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Garden City officials report new business leads, industrial RFP and retail projects moving forward
Summary
Officials said they have several prospective business leads, a new industrial request for proposals that could bring high‑skill jobs, and ongoing work on retail and entertainment projects including a TIF district for the ICON cinema site.
Lana Duvall, president, told the Garden City board that staff has “had a couple of of new calls” from prospective businesses but has not yet confirmed those prospects as active projects.
The city has been following up with out‑of‑state prospects, Duvall said, and ‘‘we’ve had several step up over the last couple of months, and we continue to work with those.’’ She said staff will add prospects to the portfolio only after meeting with them and confirming the projects’ readiness.
Steve Cottrell, Special Projects Director, told the board the city received three requests for proposals (RFPs) from the state commerce office, two of which required million‑square‑foot buildings and were declined; a third, submitted late, requested roughly a half‑million square feet and would employ about 230 people. Cottrell said capital investment for that opportunity was “about a hundred and $50,000,000.”
Cottrell also updated the board on retail and entertainment projects. He said the city is continuing work on a TIF (tax increment financing) district and CID feasibility analysis for the ICON cinema project and that the city has been approached by family entertainment and multi‑tenant commercial developers for sites around town.
On small business support, Grant Lisonbee, business development, said staff is working with a slate of local clients — from a pop‑up vendor who has paused plans to others pursuing liquor licenses or lease details — and that an entrepreneur class series in collaboration with Downtown Vision will focus initially on social media and other business skills.
Duvall and Cottrell noted the city is working to convert interest into actual projects: ‘‘We are working with a couple of developers that have been kind of on a land hunt,’’ Duvall said. She added that some developers have submitted offers and others are testing site layouts.
The board also celebrated small expansions: Cottrell said franchise interest has returned, with a Peachwave location planned for Kings Avenue and an anticipated spring opening.
The board did not take formal action on specific projects at the meeting; staff said further details and any formal requests (agreements, incentives or land sales) will be brought forward when proposals are ready.
