Comcast just hooked up Waller County with better internet service. Photo courtesy of Comcast

Comcast just flipped the switch on its high-speed broadband internet service in Waller County.

The company says the $1.4 million network brings internet speeds up to 1.2 gigabits per second to homes and up to 100 gigabits per second to businesses.

In tandem with establishment of the high-speed network, Comcast gave $35,000 in grants to two organizations ($25,000 to United Way of Greater Houston – Waller County and $10,000 to Waller County Assistance and Restoration Ministries) to “help close the digital divide in Waller.” It’s also donating 150 free laptops to Waller ISD students.

“Having an equal opportunity to connect to the power of the internet opens doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers, and creators,” says Misha McClure, director of external affairs at Comcast.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 21 percent of Waller households lacked access to broadband internet as of 2000, compared with 15 percent across the state and nearly 16 percent in the city of Houston.

To build the network in Waller, Comcast installed about 52 miles of infrastructure. The network is now available to nearly 600 households and more than 200 businesses. Certain low-income households are eligible for free internet service.

“Our investments ensure that … Waller residents and business owners will not only have access to the fastest and most reliable network, but now have a network that will be sustained for decades to come without any financial burden to the community,” says Mitch Danklef, senior director of business development at Comcast.

Aside from the Waller installation, Comcast is investing more than $4M to build a high-speed network in Prairie View. Construction is scheduled to be finished later this year.

The new $16 million Comcast facility is another feather in the cap of Fort Bend County, which is booming with new business. Courtesy of Comcast

Comcast unveils its $16 million technology center in a growing suburb just outside of Houston

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At Comcast's new $16 million technology center in Missouri City, technicians for the internet and cable TV provider can "test drive" new product and services at a demo lab and can take classes at Comcast University. It's a far cry from the stereotypical workplace of the "cable guy."

The center represents a cutting-edge expansion for Comcast — and represents yet another feather in the economic-growth cap of Missouri City and Fort Bend County.

On June 19, officials from Comcast, Missouri City government, and the Fort Bend Economic Development Council debuted the 32,000-square-foot center. The center is at 551 Buffalo Lakes Dr., near the intersection of Texas Freeway and Independence Boulevard. Aside from the demo lab and Comcast University classrooms, the center features more than 100 workstations and 15 conference rooms.

The center employs more than 300 technicians, Comcast Business and Xfinity sales professionals. Service technicians install and maintain internet, video, voice, and home security services for residential and business customers in Missouri City and nearby areas, while network technicians build and maintain Comcast's local fiber-optic system.

Employees at the new center previously worked at other offices in the Houston metro area but live in Missouri City and surrounding communities. More than 1,200 people work at Comcast's 10 technology centers throughout the Houston area.

Michael Bybee, director of external communications at Comcast, says Missouri City was picked for the new center because of its strong economic growth and its proximity to major highways and, ultimately, "to bring our employees closer to customers."

Missouri City and Fort Bend County are gaining more potential Comcast customers by the day. From April 2010 to July 2018, the population of Missouri City grew 12.3 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. For Fort Bend County, the population growth rate during the same period stood at 34.7 percent.

Economic growth has accompanied that population growth. Last year, the Comcast center was among several economic development wins scored by Missouri City. An $85 million, 550,000-square-foot Best Buy distribution center and a 200,000-square-foot Warren Valve warehouse and distribution center were two of the other wins.

Fort Bend County as a whole is enjoying economic success. For instance, discount retailer Dollar Tree said in February that it's building a $130 million distribution center on a 140-acre site in Rosenberg that will employ more than 300 people. The company operates more than 1,600 Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores in Texas.

The 1.2-million-square-foot distribution center, on Spur 10 near Klosterhoff Road, is scheduled to open in the summer of 2020.

"When you have a company like Dollar Tree seeing the opportunity that we offer, it just adds to our strengths and builds on our assets," Bret Gardella, executive director of Rosenberg Development Corp., said in a Dollar Tree news release.

