Partnership Members Making News in August

The Greater Houston Partnership celebrates our members making important announcements and sharing news about their operations and impact in our region. Learn more about some of those announcements over the last month below.

• Barrios Technology has been awarded a $450 million contract by NASA to provide technical integration support for its human spaceflight programs. The Mission Technical Integration Contract (MTIC) is a two-year contract with four one-year option periods, which could extend the work through 2031. The contract will provide services such as program and business management, systems engineering, and mission integration for programs including the International Space Station, Orion, and Gateway.
• BP has started up its Argos platform in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico, beginning production ahead of schedule. The platform is a crucial component of BP’s strategy to boost its oil and gas output in the region, with a design capacity of up to 140,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. The Argos is a key infrastructure investment that will enable BP to unlock further production from its Thunder Horse and Mad Dog fields.
• ConocoPhillips and Sempra Infrastructure have signed a 20-year sales and purchase agreement for 4 million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the proposed Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 development. This project, which aims to double the facility’s capacity to 26 mtpa, builds on their existing partnership. The agreement is a significant step toward a final investment decision for Phase 2, which is targeted for 2025. The project has already secured key permits and is also supported by a separate 20-year agreement with JERA Co. Inc.
• Enbridge Inc. has made a final investment decision on the Clear Fork solar project in Texas, representing a $900 million investment. The company has secured a long-term agreement with Meta to sell 100% of the renewable power generated by the 600-megawatt facility. This project is expected to be operational by the summer of 2027. This move is part of Enbridge’s strategy to expand its renewables portfolio and meet the growing demand for clean power from major corporations.
• ExxonMobil has commenced production at its fourth oil development in Guyana, the Yellowtail project, utilizing the new ONE GUYANA vessel. This addition, which was brought online four months early, boosts the country’s total installed production capacity to over 900,000 barrels per day. The ONE GUYANA is the largest floating production, storage, and offloading vessel in the offshore Stabroek block, with an initial average production rate of 250,000 barrels of oil per day. ExxonMobil and its partners plan to have eight developments in operation by 2030, with a target production capacity of 1.7 million barrels of oil equivalent per day.
• Group 1 Automotive has acquired a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Atlanta for $210 million in annual revenue, bringing the company’s total acquired annual revenue for the year to $640 million. The company also disposed of dealerships that generated $470 million in annual revenue.
• Hines has acquired the Montrose Collective in Houston for $137.6 million. The purchase sets a new record for price per square foot in Houston at approximately $727. The mixed-use property spans 189,000 square feet and is 100% leased. It includes office space, retail space, and the Freed-Montrose branch of the Houston Public Library. The project was completed in 2023 after breaking ground in February 2020.
• Houston Dynamo FC begins renovating a vacant 13,000-square-foot building at 2500 Texas Ave., a block away from Shell Energy Stadium. The building will be transformed into a climate-controlled hospitality space for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as well as for future Dynamo and Houston Dash games. The project is part of a larger plan to create a “fan hub” in East Downtown (EaDo) during the 39-day World Cup tournament, which will include a Fan Fest nearby.
• Intuitive Machines has partnered with Collins Aerospace to establish a new facility at the Houston Spaceport. The partnership, which was announced on August 7, 2025, will involve building a new operations center and will focus on advancing space technology and commercial spaceflight. The collaboration aims to accelerate innovation and create jobs in the Houston area.
• Intuitive Machines has agreed to acquire KinetX, an Arizona-based aerospace firm specializing in deep space navigation. The acquisition, which is expected to close by the end of 2025, will strengthen Intuitive Machines’ capabilities and position it for future opportunities in lunar and Mars missions.
• Kelsey-Seybold Clinic will break ground on a 36,788-square-foot facility at Fort Bend Town Center in Missouri City. Construction is expected to begin by the end of 2025, with completion anticipated in 2026. This new clinic, located at TX 6 and Fort Bend Parkway, is part of Kelsey-Seybold’s strategy to expand healthcare access in the rapidly growing Fort Bend County area. The clinic will offer a wide range of specialties and diagnostics.
• NRG Energy Inc. has secured a $216 million low-interest loan from the Texas Energy Fund to expand its TH Wharton power plant in Houston. The loan is for a new 456-megawatt natural gas facility, which is expected to begin operations by summer 2026 and is part of a larger effort to add more power to the state’s grid to meet rising electricity demand.
• PNC Bank plans to invest $1.5 billion to open over 200 new branches and renovate 1,400 existing ones across 12 U.S. cities over the next five years, including in Houston. The expansion is part of a strategy to target high-growth markets in the Sun Belt.
• Quanta Services has acquired Austin-based Dynamic Systems for a total of $1.35 billion. The deal includes a potential earnout of up to an additional $216 million. This acquisition is a strategic move to expand Quanta’s services into high-growth markets like technology, semiconductors, and healthcare by adding Dynamic Systems’ mechanical and plumbing solutions to its portfolio.
• The Signorelli Company has broken ground on Holly Ridge, a 359-acre master-planned community in Fort Bend County, Texas. This development is aimed at first-time homebuyers and will include over 1,000 homes. The community will feature 133 acres of recreational space, including a swimming pool, sports fields, picnic areas, playgrounds, and walking paths. The location offers convenient access to major employment centers, as it is situated near U.S. Highway 90 Alternate, I-69, Rosenberg, and Sugar Land.
• The University of Houston has unveiled its new $130 million Memorial Hermann Football Operations Center. The 160,000-square-foot facility, located on the west side of TDECU Stadium, houses the football program’s operations, including a 20,000-square-foot weight room, locker room, and staff offices. The project also adds new premium seating options to the stadium, such as 14 suites, an 11,000-square-foot club, and a 350-seat roof terrace. The facility was designed to be a “one-stop shop” for student-athletes and is intended to give the program a competitive advantage in recruiting.
• The University of Texas Medical Branch has established the Sealy Heart and Vascular Institute and a new Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, supported by a $30 million grant from the Sealy & Smith Foundation. The new institute will expand access to advanced cardiac services, research, and educational programs.
• TMEIC Corporation Americas has relocated its U.S. headquarters to Houston’s Energy Corridor from Roanoke, Virginia. The company, which specializes in photovoltaic inverters and energy storage systems, has approximately 500 employees in the Houston area and plans to expand its local workforce. In addition, TMEIC has a new 144,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Brookshire and is building a third U.S. manufacturing plant in Waller County, scheduled for completion in May 2026.

