Spring - Klein Edition | December 2023

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Spring Klein Edition VOLUME 10, ISSUE 9 DEC. 14, 2023 JAN. 18, 2024

Spring-area parents, providers face child care obstacles

A student at Klein-Spring Montessori completes an art project at the child care center in Spring, which ocials said has struggled to meet capacity since the pandemic began.

COURTESY KLEINSPRING MONTESSORI

However, the relief funds expired in September. Some local providers operating at prepandemic capacity said wait times to secure a seat could be aected by the loss of funding. However, other providers, particularly in low-income areas, said the loss of funding coupled with low re-enrollment rates could cause their businesses to close.

advocacy nonprot Children at Risk—a third of all ZIP codes in Texas qualify as “child care deserts,” meaning there are at least three times more children eligible for early child care than the number of child care seats available. Since 2020, Texas child care providers have received more than $4 billion in federal relief funds, including roughly $2.45 billion through the federal American Rescue Plan Act approved in 2021.

BY WESLEY GARDNER

Many parents throughout the state—including in Spring and Klein—have dealt with increased wait times to secure spots at child care facilities, and o- cials said the problem could be further exacerbated by the halt of federal and state funding disseminated early in the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a July report issued by research and

CONTINUED ON 20

Also in this issue

Impacts: MD Anderson Cancer Center opens in Spring (Page 6)

Education: Klein ISD receives $178K grant for safety (Page 9)

Community: Senior living options in the Spring, Klein area (Page 19)

Business: Family-owned doughnut shop becomes Spring icon (Page 23)

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Impacts

SPRINGWOODS VILLAGE PKWY.

fashion items at Willowbrook Mall. • Opened Sept. 20 • 2000 Willowbrook Mall, Ste. 1096, Houston • www.garageclothing.com

City Place

99 TOLL

7 Premier Select This shop sells vintage and preowned athletic shoes for men and women. • Opened early November • Willowbrook Mall, 2000 Willowbrook Mall, Ste. 1394, Houston • www.shopwillowbrookmall.com 8 Shell Federal Credit Union Financial services oered by this credit union include savings, checking, loans, digital services and investments. • Opened Oct. 27 • 25514 Tomball Parkway, Tomball • www.shellfcu.org 9 MD Anderson Cancer Center Northwest Houston Surgical and Specialty Care This new health care facility serves patients undergoing procedures that do not need an overnight stay or need a stay of up to 48 hours only. The Northwest Houston team performs surgeries and procedures for conditions including breast cancer, gynecologic cancers, melanoma, urologic cancers and cancer-related pain. • Opened Dec. 4 • 9922 Louetta Road, Houston • www.mdanderson.org 10 Inka Brasas This Peruvian restaurant oers menu items including chicken wings; seafood dishes, such as ceviche; pollo ala brasa, which consists of a whole chicken with two sides; and a variety of Peruvian desserts. • Opened Nov. 4

2920

M I D W A Y S T .

13 15

249

CUTTEN RD.

1960

BAMMEL NORTH HOUSTON RD.

12 7 6

SP E AR S R D.

RIDGE HOLLOW DR.

WILLOWBROOK MALL

MAP NOT TO SCALE

• 3835 FM 2920, Spring • Facebook: Inka Brasas

and the American, Texas and POW/MIA ¨ags. • Opened Nov. 15 • 6726 Cypresswood Drive, Spring • www.pct3.com

Now open

Coming soon

1 Belly of the Beast Owner Elizabeth and Chef Thomas Bille reopened this restaurant at a new location, boasting American cuisine made through a Mexican American chef’s lens. Previously located in Old Town Spring, the eatery opened in February 2020 before closing in June 2021. • Opened Nov. 1 • 5200 FM 2920, Ste. 180, Spring • www.botbfood.com 2 Baker St. Pub & Grill The ¥fth location of this pub features a full bar with signature drinks and a restaurant serving British and American fare. The new location oers live entertainment Wednesdays-Sundays as well as a daily happy hour. • Opened Nov. 15 • 22432 Tomball Parkway, Houston • www.bakerstreetpub.com 3 Collins Park Veterans War Memorial Harris County Precinct 3’s new Veterans War Memorial at Collins Park includes six 8-foot tall monuments made of granite material, each honoring a branch of the U.S. military. The memorial also features a stone wall entry