The economic growth in Missouri City, Rosenberg and other places in Fort Bend County isn't likely to subside, at least for the next several decades. A report from the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs predicts Fort Bend County will end up being the state's third-fastest-growing county from 2010 to 2050.

"Fort Bend County has continued to top lists for livability and economic success — and there is no sign of slowing down," the Fort Bend Economic Development Council says on its website. "Residents and businesses agree that there's no place better to live or work."

Contributing to Fort Bend County's draw is the presence of five business parks — two in Missouri City, and one each in Rosenberg, Sugar Land, and Stafford. The council touts Fort Bend County as "the hub for industrial development."

Courtesy of Comcast

Aside from the demo lab and Comcast University classrooms, the center features more than 100 workstations and 15 conference rooms.

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CultureMap Emails are Awesome

Top innovation leaders talk Houston's strengths, weaknesses

finalists weigh in

The six finalists in this year's Ecosystem Builder category for the Houston Innovation Awards shared many reasons why Houston has been a great place for them to launch their startups.

Still, they've seen first-hand how Houston can grow and change to better support founders like themselves. We asked each to share their thoughts on the strengths and weaknesses of the local innovation ecosystem and about the roles they're playing in the scene's evolution. Scroll down to see what each finalist had to say.

Secure your tickets to the November 14 event.


What are the strengths of the Houston innovation ecosystem?

Adrianne Stone, founder of Bayou City Startups: "Outside of our obvious advantages in health care, energy and space technology I would say that our biggest strength is in the diversity of our community. Everyone brings such unique perspectives, experiences, and ideas to the table that it allows Houston to truly think outside of the box when we leverage that superpower."

Atul Varadhachary, managing partner at Fannin Innovation Studio: "The city benefits from its strategic location as a hub for various industries, including energy, aerospace and health care/biotechnology. This diversity of sectors fosters cross-pollination of ideas and expertise, promoting innovation in multiple fields. In the biotechnology field, the Texas Medical Center in Houston, is a major driver of intellectual capital and contributes to a highly skilled workforce. This potential has not been fully leveraged as yet, but I have seen and contributed to much progress over the last three decades."

Carlos Estrada, growth partner at First Bight Ventures and head of venture acceleration at BioWell: "Houston’s strengths lie in its diverse industries, from energy to health care to bioindustrial manufacturing and its academic institutions which nurture talent and innovation. A new wave of startup organizations also provides startups and SMBs with mentorship, funding opportunities, and critical networking connections. This combination of industry diversity, academic excellence and supportive organizations creates an ideal environment for startups to grow."

Jesse Martinez, founder and CEO of invincible: "The Houston innovation ecosystem continues evolving as it naturally pivots and iterates like a startup. We have a number of existing and new stakeholders who deeply care about Houston, as we all work together to make it a global tech hub destination. Through our SDOs, TMC, Houston Methodist, Helix Park, The Ion, NASA, our universities, and startup community leaders, it's all about us helping to connect the dots for our entrepreneurs so they may grow and thrive in Houston."

Juliana Garaizar, founding partner of Energy Tech Nexus: "Houston has the talent, the corporations and the great intersection of industries were innovations happen: energy, medical and space. Houston knows how to do hard things. We are doers, and we know how to build on our key strengths and are resilient when things don't go according to plan. Our geographic situation and our port make us a global hub and the most diverse city in the U.S."

Phillip Yates, CEO of Equiliberty Inc.: "I believe Houston's innovative ecosystem's greatest strengths reside in its diverse group of citizens and our healthy local economy, which includes the energy sector, medical, and aerospace industries."

What are the weaknesses of the Houston innovation ecosystem? Are you helping to make improvements to these weaker aspects of the community and, if so, how?

Stone: "The first thing that comes to mind is a lack of early stage funding for startups, especially for those with founders from underserved backgrounds. And the second thing is the sheer size of our geographic distribution makes it hard for folks to connect and those kismet collisions to occur. I'm working to improve this by inviting investors to our events, networking more broadly outside of the region and inviting folks to come back to visit, and by hosting a predictable recurring meetup every month so folks can get plugged into the broader ecosystem."