• Houston City College has launched the Houston Reconnect Initiative, a scholarship program to help former students complete their degrees. It provides financial support to cover tuition and fees for eligible students. The program’s launch follows similar pilot efforts in other states like Tennessee and Massachusetts.
• Houston City College has proposed three new bachelor’s degree programs: computer information systems, business administration, and nursing. These new programs, along with existing ones in artificial intelligence and healthcare management, are part of the college’s effort to offer more four-year degrees that align with high-demand careers in the local workforce.
• According to The Princeton Review’s “The Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition,” Rice University and the University of Houston were both recognized for their academic excellence. Rice University was included in the overall list of best colleges and received high rankings in several categories, including its college newspaper, dorms, quality of life, and financial aid. The University of Houston was also featured on multiple lists, such as “Best Value Colleges” and “Green Colleges.” Furthermore, its undergraduate entrepreneurship program was ranked No. 1 nationally, and the university itself was ranked No. 42 on the “Top 50 Best Value Public Colleges” list.
• San Jacinto College and Intuitive Machines have partnered to train a specialized workforce for handling pharmaceuticals returned from space. The collaboration is aimed at establishing a full commercial pipeline to ensure the reliable recovery and processing of space-based pharmaceuticals.
• The University of Houston’s UH Energy has launched a new “Managing Non-Technical Risks in Energy” micro-credential program. This hybrid, self-paced program is designed for energy professionals and aims to provide them with tools to address challenges related to increased energy demand and sustainability.