11 Yucca Grill Owner Ayfer Çağlı will soon open this restaurant specializing in Turkish and international cuisine. The location was previously occupied by Alwadi Mediterranean Sandwiches. • Opening late 2023 or early 2024 • 9222 Louetta Road, Spring • Facebook: Yucca Grill 12 Revolt Coming soon to Willowbrook Mall, this store will sell women’s, men’s and junior’s clothing and accessories. • Opening January 13 Daiso Upon opening, this store will sell Japanese-inspired accessories, home decor, food and beauty supplies. • Opening in second quarter 2024 • Klein Square, 16872 Stuebner Airline Road, Spring • www.daisous.com • 2000 Willowbrook Mall, Houston • www.shopwillowbrookmall.com

4 Schuckett’s Sips and Drips Located inside Tropical Sno of Tomball, this coee shop oers a variety of coee ¨avors, hot chocolate, tea, energy teas and lemonade. • Opened Nov. 14 • 24510 Hwy. 249, Tomball • Facebook: Schuckett’s Sips & Drips 5 Harris County Emergency Services District No. 16 Administration Building This new facility features both administrative and maintenance space, and a large training/multipurpose room available for community use. • Opened Nov. 18 • 18606 Stuebner Airline Road, Spring • www.hcesd16.org 6 Garage The Montreal-based women’s clothing brand is now selling clothing, jewelry, shoes, purses and other

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BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

14 Verlo Mattress Factory The business will sell mattresses made in-house out of components from the U.S., according to a Nov. 2 email from the local store’s owner. • Opening early to mid-December • 6911 FM 1960 W., Houston • www.verlo.com

Now open

Relocations

15 Regional Finance Previously located at 16872 Stuebner Airline Road, Spring, this company oers loans, such as personal, debt consolidation, auto repair and furniture loans. • Opened Nov. 15 • 16840 Stuebner Airline Road, Spring • www.regionalªinance.com 16 Kris10’s Gems Owned by Kristen Shaw, this handmade jewelry store was previously located at 310 1/2 Main St., Spring, but has moved across the street into the building formerly occupied by Glo Worm New & Used Books. • Opened Nov. 4 • Old Town Spring, 311 B Main St., Spring • www.kristensgems.com

17 Sweet Sage Fine Art Owned by LaDuska York, this Old Town Spring art gallery and gift shop sells paintings, prints, jewelry and gift items, such as ornaments. • Opened Nov. 11

18 Pokemoto Franchisee Mike Judice recently opened this quick- service Hawaiian-style poke concept, which oers a menu of poke bowls, burritos and salads with both signature and build-your-own options. A variety of milk and fruit boba teas are also available. • Opened Dec. 6 • The Market at City Place, 2174 Spring Stuebner

• 123 Midway St., Ste. E., Spring • www.sweetsageªineart.com

Road, Ste. 320, Spring • www.pokemoto.com

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SPRING KLEIN EDITION

Government

BY MELISSA ENAJE

Harris County approves $863M ood agreement Harris County commissioners approved an agreement with the Texas General Land Oce Oct. 31 for a combined $863 million in grant fund- ing to the Harris County Flood Control District that will be allocated for ood-risk reduction projects associated with the 2018 ood control district bond program. Explained Two grants were approved, and each grant has dierent mandated completion dates, according to court documents. The federal funding comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and is administered by the GLO. • Projects funded by a $322 million grant must be completed by March 31, 2026. Projects funded by a $541 million grant must be completed by March 31, 2028.

