Garland Daily: H-E-B sites, new workforce hub, and student film festival

Top local headlines

• H-E-B is weighing two Garland projects: a full-size H-E-B near Firewheel and a Joe V’s Smart Shop on the east side.
• A new Garland Workforce Center opened with free job-search help, training connections, and support services.
• Garland ISD students are headlining the Bankhead Film Festival at the Plaza Theatre on Saturday.
• A new op-ed profiles gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa’s education and healthcare priorities.

Retail watch: two H-E-B concepts in the pipeline

Garland’s long-running ‘when are we getting an H-E-B?’ conversation moved closer to a real map this week. City leaders are considering proposals for a flagship H-E-B on land near Crist Road and Firewheel Parkway, close to the President George Bush Turnpike, along with a Joe V’s Smart Shop planned for a vacant retail center near Centerville Road and I-635.

Both concepts would add grocery competition on opposite sides of town, with the discount-focused Joe V’s aimed at value shoppers and the full-size H-E-B positioned as a larger regional draw.

Jobs & training: a new workforce hub opens

A ribbon cutting this week marked the opening of a new Garland Workforce Center on Clara Barton Boulevard. The center is designed to connect residents to employers and training programs, while also offering practical help like resume support, interview prep, and guidance to related resources such as transportation or child care assistance.

Weekend note: students take the red carpet downtown

Downtown Garland’s Plaza Theatre is set to host the second annual Bankhead Film Festival on Saturday, with separate screenings for younger students and for high school filmmakers. Along with audience voting and awards, the event is meant to spotlight student storytelling and give families an easy excuse to spend time on the Square.

Also worth noting

A Garland-area op-ed this week highlighted gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa’s pitch to voters, focusing on public-school funding and teacher pay, plus broader healthcare access ideas such as Medicaid expansion.

Sources

• https://www.dallasobserver.com/food-drink/heb-garland-flagship-joe-vs-plans-40647938/
• https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2026/02/27/new-garland-workforce-hub-aims-to-match-residents-with-in-demand-careers/
• https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/things-to-do/2026/02/26/fun-things-to-do-in-dallas-fort-worth-for-the-week-of-feb-27-march-5/
• https://garlandgazette.news/gina-hinojosa-taking-texas-back-for-texans/