$500,000 EPA grant targets southwest Houston revitalization
Southwest Houston communities will receive a $500,000 federal investment to identify contaminated properties and prepare them for redevelopment. Congressman Al Green helped secure the Environmental Protection Agency Community-Wide Brownfields Assessment Grant for the Hiram Clarke/Fort Bend Redevelopment Authority.
The funds come nearly 13 years after Houston created Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone 25 to encourage investment in Hiram Clarke and Fort Bend Houston.
The grant will fund property inventories, environmental assessments, redevelopment planning, and community engagement, per a statement released by Green. The authority plans 21 initial assessments and more extensive testing at up to five properties.
Brownfields are properties where actual or potential contamination can hinder redevelopment because cleanup can be costly. Green said the federal program helps communities return such properties to productive use.
The 6,077-acre redevelopment zone spans two counties and funds infrastructure and economic-development projects, including roads, sidewalks, drainage, lighting, parks, and public facilities.
EPA awarded more than $9.4 million in 2026 Brownfields grants across Texas, with the Hiram Clarke/Fort Bend Redevelopment Authority receiving $500,000. The authority says it is the only Greater Houston recipient of this particular Community-Wide Brownfields Assessment Grant for the current grant cycle.
Council member Alejandra Salinas launches free A/C giveaway
Houston City Council Member Alejandra Salinas has launched a program providing 125 free portable air-conditioning units to vulnerable residents as extreme summer temperatures persist across the city.
The giveaway is open to eligible Houstonians, including seniors age 60 and older, low-income households, disabled veterans, people with disabilities, and families experiencing financial hardship.
“In Houston, access to air conditioning can no longer be a luxury,” Salinas said.
She added that the units will provide immediate relief to residents who may otherwise face dangerous indoor temperatures.
The initiative comes amid concerns about heat-related illness. Harris County Public Health reported more than 7,600 heat-related illness cases between 2019 and 2023.
The giveaway also comes as Salinas pushes for stronger cooling requirements in rental housing. In July, she introduced a “Right to Air Conditioning” ordinance that would require landlords to provide and maintain working air conditioning and eliminate a loophole allowing window screens to serve as a substitute for cooling.
Residents can apply online for a portable unit. Residents can apply for a portable A/C unit through an online application form. Those who need assistance with the application can contact Council Member Salinas’ office at 832-393-3012.
$25 million gift expands support to Rice University students
Rice University has received a $25 million gift to expand support for first-generation and low-income undergraduate students, the university announced.
The donation from Rice trustee James “Jim” Whitehurst and his wife, Lauren Whitehurst, will establish the Sallyport Fellows Program, which will provide resources like career development and financial literacy education for students.
The gift also includes $1 million for Rice’s Gateway Project, a $120 million development that would create a pedestrian-friendly path between the campus and Rice Village.
Beginning in fall 2027, every incoming undergraduate identified as first-generation and/or limited-income will become a Sallyport Fellow.
During their first two years, students will meet weekly with professional advisers trained to support first-generation and low-income students. Juniors and seniors will transition to cohort-based advising focused on academic and career interests, with access to alumni mentors and professional development.
The gift will also expand Owl Access, Rice’s three-day pre-matriculation program, including limited travel assistance and help purchasing essential room items.
The initiative comes as Rice expands financial aid through The Rice Investment. Starting in fall 2027, families earning $100,000 to $200,000 will qualify for grants that cover full tuition, while students from families earning less than $100,000 will receive grants that cover tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board.