Harris County awards child care grants Harris County commissioners awarded ve organizations a combined $18.8 million in grants Oct. 31 to improve child care quality over the next three years. The new initiative is called Early Learning Quality Networks and was fully funded by American Rescue Plan Act funds. The impact A July report by nonprot Children at Risk found one-third of all ZIP codes in Texas qualify as child care deserts, meaning there are at least three times more children eligi- ble for early child care than the number of available seats. Children at Risk is one of the ve groups to receive funds, alongside the East Harris County Empowerment Council, VN Teamwork, YMCA of Greater Houston and Harris County Public Library.

June 6 Harris County commissioners approve application to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for disaster recovery funding. July 18 Commissioners authorize the Harris County Flood Control District to work with the state on a direct allocation of $502.5 million . During negotiations, an additional $39.35 million was oered by the GLO, resulting in the total allocation of $541.85 million . October 31 Commissioners approve the combined $863.88 million in federal funds, including a past allocation of $322.03 million in Community Development Block grants.

SOURCE: HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICTCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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Education

BY WESLEY GARDNER

Klein ISD receives $178K federal grant to bolster safety, security across district

Safety measures Klein ISD was the rst school district in the state to employ its own police force in 1982, according to district ocials. Here’s a look at additional safety measures already in place.

Klein ISD was awarded a federal grant of roughly $178,000 to improve school security and safety programs, according to a Nov. 3 news release from U.S. Sen. John Cornyn’s o ce. The overview According to the news release, the grant can be used to: • Bolster violence prevention training programs for law enforcement • Purchase security items, including metal detectors and technology expediting the notication of local law enforcement during an emergency Quote of note “No parent should fear for the safety of their

student when they drop them o at school, and no student or teacher should be afraid when they walk into the classroom,” Cornyn said in a statement. “In the aftermath of the tragedy in Uvalde, I’m grateful that meaningful solutions are being delivered through this funding to prevent violence in Texas schools.” The background O cials said the grant was funded through the U.S. Department of Justice’s School Violence Prevention Program, which provides funding to school districts to improve safety and security. Additionally, a signicant portion of the funding was authorized by Cornyn’s bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The bill was approved in 2022 to address recent mass shootings.

All school entrances have secure vestibules with card reader access locks.

Emergency response operations, plans and protocols are frequently revised and practiced.

All pre K-12 students use school-issued ID badges.

The KISD Police Department regularly conducts active shooter drills and other routine safety drills on campuses.

Students can report threats and request mental health support 24 hours a day through www.kleinisd.net/keepkleinsafe.

SOURCE: KLEIN ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

SPRING KLEIN EDITION

Education

BY EMILY LINCKE

Virginia Fraire named Lone Star College- University Park president On Oct. 2, Virginia Fraire became Lone Star College-University Park’s second president, after founding President Shah Ardalan left the role. Fraire brings more than 30 years of education

What challenges are currently facing LSCUP? In general, higher education was one of the topics ... that everyone supported [in the Texas Legislature]. ... It was a bipartisan issue. For some reason, there is the shift on the importance of higher education, and the value of helping students pursue higher education has ... somewhat diminished. Yet, we know that we must continue to make the case for higher education, because we know that in this economy, and in the future, most jobs will require a postsecondary credential. So I am working to make sure that we are continuing to make the case ... to continue to invest in the work that we’re doing. How will the new visual and performing arts center impact existing arts programs? It will inuence the community and the students we enroll in signicant ways. ... Historically, the performing arts are experiences ... that people from very privileged backgrounds get to enjoy. Having a visual and performing arts center on campus provides an incredible learning opportunity for students. ... That is quite transformational for our community.

experience to her new position. What are your priorities for LSCUP?

