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Cleveland EDC highlights 2024 accomplishments, rebranding and target-industry outreach
Summary
EDC staff presented a draft 2024 annual report summarizing branding work, near-term investment attraction efforts, and a target-industry analysis engagement with Applied Marketing; the board heard staffing and marketing updates including the new communications coordinator.
The Cleveland Economic Development Corporation reviewed a draft annual report for 2024 and heard an update on a target-industry analysis under way with Applied Marketing at its meeting on February 24.
Emilio, the EDC coordinator, summarized work completed in 2024 and early 2025, including a gateway rebranding project funded by the EDC, promotional campaigns (Shop Local, Coco Crawl, and outreach merchandise), and investments in parks and beautification. He said staff had "sought about just under a billion dollars in investment" and noted several active leads he described as having "real legs," including a potential project that staff estimated could bring roughly $100 million in investment and more than 50 primary jobs if finalized. Emilio told the board the EDC provided about $6,500 in small-business support via façade grants and had invested close to $82,000 in parks and beautification projects in 2024.
The board also introduced Xochit Perez as the new communications and marketing coordinator. Perez said, "This place is amazing. It is great. It is stunning," and described plans to expand social media outreach and finalize a marketing plan to guide the remainder of the fiscal year and to inform next year’s budget.
Applied Marketing consultant Lehi Hao outlined the scope of the target-industry analysis and stakeholder engagement: data gathering, interviews, focus groups and recommendations that include industry profiles, marketing targets and messaging. Hao said recommendations will be delivered in an iterative process and estimated a timeline of about four to eight weeks to produce recommendations and profiles, depending on feedback.
Board members discussed regional assets they expect to leverage in recruitment, including Cleveland’s location relative to Houston, Beaumont and Conroe, an established general-aviation airport, and the pending BNSF project. Members cited transportation and logistics as core strengths and said industrial and distribution uses are likely growth areas; they also flagged retail and workforce-development capacity as gaps to be addressed alongside industrial expansion.
Emilio said work will continue to finalize the annual report for presentation to city council and public posting, and staff will proceed with the rebranding committee and marketing rollouts now that the communications coordinator is on board.
