Grayson County Economic Development Authority staff on June 26 briefed the board on two multi-year economic development efforts: a rooftop mixed-use proposal that would combine subsidized senior housing with an on-site childcare center, and ongoing efforts to market and prepare the Wildwood site for industrial or commercial development.

EDA staff told the board the rooftop proposal’s performance metrics include unit counts, a projected 56 additional children served if the childcare is built, and 8–10 childcare staff positions tied to the project. The developer is applying for external grants and has not secured grant awards or made binding commitments; staff said the next substantive update will come in approximately two months with the developer’s grant application status.

On Wildwood and other large-site strategies, staff and board members discussed the importance of making sites “site-ready” (grading, utilities, roads and adequate power) and actively marketing them to attract large private investment. Staff said some identified landowners prefer to keep agricultural uses, limiting available industrial sites; the EDA has conducted site reviews with neighboring counties and an engineering firm, but more capital — state grants, tobacco funds or other public inputs — would be required to get remote sites prepared for major employers.

Board members and staff also discussed recent and potential tenants at Wildwood, the payback timeline on prior county investments, and the prospect of a second company joining an initial operator to shorten the county’s break-even horizon. Staff provided job estimates for the current operator (dozens of positions, with a range of wages reported verbally during the discussion) and said a second company could materially speed local revenue recovery and job creation.

Staff emphasized the long lead times: site development, utility extension and active marketing are typically multi-year efforts that require public-private capital and persistent outreach. Board members noted regional competition for projects and incentive differences with neighboring states.

No formal votes were taken on development incentives during the meeting; staff will return with updates on grant progress and any requests for formal commitments.