Innovation Black Chamber asks council for update on grocery-store recruitment and proposed professional-services agreement

Ronnie Russell, speaking for the Innovation Black Chamber of Commerce (IBCC), told the council the organization is working to recruit and support a grocery store to address a local food-access gap and asked for follow-up on a prior council motion of direction related to the effort.

Russell told the council IBCC has worked to support business openings and events in Killeen, saying the chamber helped produce 26 grand openings across several districts in fiscal year 2025 and contributed to the creation of more than 80 jobs. He said the area still lacks a full-service grocery store in parts of the city and described IBCC’s proposed role in market analysis, targeted attraction and recruitment.

Council members asked staff for the status of a previously directed action. City Manager Cagle said staff and Russell had been discussing a professional-services agreement and that he had a follow-up meeting scheduled to finalize an approach and bring a proposed agreement to council. “As soon as we have a final, we will bring it forward to the council for consideration, and I’ll work with Mr. Russell,” Cagle said.

Russell said he expected the matter to return to council and urged that the agreement — and any associated funding — appear on an upcoming agenda. Staff confirmed the city is preparing a professional-services scope for council consideration but said no final agreement had yet been submitted for a vote.

No formal appropriation or contract was approved at the meeting; council members asked staff to prepare an agreement and to return to council with a proposed professional-services contract and any funding recommendations for council consideration at a future meeting.