'Building wealth in the community': East End Houston Hub opens June 3

The new East End Maker Hub (EEMH), which is expected to generate approximately $153 million in annual economic impact, holds its grand opening June 3 at 6501 Navigation Boulevard.

With an almost 300,000-square-foot area, EEMH is designed to provide TXRX and other Houston innovators with a state-of-the-art makerspace and manufacturing center.

"The Hub is building wealth in the community, enhancing the surrounding neighborhood, while creating jobs," Patrick Ezzell, UP CDC president, said.

The Hub is a collaboration between Urban Partnerships Community Development Corporation (UP CDC) and TXRX Labs.

"The Hub will be the new home to the new wave of small batch manufacturing," TXRX President Roland von Kurnatowski said.

With the establishment of the Hub at the East End Houston, UP CDC and TXRX Labs aspire that it would provide an “opportunity to expand and scale operations and to create positive economic impact for Houston’s East End residents.”

“This new space is going to be home to the new wave of small batch of manufacturers in the Houston area,” Sam Dike, TXRX Labs board member, said. “This is such a passion to me because I really believe in developing our communities. How can we get people to either get a job, start a business or continue their education? Well, this facility allows the opportunity to do all of those things.”

The Maker Hub is also projected to bolster Houston’s East End community by creating more than 400 local jobs directly along with 200 induced jobs annually. It also offers job training to 75 adult Houstonians and is ready to accommodate more than 500 youth for hands-on project-based learning annually.

Mayor Sylvester Turner will grace the East End Maker Hub’s grand opening which will start at 11 a.m.