The Woodlands Edition | July 2025

News

BY ANGELA BONILLA & JESSICA SHORTEN

Shenandoah receives historical marker Shenandoah on June 13 received a Montgomery County historical marker to celebrate the city’s 50th anniversary. The gist The city was formally recognized at the Montgomery County Commissioner’s Court meeting June 10 for its anniversary. Shenandoah was incorporated on March 16, 1974, and as of 2023, the population was 3,597, according to the U.S. Census Bureau ”ve-year American Community Survey.

Lone Star College eyes 202526 budget Lone Star College System oŸcials said at a June 5 workshop meeting it will have $21 million in funds remaining to allocate for its priorities in the 2025-26 ”scal year after other revenue and expenses are accounted for. The big picture The budget includes an estimated $244.5 million from maintenance and operations tax revenue. LSCS oŸcials are expecting a tax rate of $0.1076 per $100 valuation, which is the same as the previous year. Tuition will not be raised for the 2025-26 ”scal year, oŸcials said. Budget highlights include:

Visit The Woodlands to reassess hotel, convention space

County seeks grant for economic development Montgomery County commissioners are seeking grant funding for a new economic mobility and opportunity special assistant who, according to commissioners, would coordinate economic development e„orts across the entire county. What you need to know Commissioners approved a grant application June 10 to the International City/County Manage- ment Association for the position, which according to Grant Administrator Rebecca Ansley will support economic development initiatives alongside other economic development partnerships in the county. “Residents of Montgomery County, Texas, face several signi”cant challenges to upward economic mobility, with the most pressing barriers being lack of a„ordable housing, transportation issues, dispar- ities in access to resources and persistent rural pov- erty,” the application states. “To e„ectively tackle

Scope of study

“This position is critically important ... for Montgomery County, because our [economic development

Annual convention attendance growth

partnerships] are not talking to each other.” RITCH WHEELER, COMMISSIONER, MONTGOMERY COUNTY PRECINCT 3

Regional hotel/convention space competition

The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau board of directors approved a request for a study regarding the amount of hotel and convention space available in The Woodlands on June 18 following concerns that existing space may no longer support growing convention needs. Two-minute impact Nick Wolda, president of the CVB, which does business as Visit The Woodlands, said the last meeting and convention space study was done in 2020. “There are some conventions that we’re missing out on because we just don’t have enough hotel rooms or hotel space to do those,” Wolda said. The study will also look at the potential economic impact of adding additional convention

Event booking capacity

SOURCE: VISIT THE WOODLANDSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

these issues a coordinated approach is needed. This includes expanding a„ordable housing options, attracting new blue-collar employers, improving transportation infrastructure and enhancing access to education and workforce development opportunities.” Precinct 3 Commissioner Ritch Wheeler said he brought forth the idea following a conversation with The Woodlands Area Economic Development Partnership in an e„ort to foster more collaboration with other economic development organizations in the county.

space in The Woodlands as well as the e„ect if no action on additional space is taken. Next steps The deadline for companies to submit bids to take on the study is set for July 31, Wolda said, with a goal of approving a contract with The Woodlands CVB by Aug. 20. Once a company is selected, the actual study regarding hotel and convention space in The Woodlands will begin, Wolda said.

WELLMAN RD.

TUSCANY WOODS DR.

• $16.6M in increased tax revenue • $3.78M for system wide initiatives • $13.22M in various budget priorities

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TWISTED OAK DR.

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THE WOODLANDS 10491 Kuykendahl (281) 681-9110

RAYFORD SAWDUST 25044 IH 45 (281) 362-9131 GOSLING ROAD SPRING 24527 Gosling Rd (281) 516-9404

FM 1488 3588 FM 1488 (936) 271-9606

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