• Houston City Council has approved a $100,000 project to install two new electric vehicle charging stations at Buffalo Bayou Park. The funding for the initiative was championed by Council Member Abbie Kamin and is considered a step toward revitalizing the city’s sustainable infrastructure.
• CenterPoint Energy has signed an agreement with Dem-Con HZI Bioenergy to provide renewable natural gas to its Minnesota customers. The gas will be produced at a facility in Shakopee, Minnesota, from organic food and yard waste through a process called anaerobic digestion. This initiative is part of CenterPoint’s efforts to provide lower-carbon energy and is expected to reduce an estimated 1.1 million tons of carbon emissions.

• Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University have been awarded a $500,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to establish the Center for Humanities-based Health AI Innovation (CHHAIN). The center’s mission is to develop ethically responsible and trustworthy AI for healthcare by integrating humanities, such as history and patient narratives, into the technology’s design.
• The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has formed a strategic collaboration with TOPPAN Holdings Inc., which includes a $10 million commitment from TOPPAN over five years. The partnership focuses on co-developing and validating a 3D cell culture technology called invivoid. This technology creates organoid models from patient biopsies, allowing researchers at MD Anderson to rapidly test potential cancer treatments to identify the most effective one for an individual patient. The goal is to integrate this technology into patient care, helping to find more effective treatments and reduce unnecessary therapies.
• Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital has launched a new cardiac surgery program as part of a $13 million investment. The program recently performed its first surgical case. The expansion includes a new operating room and a cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU) and will allow the hospital to offer a higher level of complex cardiac care to the community. This move is part of a larger trend of major healthcare systems expanding in Houston’s suburbs to meet population growth.

• In a new StartupBlink report, the Corporate Startup Activity Index 2025, several major energy companies with a strong presence in the Houston area were highlighted for their involvement with startups, including BP, Chevron, Repsol, and Shell. The index evaluates corporations based on their involvement in startup activity, the success of those startups, and their integration into the overall ecosystem.
• Calpine and CyrusOne have partnered to build a $1.2 billion hyperscale data center campus near Waco, Texas. The new data center will feature climate-neutral initiatives, water conservation, and the ability to support the Texas grid during emergencies. The project, named DFW10, is being backed by investment firms KKR and Global Infrastructure Partners. The campus will be located next to Calpine’s Thad Hill Energy Center, and Calpine will provide power to the facility through a 190-megawatt agreement. The project is currently under construction and is expected to be operational by late 2026.
• Texas A&M University’s George H.W. Bush Combat Development Complex is leading a new project to use autonomous helicopters to fight wildfires. The university received $59.8 million from the Texas legislature for this initiative, which will involve outfitting up to four UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters for autonomous operation. This program, a collaboration with DARPA, aims to shift firefighting strategy from containment to active extinguishing in high-risk scenarios.
• University of Houston researchers have made a significant breakthrough in carbon capture technology. The team published two studies that showcase groundbreaking methods to reduce costs and increase efficiency. One study, published in Nature Communications, introduced a new membraneless electrochemical process that can remove over 90% of CO2 at a low cost of approximately $70 per metric ton. In a separate study in ES&T Engineering, the researchers unveiled a dual-purpose vanadium redox flow system. This innovative technology not only captures carbon but also stores renewable energy, helping to address both carbon removal and the need to balance the power grid for intermittent energy sources like solar and wind.

• Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center has filed plans to add a new helipad to its McNair Campus in the Texas Medical Center. The project is estimated to cost $8 million and will involve adding a helipad to Tower One, part of a larger expansion strategy for the hospital system. The scope of work also includes work on a staircase, elevators, and a new helipad lobby.
• Houston ISD and METRO have partnered to provide free METRO Q Fare Cards to eligible high school students, granting them unlimited free rides on local buses, METRORail, and curb2curb services. This pilot program aims to give students more flexibility for school and other activities.

If you are a member and want us to help communicate news about your organization, please send a press release or information about the announcement to member.engagement@houston.org and we will share it with our content team for possible inclusion in an upcoming roundup. Learn more about Partnership membership.