[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6162678,"mediaKeyId","5437744-25c1a292d15241d470b66d75e82f9dcf","parentId",5437744,"title","Keller will overhaul online business guide, staff to interview local businesses; six new June openings reported","audioSeconds",482,"startMs",572000,"endMs",1054000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5437744-25c1a292d15241d470b66d75e82f9dcf&start=572&end=1054","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5437744-25c1a292d15241d470b66d75e82f9dcf/thumbnail_572000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6162678/Keller/Tarrant-County/Texas/Keller-will-overhaul-online-business-guide-staff-to-interview-local-businesses-six-new-June-openings-reported","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6162678-5e6d95e485a52709b7665df8eb32cff1/orig.mp4?Expires=1776514743&Signature=O~VmBXRAB40dL8ztARF8A7I~6xwRS-wWCQNw4c8EH5d3fxtXPiWN6HUiOJzYpPS7fQEShBLO7IG0AQABkQfylGbLGwHjcBHRsvd97TXCn3png8IqxhQ78ENmHK5wP97F52A~x5Vjdj6JzX2r0UvIjWTowAMd7FJf8t9KxibciZeLneVOoj8TKc7HREGHQYf7wVV9UBQ03LS-xebzRXPNfKTVHn0xA1Xl8kDsDaN8n2nZI3Kqikv90XAsXq6uQczsFyoelk-B9tMgNdKT0Nhq7kocChFJV5EkbEvs7XAZ7uPdgszDEWTHXRg3s-zktpGSm1nsNU~x-694gVz2~Db8iw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Keller TX","date","2025-07-15T16:23:00Z","article","Keller Economic Development staff said the city will overhaul its online business guide to simplify information for prospective and expanding businesses, add a clickable flowchart, highlight early contact with the fire department and link to state and county workforce resources.

During the July 21 meeting staff said the guide redesign will remove duplicate or outdated links, provide clearer steps to permitting and inspections, and could include a pop‑up on the city’s site‑selection page that advises prospects to contact community development before signing a lease.

\"We have a flowchart from a few years ago that we wanna figure out how to maybe link it to where the different steps maybe you can click into some of it,\" said Sarah, an economic development staff member. She also said staff will pilot a simple scheduling option for 30‑minute pre‑application conversations with economic development and community development staff.

Outreach and business interviews
Staff plans to interview 10–12 existing local businesses — a mix of long‑standing firms and recent openings — to capture the practical steps that worked or created bottlenecks. Examples staff suggested for interviews included businesses in Town Center, Old Town Keller and along Davis and Bear Creek Parkway.

Recent openings and permit activity
Staff reported six new businesses opened in June, listing the names included in the update: Cultivate Behavioral Management Corporation (therapy for autism), The Kindred (content creator space) at 126 Taylor Street, Maverick Emerging Technologies LLC at 900 Katy Road, Summit Orthopedics of Texas at 1149 Keller Parkway, Infinity Nail and Head Spa at 1340 Main Street and Superior Med Spa at 101 Town Center Lane. The presenter said the city had issued 62 certificates of occupancy through June, with 31 of those for new businesses.

Grants and code improvement programs
Staff also reviewed local facade and life‑safety grant activity. The life‑safety grant is intended to help bring existing structures up to current life‑safety code and to offset mandatory, often costly improvements for businesses moving into older buildings. Staff said the life‑safety program is intended for pre‑existing structures; new construction is expected to be designed to current code.

Staff said facade grant activity has been ongoing and that two applications were expected to come to the board next month. The presenter offered to distribute application links and supporting materials to the board via email to encourage applications.

Why it matters: staff said simplifying the online guide and proactively contacting prospects can reduce costly mistakes by tenants and speed openings. Board members and staff framed the rewrite as a multiweek project that will continue after the city’s Open Rewards/Restaurant Week promotion is launched.