Ensuring that we are indeed providing excellent academic programs and an excellent academic experience that is relevant for students in this com- munity. I’m very focused on assessing the programs that we’re oering, ... building an apparatus that supports students holistically, [and] ... helping our new chancellor [Mario] Castillo ... continue to build the one Lone Star College team apparatus, and that means really focusing on ... our operational eciencies [and] our operational eectiveness.

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Transportation

BY HANNAH BROL

Precinct 3 to install 300 school zone signs across 10 districts

• Human ISD • Humble ISD • Klein ISD • Spring ISD • Tomball ISD Quote of note

Harris County Precinct 3 will install approxi- mately 300 new ashing school zone signs across 10 school districts to enhance safety, Precinct 3 ocials announced in a Nov. 10 news release. The details According to the release, the $2.5 million project is already underway as of early November and is expected to be completed during the rst quarter of 2024. The new trac devices will enhance safety around schools by alerting drivers with ashing lights within a school zone to slow down and pay attention to pedestrians in the area. The following school districts will be impacted: • Aldine ISD • Channelview ISD

“Safety and infrastructure go hand in hand when you’re planning to enhance community roads,” Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey said in a statement. “When you look at communities and think what all you can do to make it better, ensuring children make their way to and from schools each day safely should be at the forefront of where to start.” Did you know? Since Ramsey took oce in 2021, Precinct 3 has installed nearly 250 school zone ashing signs, according to the release.

• Crosby ISD • Cy-Fair ISD • Goose Creek ISD

The new trac devices will enhance safety around schools by alerting drivers with ashing lights.

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Real estate

Number of homes sold

November 2022

November 2023

Residential market data

20 9 19 19 31 20

39 49 31 22 48 44

-55%

77068

-8.33%

77379

Across a majority of Spring-area ZIP codes, fewer homes sold this November than in November 2022. Meanwhile, the median home sales price dropped across half of the Spring-area ZIP codes.

77069

+25.64%

77388

-35.48%

77070

-29.03%

77389

99 TOLL

249

1960

Median home sales price

2022

2023

2022

2023

77068

77379

-4.15%

-17.19%

$300,000

$313,000

$327,500

$395,500

77068 77069 77379 77388

77389 77070

77388

+11.15%

77069

+14.01%

$289,000

$260,000

$415,000

$364,000

MARKET DATA PROVIDED BY JENNY HILL, A REALTOR WITH COLDWELL BANKER REALTY • 18425 CHAMPION

77389

-3.43%

77070

+9.25%

$535,000

$554,000

$319,000

$292,000

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SPRING KLEIN EDITION

SPRING STUEBNER 6603 Spring Stuebner Rd (281) 288-0239

NORTH LOUETTA 1614 Louetta (281) 350-1198

LOUETTA 7314 Louetta (281) 370-1986

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WILLOWBROOK 6927 FM 1960 W (281) 580-1734

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Events

BY JOVANNA AGUILAR

• Free (admission) • LSC-Houston North Greenspoint, 250 N. Sam Houston Parkway E., Houston • www.lonestar.edu

December

Texas Master Chorale Christmas Concert The Texas Master Chorale is presenting a Christmas concert featuring “Glad Tidings” by Randol Alan Bass. • Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m. • $25 (admission), free (students with ID) • John Wesley Methodist Church, 5830 Bermuda Dunes Drive, Houston • www.texasmasterchorale.org Capturing Holiday Lights City Place is holding a photography workshop to teach aspiring photographers how to capture Christmas lights to create family portraits. All camera types are suitable for the workshop. • Dec. 16, 10 a.m.-noon • Free (admission) • City Place Plaza, 1250 Lake Plaza Drive, Spring • www.cityplacenow.com Paint and Sip Lone Star College-Houston North Greenspoint is holding a community event for creative community members to participate in a painting event while sipping on hot chocolate. • Dec. 16, 10 a.m.-noon

True Crime: Case Study As part of its newest monthly program, the Barbara Bush Branch Library is holding a true crime discussion group including solved and unsolved mysteries. The case studied during this event will be on JonBenét Ramsey and there will be links to articles and videos with information provided prior to each session.

