Clute EDC approves 2023–24 annual report and appoints Rachel Garcia Flores as economic development and tourism director

The Clute Economic Development Corporation on Monday approved its 2023–24 annual economic development report and unanimously adopted CEDC Resolution No. One-two25 to appoint Rachel Garcia Flores as Economic Development and Tourism Director.

The actions came during a regular meeting in which the outgoing executive director described recent business recruitment, grants secured for planning and transportation, and the corporation’s current financial position. "This will be my last time serving in that capacity," the outgoing executive director, CJ, said while introducing Flores.

Why it matters: the appointment gives Flores responsibility for implementing the EDC’s livable-centers plan, managing newly secured grants and incentives, and carrying forward property and infrastructure initiatives the city staff presented to the board.

At the meeting the EDC reported that year-to-date revenue has run ahead of projections while expenditures have been below budget, and that the corporation expects to finish the fiscal year with a modest net positive contribution to its fund balance. The presentation listed projected revenue of about $1.1 million and projected expenditures of about $1.3 million for the year; staff said year-to-date revenue exceeded the projection and expenditures were lower than expected.

Board members heard updates on recent and planned projects. Staff said they had negotiated with a developer, identified multiple properties for redevelopment along Dixie and 288 B, and were working with new owners of a shopping center on Plantation to upgrade signage and parking. Staff also noted three recent business openings in the past six weeks, and named tenants and sites including a seafood restaurant in the old Elks building and other small retail and manufacturing sites along 288 B.

On grants and planning, staff told the board the city had secured a transportation alternatives (TA) grant from the Texas Department of Transportation worth $280,000 and an RCP grant for comprehensive planning. Staff said the RCP grant covers the preliminary work required under state law for revising zoning, land-use and development regulations. The corporation also discussed a federal earmark request of $5.5 million for a Main Street reconstruction; staff said they would monitor congressional action and contact Rep. Randy Weber’s office if the funding appeared in the final package.

The presentation described capital needs in the community, saying the city’s roads, streets, drainage and water systems serving one side of town are more than 45 years old and that the wider capital-improvement plan (CIP) identifies roughly half a billion dollars in needs. Staff also described a vendor trial of Placer.ai, a location-analytics tool used to measure visitor origins and movement during events; staff said a trial at the Mosquito Festival showed a pattern in which 61% of attendees who stayed to the end of a concert later visited a local Whataburger.

On the personnel matter, Rachel Garcia Flores introduced herself to the board and summarized her background on economic development teams in Clark County, Nev., and previous work in Brownsville, Texas, where she served as director for a Type B corporation and participated in SpaceX recruitment efforts. She said she holds a master’s in legal studies from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law focused on intellectual property and real estate, and told the board she was "super excited" to join Clute.

Board members moved to approve the annual EDC report and then to adopt CEDC Resolution No. One-two25 appointing Flores. Both motions passed with assent; the board chair called for the vote, "All in favor? Aye," and the motions carried.

The meeting closed after the appointment vote and routine adjournment business. Staff said they will return to the board at a later date with grant details and budget adjustments related to the EDC work plan.