Next steps: staff will send the updated business‑interview list and the life‑safety and facade grant application links to the board, and will coordinate with the chamber on marketing and follow‑up.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Keller Economic Development Board Meeting - July 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Keller economic development staff said they will redesign the city’s online business guide with a simplified flowchart, a pop‑up reminder to contact community development, and an option to schedule brief pre‑application sessions.","taxTitle","Keller, Tarrant County, Texas","taxId",54069,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6162748,"Keller launches Open Rewards app and restaurant week with cash‑back to boost local spending",668,1128000,1796000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5437744-25c1a292d15241d470b66d75e82f9dcf&start=1128&end=1796","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5437744-25c1a292d15241d470b66d75e82f9dcf/thumbnail_1128000.jpg","/articles/6162748/Keller/Tarrant-County/Texas/Keller-launches-Open-Rewards-app-and-restaurant-week-with-cashback-to-boost-local-spending","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6162748-941879f536af2646a47e26244af37d13/orig.mp4?Expires=1776514743&Signature=dGZGEKzyKMrWlO-i-jg0carpxrsXhL785C1R7Mha2yKvwx8Mc2eyyqxG5RldW1EVKM57VOOBu5kRiMlnPhir1sRQkHZ6m3cBKTylhD1pT6aO4oA2zXqjuEcDJUZfvENK58~~RM5hkc2crdOiL4b6D81imiowIipPNeasPJCp1Ssc0wtDxzsZ6RPWHesgIlFbM-jVrxl5ZAI4K3J60KfjNXurGWxVGwsOhjsMaCovzundmdQ~ZfIGOKRlX2mYi1wu0e5Jr8DdvLUFWoSs1qMsiCHQrTpB8hQHK2me3XO0oZL8IaFSYlVzk26xFOaX8UppOXt8t-FYsCcTFcReKFPqqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Keller Economic Development staff announced a city-backed cash‑back program tied to Keller Restaurant Week that will offer 10% cash back at participating restaurants the week of July 28–Aug. 3 and 5% cash back at participating local retailers and family‑entertainment venues from Aug. 4–Sept. 8.

The program is built around a third‑party platform called Open Rewards and is operated by BlueDot, the vendor selected to process receipts and issue cash‑back. \"People will get 10% cash back from those participating restaurants,\" said Sarah, an economic development staff member presenting the program. Each participant is limited to $100 total cash back over the campaign, and receipts must be submitted by Sept. 30 to be eligible.

Why it matters: the city is using the promotion to drive foot traffic to small businesses and to encourage residents and visitors to spend locally. The city deposited program funds up front to fund the cash‑back payments; staff said Keller provided $50,000 to BlueDot as the initial program fund.

How it works and limits
- Restaurant week: July 28–Aug. 3. Twenty‑two local restaurants are listed as participating for the first week. The full bill is eligible for the 10% rate during that week. \"Each person can only get a total of a $100 back during the entire period,\" Sarah said.
- Expanded period: Aug. 4–Sept. 8 the program is open to additional local restaurants, retail stores that produce sales tax and family entertainment venues (examples discussed by staff included the movie theater and Monster Mini Golf). City council requested the inclusion of local retailers and family entertainment venues; staff said council also asked that grocery stores, gas stations and major “big box” retailers be excluded.
- Redemption: participants upload receipts by taking a photo in the Open Rewards app or link a credit card to select qualifying charges. BlueDot reviews receipts and alerts the city if an unlisted business is submitted; staff can approve or decline those entries.
- Deadlines and payout: receipts must be uploaded by Sept. 30. Cash can be claimed through common payout options (Venmo, PayPal, or check). Staff said unused program funds would remain with the city if not issued.

Oversight and metrics
Staff said BlueDot will provide daily metrics showing use by location and frequency so the city can monitor uptake and adjust marketing. \"BlueDot gives a lot of metrics that give back to the city to let us know the people that used it, where it was used, how often it was used,\" the presenter said. Staff also said the program can be turned on or off and re‑deployed later if the city chooses to run a similar promotion again.

City exclusions and controls
City council requested the program exclude groceries, gas stations and major big‑box retailers; staff said those exclusions are in place. Staff also said the city will receive vendor alerts if a business not on the approved list is submitted for reimbursement, and staff will confirm whether to accept those receipts.