Varadhachary: "In the life sciences space, where I primarily play, our biggest challenge is that the early-stage drug development process is complex and requires direct product development experience. At Fannin, I have helped address this challenge by creating one of the largest talent development programs in the U.S., boasting over 350 alumni. I am especially proud of our alumni diversity — about half are women and most are BIPOC. Fannin draws from local institutions and major institutions across the country. Half of our alumni remain in Houston, many of whom, alongside students I’ve taught, have gone on to join or found startups. Other Fannin alumni have joined major companies around the U.S. and have often come back to help support our local ecosystem."

Estrada: "Houston’s biggest challenge is limited early-stage venture capital. To address this, I organized pitch events at WeWork Labs to attract outside investors and guided startups on how to raise funds while keeping their headquarters in Houston. Furthermore at Rice University’s Liu Idea Lab and Rice Alliance, supporting commercialization was key to launching more local scientist-entrepreneur-led startups. Through First Bight Ventures, I also support local startups like Via Fuels and attract outside startups to scale their manufacturing operations in Houston, further growing the ecosystem."

Martinez: "The current weaknesses of our current Houston innovation ecosystem is two-fold: We need true early stage capital (pre-seed and seed) to support our founders. We also need more incubators and accelerators across the Houston area to support our geographically disbursed founders and founders-to-be in The Woodlands, Katy, and Sugar Land, along with more in central Houston. At invincible, we are committed to helping support and champion our Houston-area innovation community by launching a Mom Tech Incubator (HERA), an early-stage fund, and an industry-specific venture studio. Long term, we will need a growth-stage fund to better support our local startups and those expanding here for strategic reasons."

Garaizar: "Although Houston has a lot of later stage capital, access to early stage capital is a weakness that we are trying to overcome with capital activation, formation and innovation finance. Although Houston is the most diverse city in the U.S. it is not the most inclusive and equitable, that is why I studied the gender gap in investing and launched initiatives like Portfolia or the Houston Equitable Energy Transition Initiative and I am part of the City of Houston's Women Commission."

Yates: "Houston has a problem with economic disparities, including income inequality, poverty, and lack of access to resources. These economic indicators create real barriers for some individuals to have meaningful access to the Houston innovative ecosystem.Through my work with Equiliberty and other non-profits, I have provided my time and resources to help build a more equitable ecosystem. Through the work I am doing with Equiliberty, Houston Area Urban League, Impact Hub and others, I believe we're making improvements to ensure that any person with a dream of changing the world can do it right here in Houston, Texas. We are all working towards the day when their ZIP code, education background or financial status will not be a determining factor."

Houston startup launches platform to enhance health care information access

now online

Anyone who has had to Google their way to home health care knows that it’s not the best way to get effective help. That’s where MedVendor comes in.

Houstonian Chris Hunt and his wife, Ashton, created MedVendor to be a search platform that features up-to-date information for caseworkers for case workers for patients seeking at-home care.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chris Hunt was at a loss for how to help patients. He had recently taken on a new role in wound care sales. His company would send dressings directly to patients, but finding someone who could apply and change them was a different matter.

“It was an absolute nightmare using [Google] as a resource because you had all of these out-of-date listings. So it was a 50-50 shot whether that company would even be in business… And so it would be one in every seven, one in every eight calls that I would make that I could actually get ahold of somebody that I could talk to about wound care services,” Chris Hunt recalls.

In 2020, the couple began interviewing developers to take their idea to reality. They incorporated as an LLC in 2021.

Chris Hunt calls the platform a home-care equivalent to Angie’s List or Yelp. Though it’s currently designed for users in the medical field, he says that they are working on crafting MedVendor to be used by the general public as well.

