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Laredo committee discusses incentives, study to attract grocery stores to District 7
Summary
The Laredo Economic Development Committee discussed recommending incentive programs and commissioning a more detailed economic-development study to attract grocery stores to District 7, including outreach to major chains and attention to food-desert definitions and health needs.
The Laredo Economic Development Committee on Jan. 23 debated incentives and a possible economic-development study aimed at attracting a grocery store to District 7.
The chair opened the discussion saying the action item was “recommended incentive programs to attract grocery store in District 7,” and members stressed the need to combine outreach to major chains with a rigorous study of local demand.
“Talk to HEB or Walmart and see, are you interested in moving over here?” a committee member said, urging direct outreach to national chains. Committee member Julian (committee member) argued the city should produce a district-level economic-development study that examines retail, industrial and neighborhood conditions and would provide data to persuade private investors.
“Food deserts just because you have convenience stores in the area, that doesn't alleviate or count as, oh, that area has food,” Julian said, adding that a proper study should measure access to fresh produce, demographics and nearby schools.
City staff said initial conversations with private-sector partners were already under way and that department staff are working on an evaluation and would return with more detailed recommendations. “Please allow us some time to come back with more solid updates on this possibility,” a staff member said.
Committee members also suggested alternative approaches: seeking to zone and reserve commercial parcels in new subdivisions (citing the Palm View development), working with developers to designate land for supermarkets, and recruiting smaller-format concepts such as Aldi or neighborhood H‑E‑B stores that focus on fresh, lower-cost produce. One member emphasized considering community health needs — for example, diabetes prevalence — when recruiting grocery concepts.
No formal motion to adopt a program or to fund a study was taken; staff were directed to continue outreach and return with options.
