The Houston Texans organization was back out in the community with partner Amegy Bank on Tuesday awarding their first of eight 2021 Small Business Boost program packages. DeMarco Howard, owner of The Artz Studio located in The Heights received a $2,500 donation, marketing and promotional support from the Texans and Amegy Bank and an award plaque.

“We have a ton of students who come to the studio who can’t financially meet that bar that we set for our pricing, so we help them out financially and invest in our equipment and make sure that our clients are safe,” said Howard about how the monetary donation he received from the Texans and Amegy Bank would be used. “We just try to accommodate our clients, and this will really help.”

Former Houston Texans player N.D. Kalu was joined by representatives from Amegy Bank along with the Texans Cheerleaders and members of the team’s community outreach department as they presented Mr. Howard and his students with the donation check and a plaque.

“We have heard some great things about him (DeMarco Howard) as a businessman, what he does in the community, and what he does for you all and your families,” Kalu said as he spoke to the limited number of students in the studio due to COVID-19 protocols.

The Artz, started out as a dance studio in Rosharon, Texas before they were able to acquire the studio in Houston and grow the business from two kids and 10 adults, to over 100 kids and 50 adults on a consistent basis. It is currently the largest aerial arts and circus studio in Houston.

Established in 2020, the Small Business Boost program has awarded a total of $20,000 in grants. The Texans and Amegy Bank invite Texans fans to nominate their favorite local, small businesses who are enduring challenging times presented by the pandemic. Nominations opened this week and will run through the end of December 2021 and be chosen on a rolling basis.