Users input the type of service they’re looking for, then can select multiple individual patient needs to further tailor the search. “It'll give you a short list from that of companies that can service those criteria. And once you've been given that list, then you can filter patient zip code as well as patient insurance plan to then whittle that search further and really get to a granular level in terms of what resources that you want to find,” Chris Hunt explains.

The couple says that their Houston location has been both a blessing and a curse for their burgeoning business, which released the MedVendor platform on October 1. Though Chris Hunt says that cutting his business’ teeth in Southeast Texas, with its expansive medical community “proves your worth and holds a ton of weight. There you can go to other markets and really capitalize.”

However, MedVendor doesn’t want to be known just as a Texas company — the Hunts hope to expand far beyond the Houston area to eventually become a household name.

Ashton Hunt, who was also in medical sales before the couple took the leap to pursue MedVendor full-time, is marketing director for the company. She adds that in Q4 of this year, they plan to release a phone app version of the platform, which will make using it even easier for medical teams.

“Ideally, a case manager or social worker, if they're working on a discharge plan for a patient, they can even be bedside with them with their phone to help find some resources to then pass along to the family or the caregiver,” Chris Hunt says.

Ultimately, the goal of the company, the couple says, is to open up possibilities for patients. By providing up-to-date, vetted information, the hope is that MedVendor will not only supply them with the care they need, but educate them in the process.

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Affluent Houston enclave is the richest small town in Texas for 2024

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An upscale Houston community is home to the richest residents in Texas: Bunker Hill Village, a historically affluent Memorial neighborhood, was crowned the richest small town in Texas in a 2024 report.

The analysis, by loan provider TitleMax, determined the richest small towns in all 50 states using median household income data from the U.S. Census Bureau. In Bunker Hill Village, the median household income is about $250,000, the report says.

In addition to being the wealthiest town in the Lone Star State, Bunker Hill Village ranked as the No. 8 wealthiest small town in America.

Of course, "small town" is a bit of a misnomer for Bunker Hill Village. Situated 13 miles west of downtown Houston, Bunker Hill joins five other communities – Hunters Creek, HiIlshire, Hedwig, Piney Point, and Spring Valley – to make up Houston's iconic Memorial Villages. In 2023, Bunker Hill was ranked the third-most expensive Houston neighborhood, with homes on the market for upwards of $2.7 million.

Notably, the area is home to Houston's only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house.

"We are very proud of our quiet, wooded environment, and as a community, we work hard to preserve it for future generations," the city's website says.

The study found that more than half (56.5 percent) of the 1,250-home community make over $200,000 a year, while the enclave's median household income amounts to $247,188.

To put that into perspective, TitleMax revealed that the national median household income is $67,521. The Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey estimates the median income of a household in Texas came out to $75,780 in 2023.

Bunker Hill joins the likes of Houston's Bellaire and West University Place as some of the most affluent suburbs in America.

The San Jose, California suburb of Monte Sereno took the No. 1 spot in the ranking for the wealthiest small town in America. Monte Sereno's median household income is more than $250,000, according to the report.

"While many people consider cities to be the epicenters of the rich, many retreat to small towns that offer safety, beauty, and privacy," the report's author wrote.

These are the top 10 wealthiest small towns in America, with their median household incomes:

  • No. 1 – Monte Sereno, California ($250,000-plus)
  • No. 2 – Cherry Hills Village, Colorado ($250,000-plus)
  • No. 3 – Mission Hills, Kansas ($250,000-plus)
  • No. 4 – Short Hills, New Jersey ($250,000-plus)
  • No. 5 – Scarsdale, New York ($250,000-plus)
  • No. 6 – Belle Meade, Tennessee ($250,000-plus)
  • No. 7 – Glencoe, Illinois ($248,851)
  • No. 8 – Bunker Hill Village, Texas ($247,188)
  • No. 9 – Clyde Hill, Washington ($238,958)
  • No. 10 – Chevy Chase Village, Maryland ($238,333)
The full report can be found on titlemax.com.

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This article originally ran on CultureMap.