• Dec. 18, 6-8 p.m. • Free (admission) • Barbara Bush Branch Library, 6817 Cypresswood Drive, Spring • www.hcpl.net

Haven Christmas Candlelight Service The community is invited to join The Haven Community Church for its Christmas candlelight service on Christmas Eve. • Dec. 24, 6:30-8 p.m. • Free (admission) • The Haven Community Church, 315 Gentry St., Spring • www.thehavencc.com

One Night in Memphis As part of the Promenade Series hosted by the Cypress Creek Foundation for the Arts and Community Enrichment, attendees of the “One Night in Memphis” concert can look forward to a 90-minute tribute to legendary Sun Records recording artists Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. • Dec. 31, 7:30 p.m. • $10-$15 • The Centrum, 6823 Cypresswood Drive, Spring • www.cypresscreekface.org

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Community

BY WESLEY GARDNER & EMILY LINCKE

Senior Living Guide

2023

Types of communities

Houston

Spring

Independent-living communities cater to older adults with limited care needs. Most include amenities, such as tness programs, housekeeping and communal meals. Assisted-living communities specialize in providing care and supervision. These facilities frequently oer a full range of amenities as well as limited medical assistance. Memory care facilities specialize in providing care to seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia and other cognitive issues. Sta members are trained to help residents manage these diseases. Hospice care is intended to relieve symptoms and suering associated with a terminal illness in those who have been given six months or less to live. The patient must choose to forgo further curative treatment. Nursing home/skilled nursing facilities provide care to those with illnesses or mental conditions requiring full- time monitoring and medical care.

Elison Park Type: independent living Opened: 1993 Cost: $2,006-$2,681 per month Total units: 356 Amenities: swimming pool, pet friendly, library, religious services, bistro, happy hours and resident store • 7575 Willow Chase Blvd., Houston • www.elisonpark.com

Sycamore Creek Ranch Memory Care Type: independent living, assisted living, nursing home/skilled nursing Opened: 2017 Cost: $3,500-$6,200 per month Total units: 16 Amenities: dementia-friendly living spaces and

home-cooked meals and snacks • 6510 Cypresswood Drive, Spring • www.scrmemorycare.com/ our-community/scr-spring

Houston

Avid Care Cottages-Champions Type: assisted living, independent living, nursing home/ skilled nursing Opened: 2014 Cost: $3,200-$3,600 per month (shared space), $4,000-$4,300 per month (private room) Total units: 6 Amenities: bingo, movie watching, exercise classes and

Opened: 2010 Cost: $3,500-$4,000 per month Total units: 10 Amenities: secure outdoor park and unlimited meals, snacks and beverages • 17914 Rolling Creek Drive, Houston • www.lovingcarecottages.com Mera Vintage Park Type: independent living Opened: 2020 Cost: $1,550-$2,650 per month Total units: 177 Amenities: resort-style pool, a craft room and a golf simulator • 14914 Vintage Preserve Parkway, Houston • www.sparrowliving.com/mera/vintage-park

New Haven Assisted Living of Spring Type: assisted living Opened: 2017 Cost: $2,495-$6,720 per month Total units: 16 Amenities: sunrooms, a patio and beauty salon • 21327 Falvel Road, Spring • www.newhavenassistedliving.com Novellus Cypresswood Type: assisted living Opened: 2011 Cost: $3,600-$4,600 per month Total units: 56 Amenities: movie nights, resident-run activities, on-site barber and salon and walking paths • 6611 Cypresswood Drive, Spring • www.novellusliving.com/cypresswood Spring Creek Village Assisted Living & Memory Care Type: assisted living, memory care Opened: 2015 Cost: $6,150-$7,650 per month Total units: 120 Amenities: community gardens, outdoor grilling stations and tness classes

local pharmacy service and delivery • 5807 Old Lodge Drive, Houston • www.avidcarecottages.com

