The Ion District, Houston’s thriving, 16-acre innovation community and economic engine, has found major success in accelerating innovation and, expanding the region’s innovation ecosystem since its establishment in 2021, according to the district’s first community investment report. Through its partnership with Rice University’s Rice Management Co. and the City of Houston, the Ion District supports local businesses and organizations, promotes equitable businesses and connects all Houstonians with jobs, business opportunities and education, making a true impact on the region and contributing to the recent growth of its tech ecosystem.   The Ion District recently released its 2023 Community Investment Report, detailing the first year of its Community Benefits Agreement (CBA), which committed $15.3 million in direct investments. The agreement focuses on the Ion District’s key priorities and goals, including bolstering the tech sector job training and talent pipeline, preserving affordable housing, and providing opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses.   Surpassing expectations and goals, the Ion District is currently home to over 300 businesses including corporations, small businesses and startups. It offers various resources catering to the needs of Houston’s tech ecosystem and business community, including the Tech Job Training and Talent Placement Program, designed to increase technology workforce training access for residents in Houston’s underrepresented communities, and the Inclusive Tech Accelerator, designed to provide underrepresented startups and founders increased access to technical assistance and mentorship opportunities.   In the past few years, Houston has become a leading tech hub, home to the 11th largest sector in the U.S. with more than 243,900 tech workers, according to the Computing Technology Industry Association. The Partnership’s 2022 Tech Report shows, maturing tech startups and companies in Houston are also receiving more lucrative deals than ever before, generating $4.35 billion in total venture capital funding from 2017 to 2021, with the tech industry generating $29.2 billion to the region’s GDP.  This growth was largely supported by the region’s robust infrastructure, workforce and innovation-driven companies like the Ion District and its innovation hub, the Ion.  Additionally, the Ion District announced Per Scholas, a nationally recognized nonprofit that advances economic equity through technology skills training, as its workforce development partner to help strengthen its Tech Job Training and Talent Placement Program.  This is only the surface of the many things the Ion District has achieved. Other achievements include escrowing $5 million at Unity National Bank, the only certified Minority Depository Institution (MDI) in Texas which has allowed an increase in small business lending to help minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs) gain access to capital and opening multiple local restaurants at the Ion and in the Ion District, owned and operated by MWBE chefs and operators.   Furthering its commitment to the Houston community, the Ion District has also made investments to improve the city’s quality of life. Some investments include the Affordable Housing Fund, dedicated to the development and/or preservation of affordable housing primarily in the Third Ward Super Neighborhood; Homelessness Services, designed to provide funding for organizations supporting the homeless population; and the Minority and Women Tech Fund, committed to increase access to venture capital investment for underrepresented founders.    “The thoughtful engagement that drove the CBA’s development is helping strengthen Houston’s position as a place where ideas can grow no matter who you are or where you are from,” said Mike Pittman II, Chairman of the Ion District CBA Advisory Committee.  Looking to continue its community-focused impact work, the Ion District shared that Rice University will focus on the key priorities in the CBA, such as economic and project-based opportunities and housing affordability. In addition, the Ion District’s 1,500 space parking garage is set to finish this summer, offering charging stations, and ground level retail and gallery space.   Learn more about Houston’s tech and innovation ecosystem.

Two Energy 2.0 companies announced they will be relocating their headquarters to Houston in recent days, helping solidify the Bayou City as a leader in the energy transition. Archaea Energy, one of the largest renewable natural gas producers in the U.S., is relocating from Pittsburgh to the new M-K-T mixed-use development in The Heights. Archaea is an industry leader in developing, constructing, and operating RNG facilities to capture waste emissions and convert them into low carbon fuel. A company spokesperson told the Houston Chronicle that Archaea picked Houston for its new headquarters because of the access to talent available within the energy capital of the world. “Archaea’s decision to move their corporate headquarters to Houston is a testament to our region’s position leading the energy transition,” said Susan Davenport, Chief Economic Development Officer at the Greater Houston Partnership. “Houston has been at the center of innovation for over a century with a rich history in the energy industry. We thank Archaea for their investment in the Houston community and welcome their innovation to our region.”  Not far away, biomaterials company Bucha Bio is relocating from New York to open a next-gen materials headquarters at the East End Maker Hub. The company, founded in 2019, specializes in textiles and composite materials made from renewable bacterial nanocellulose. According to a company press release, Houston scored the relocation because of its access to venture capital, existing polymer and chemical manufacturers, hiring potential, top tier universities and quality of life. Houston has one of the largest and deeply skilled energy workforces in the world with more than 220,000 energy-related workers, an asset that leaders believe will continue to draw Energy 2.0 companies like Arachaea and Bucha Bio to the region.  In 2021, the Partnership launched the Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI) and an accompanying strategy to leverage Houston’s energy leadership to accelerate global solutions for a low-carbon future. One of HETI’s objectives is attracting and supporting companies and startups growing “new energy” industries, and those focused on breakthroughs in advanced materials, energy efficiency and geothermal energy. Greentown Labs, the cleantech startup incubator that opened last year in Midtown, has also accepted Bucha Bio as a member company. Learn how Houston is leading the global energy transition. Learn more about the work of our Energy 2.0 Committee and other Regional Economic Development Advisory committees.