Committee asks staff to map federal and state economic-development tools and simplify access for businesses

At the Sept. 9 Development Services Committee meeting staff reviewed a menu of federal and state economic-development tools and the committee requested staff consolidate and communicate those resources in a more accessible form for businesses and developers.

Council members and staff discussed foreign-trade zones, Economic Development Administration grants, revolving loan funds, PACE financing, the Texas Enterprise Fund and Opportunity Zones, and state workforce tools such as the Skills Development Fund. Staff noted Garland has used some state programs (including the Texas Enterprise Zone and workforce grants) and that other programs, such as revolving loan funds, are used elsewhere but require administrative capacity to implement.

The committee discussed whether some processes could be handled administratively rather than by individual council actions; staff said some foreign-trade-zone requests in the past have required council action but that creating an administrative pathway could make the process more user-friendly. Staff also described ongoing work to relaunch the city business-facing website and to create a business-retention-and-expansion (BRE) program and said those efforts would be opportunities to bundle incentives and explain eligibility.

Staff listed specific state and federal options they will research further for Garland, including EDA programs (e.g., economic adjustment assistance, revolving loan funds), PACE offerings, Texas Enterprise Fund (a deal-closing tool), Enterprise Zone projects, and Skills Development Fund workforce grants. The transcript record also referenced Opportunity Zones (one zone in Garland), and local programs used previously, while noting use and applicability vary by market and project.

Committee members asked about partnerships with the Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Administration and supported packaging tools for small business users as well as larger developers. Staff said they would return with a detailed plan on how to present an online toolbox, whether administrative authority could be broadened for certain incentives, and options to coordinate with Chamber and SBA resources.

Committee members also commented on incentive choices — one member asked staff to avoid overuse of the tree-mitigation fund as a currency for incentives; others suggested exploring art- and culture-focused incentives, green-construction supports and incentives tied to sustainable design.

Staff will return with an inventory, comparisons to peer cities, and proposals for streamlined administrative handling and outreach materials.