Avid Care Cottages-North Type: assisted living, independent living, nursing home/ skilled nursing Opened: 2014 Cost: $3,200-$3,600 per month (shared space), $4,000-$4,300 per month (private room) Total units: 10 Amenities: bingo, movie watching, exercise classes and local pharmacy service and delivery

• 3611 Glenpine Drive, Houston • www.avidcarecottages.com

Loving Care Cottages Assisted Living Type: assisted living, memory care Opened: 2015 Cost: $4,000-$4,500 per month Total units: 10 Amenities: secure outdoor park and unlimited meals, snacks and beverages • 14977 Terrace Oaks Drive, Houston • www.lovingcarecottages.com

Spring

Cura at Homebridge Assisted Living Type: assisted living Opened: 2014 Cost: $4,380-$6,295 per month Total units: 16 Amenities: daily activities include games, crafts, events and exercise therapy • 1324 Lemm Road, Ste. 2, Spring • www.homebridgecare.com

• 305 Holzwarth Road, Spring • www.springcreekvillage.com This list is not comprehensive.

Loving Care Cottages Assisted Living Type: assisted living, memory care

SPRING KLEIN EDITION

From the cover

Spring-area parents, providers face child care obstacles

The overview

Child care seats vs. eligible children in the Spring-Klein area, 2022 Number of child care seats

In the Greater Houston area, 45 ZIP codes qualify as child care deserts, according to data provided by Children at Risk. To determine child care deserts, Children at Risk ocials used 2022 U.S. Census Bureau data to dene a child as eligible for care if they were age 5 or younger and both of their parents were employed. In the Spring and Klein area as dened by Children at Risk, three ZIP codes qualify as child care deserts: 77066, 77069 and 77382. Kim Kofron, Children at Risk’s senior director of education, said she believes access to child care has been a problem statewide for decades, but noted the issue was further complicated by the pandemic. Kofron said Texas had around 17,000 early child care centers before the pandemic hit in 2020. While that number had fallen to roughly 12,000 in 2021, she said the number of providers has since rebounded to around 14,000. Despite the increase, Kofron said more than 70,000 kids throughout the state are currently on waitlists to receive early child care. Matt Evers—co-owner of several Primrose locations in the Greater Houston area, including Primrose School at Crossroads Park in Cypress— said parents should apply at least six months in advance, noting wait times can increase to as much as two years for infants. However, Denise Statlander, owner of Greengate Academy in Spring, said her business has about half as many students enrolled following the pandemic, noting the drop in enrollment is threatening the day care’s ability to survive.

Number of eligible children

1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000

500

77066

77069 77070

77068

77380 77381 77382 77386 77388 77389 77090 77373 77379

Child care deserts in the Spring-Klein area, 2022

77382

Spring/Klein

77381

High access to child care: 76% or more of eligible children have access to a child care seat Moderate access to child care: 34%-75% of eligible children have access to a child care seat Child care desert: 33% or less of eligible children have access to a child care seat Child care desert The Spring-Klein area is home to three ZIP codes referred to as child care deserts, meaning there are at least three times as many children eligible for early child care as there are seats available.

77380

77389

99 TOLL

77386

77388

77373

77379

77068

77090

77069

77070

1960

249

77066

SOURCE: CHILDREN AT RISK, U.S. CENSUS BUREAUCOMMUNITY IMPACT

What they’re saying

“The gap between the low income and the upper income is greater and greater here. … The day cares in the lower-income areas can’t afford to stay in business. The Primrose [schools] have au pairs and things like this. They can survive, and they have [student] waiting lists.” DENISE STATLANDER, OWNER, GREENGATE ACADEMY

