\/p>\n
St. Luke\u2019s Health<\/a>\u00a0hospitals across Greater Houston will add the CommonSpirit name beginning in October as the system adopts the brand of its national parent organization. The transition comes as St. Luke\u2019s continues expanding its partnership with\u00a0Baylor College of Medicine<\/a>, supporting coordinated care, academic medicine and continued investment in regional health services.<\/p>\n
NASA<\/a>\u00a0prepares for its Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station, with mission briefings hosted from Johnson Space Center ahead of a planned September launch. The mission will use updated emergency crew evacuation vehicles at Cape Canaveral\u2019s Space Launch Complex 40, reflecting continued improvements to NASA\u2019s commercial crew operations.<\/p>\n