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EDP staff reports: Main Street accreditation, HEB coming, and recruitment pipeline totals
Summary
At its Aug. 13 meeting, the Economic Development Partnership Board heard staff reports highlighting Main Street accreditation, a second HEB, a successful manufacturing recruitment, and pipeline statistics listing active projects, potential jobs and total capital investment.
City economic development staff updated the Economic Development Partnership Board on recent activity and metrics during the Aug. 13, 2025 meeting.
Jamie (staff presenter) and other directors said the city regained Main Street accreditation from Main Street America after staff changes and program rebuilding; Kristen Toledo, the city’s Main Street program manager, was credited for leading the re‑accreditation effort. Staff also reported that a second H‑E‑B grocery store is planned for the corner of Bonnie Brae and University and highlighted media coverage of an incentivized manufacturing project (US Cold Storage and panel ray) in the Dallas Business Journal.
Recruitment metrics cited by staff: 25 active projects in the pipeline, roughly 3,400 potential jobs and about $6,013,000,000 in potential capital investment across the pipeline. Staff reported 12 new leads over the past two months and 41 RFI submissions in 2025 to date. Staff said the majority of RFIs came through the governor’s office; they also described one recent conversion win (Project Jumper Compound / panel ray) and several other conversions and site visits.
Staff noted downtown and sector efforts: a downtown public post solicited ideas for a leasable property and generated community feedback; the team reported film permitting activity (seven permits in June and July) and continued business outreach and meetings with the airport, Hillwood and university partners, including joint work with UNT on an airport feasibility study.
Board members asked whether incentive policy or other factors were limiting recruitment success. Staff said the city’s Chapter 380 policy (incentive policy) guides eligibility and that some lost leads were related to timing (developers already had building permits), lack of suitable buildings, or infrastructure constraints. Staff also announced upcoming events and outreach including a Taiwan expo, a fire suppression workshop, a job fair in September and other conferences.
No board action was taken; the item was presented as informational.