“Those statistics show that there’s not enough space for the amount of kids that need care, and that, to me, is not balancing, because everybody I know around me is down at least 30%-40% [in enrollment].” SANDY PRISKA, DIRECTOR AND CO OWNER, SPRING MONTESSORI

“It's hard to make child care profitable anywhere you are, but it’s even harder to do that in a low-income area. We do find low- income areas to be more likely to have higher child care deserts than our middle income and more affluent neighborhoods.” KIM KOFRON, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, CHILDREN AT RISK

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BY WESLEY GARDNER

A closer look

Looking ahead

Nationwide child care costs

$5,520 lost by families per working parent in reduced earnings due to insucient child care access and time spent looking for work if they’re red as a result, totaling roughly $78 billion annually $1,640 lost by businesses per working parent in reduced revenue and in extra hiring costs, totaling roughly $23 billion annually $1,470 lost in tax revenue per working parent due to decreased income tax revenue and decreased sales tax revenue from reduced spending, totaling roughly $21 billion annually

While Kofron said she was disappointed the state Legislature failed to approve an additional $2.29 billion for early child care that was originally included in the state’s budget, she pointed to a handful of bills that were approved aimed at assisting child care providers in Texas. Child care bills approved in 2023 Senate Bill 1145 Allows local tax authorities to give property tax relief to some child care programs House Bill 2729 Lowers hiring qualications for pre-K teachers at child care centers partnering with local school districts House Bill 1615 Helps child care centers become eligible to partner with local school districts to provide care for pre-K aged students

Kofron said the industry could take an additional hit with the loss of federal relief funds. According to the nonprot’s report, the relief funds helped support more than 80% of the existing child care centers in Texas. “Really, what that extra money provided was a bedrock of funding that allowed centers to pay their sta more—to be able to keep tuition lower for families,” Kofron said. “That money is gone now.” Sandy Priska, Klein-Spring Montessori School director and co-owner, said she was able to use the relief funds to provide her sta with additional incentives and training opportunities. “We really poured a lot of money back into the sta,” Priska said. Statlander said the additional money helped keep her business aoat and allowed her to keep tuition rates around $300 per week. She has since main- tained that tuition, but she said she isn’t sure how long her business can survive at reduced capacity while maintaining that rate.

SOURCE: COUNCIL FOR A STRONG AMERICACOMMUNITY IMPACT

Kofron noted the loss of federal funding coupled with the rising cost of ination could lead child care providers to raise tuition rates that are already too high for many families, which could have adverse eects on other sectors of the economy. According to an March economic impact analysis by nonprot Council for a Strong America, the nation’s child care crisis now costs an estimated $122 billion in lost earnings, productivity and revenue from parents, businesses and taxpayers every year.

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Business

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Robin’s Snowake Donuts & Cafe becomes Spring-area staple First-generation Americans Robin and Vuth Nou opened Robin’s Snowake Donuts & Cafe on July 4, 2016. The business was a culmination of life-altering events endured by the Nou family. “My parents always struggled to give us a better life, and I think that’s probably what inspired this,” Robin Nou said. How it happened After Vuth Nou was laid o from his job and Robin Nou beat breast cancer, the couple decided it was time to fulll their dream of becoming business owners to leave a legacy for their children. “We didn’t really have formal training or any- thing, but we were motivated,” Robin Nou said. Roughly one year after opening, Hurricane Har- vey hit the Greater Houston area and Robin Nou said the cafe quickly gained a following, as it was one of the only businesses operating during the storm. “This is a business that puts food on the table, and we believe in giving back to the community when we can,” Robin Nou said. How it’s going After almost eight years, the doughnut shop has become a favorite in the community. “We constantly have lines out the door,” she said. In addition to doughnuts, the cafe is well known for its boudin-sausage, smoked brisket and break- fast egg rolls, which Robin Nou said were inuenced by her mother’s traditional Cambodian-style egg rolls. The bakery also oers fritters, kolaches and fresh-brewed coee.

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