Next steps
Staff asked the board to help spread the word and provide feedback on participating businesses and marketing. Staff also said they and the vendor will monitor the program and increase marketing mid‑campaign if uptake is below targets.

The program is described by staff as a pilot; future runs would require additional city authorization and funding.","Keller Economic Development staff announced a city-backed cash‑back promotion paired with Keller Restaurant Week: 10% cash back at 22 participating restaurants the week of July 28–Aug. 3, then a 5% program for qualifying local retailers and family entertainment through Sept. 8; per-person cap $100 and receipts must be submitted by Sept. 30.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6162673,"Keller board says land scarcity, parking and residential concerns are main hurdles for mixed‑use projects",193,2160000,2353000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5437744-25c1a292d15241d470b66d75e82f9dcf&start=2160&end=2353","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5437744-25c1a292d15241d470b66d75e82f9dcf/thumbnail_2160000.jpg","/articles/6162673/Keller/Tarrant-County/Texas/Keller-board-says-land-scarcity-parking-and-residential-concerns-are-main-hurdles-for-mixeduse-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6162673-d5797adeac67ae6bde2b318fad6778ee/orig.mp4?Expires=1776514743&Signature=Jb~3TG1nQZtNW9ggMmV~mqYrxrhqjBmY7xtWbluC3RAC~IZt~vq7f8BcUWdStEWORxFBH83PfMUFpLMRMiJaU81SeIMaubT9dNEWQzQnOjUFoH8eFgcdqmCKHSxYy59Be6VC052gTP0ZAOYhBFjny4k5VPE0XnWkKSTZy8Mrnbk0mp-b8OxbEwIbZ2NKidS24~KOm3QiUbt8Luivp75dOQv7UJV~rTeI6t93c32kDrN3MYamKd20hLtBU1erIGGzUPz6wPKx19Kpmg7C8UTwswli-J4VYKN4DWEjajQk57udIPJC0g1Yrz8xAXr-hdimcqBGYhYgYI2aL~reGbfe0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members and city staff discussed land scarcity, parking and community appetite for residential development as the principal constraints shaping future mixed‑use projects in Keller.

\"Parking is like the number 1 thing,\" an economic development staff member said, noting that small parcel sizes and parking requirements make mixed‑use redevelopments difficult. Board members and staff agreed that acreage, timing and a community preference for owner‑occupied housing often limit the types of mixed‑use proposals likely to gain support.

Staff pointed to a prospective redevelopment area near Samantha Springs — property owned by Joe McCombs that includes the former Shannon Brewery site — as an example of landowners exploring mixed‑use options that might include restaurants, community gathering spaces and a brewery. Staff said utilities are in place on that site, which may lower infrastructure costs for future developers.

Community concerns and project sequencing
Staff and board members emphasized the importance of clear commercial commitments early in project negotiations. One staff member said applicants should \"come with a LOI in hand for your commercial\" portion and warned that the community perception of some mixed‑use projects has been negative; \"Google Center Stage anywhere and you'll find at least a few Facebook comments\" referring to perceived bait‑and‑switch concerns.

Why it matters: mixed‑use projects shape the city’s commercial tax base and pedestrian activity, but they also raise neighborhood concern when residential elements are perceived to outweigh commercial commitments. Board members said successful proposals will likely require deliberate outreach to elected officials and surrounding property owners.

Next steps: staff said they are in ongoing conversations with landowners and developers and will continue to evaluate projects that meet acreage and parking constraints while addressing community concerns.","Board members and staff discussed limited developable acreage in Keller, parking constraints and community resistance to residential components as primary challenges for mixed‑use development; staff cited an example site owned by Joe McCombs near Samantha Springs and the former Shannon Brewery as a possible mixed‑use redevelopment opportunity.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Keller will overhaul online business guide, staff to interview local businesses; six new June openings reported

Keller launches Open Rewards app and restaurant week with cash‑back to boost local spending

Keller board says land scarcity, parking and residential concerns are main hurdles for mixed‑use projects