Council hears proposal for city economic development strategic plan

City Council of Glenn Heights on Tuesday heard a proposal from consultant Molly McKay of Willdan Financial Services for an economic development strategic plan intended to guide business attraction, retail capture and long‑range investment.

The presentation, requested by City Manager Clifford Blackwell, described a multi‑phase engagement that would include baseline market and labor data, a business climate survey, stakeholder interviews and a consensus workshop with council. McKay said the firm would develop performance metrics and a funding plan so the council could track progress over a five‑year period.

McKay told the council Willdan had completed about 15 similar strategic plans and highlighted opportunities she said exist in Glenn Heights, including sales‑tax leakage, planned roadway improvements and a transit‑oriented development opportunity near DART. She recommended beginning major public engagement in September, with preparatory data collection during the summer.

Blackwell said staff and the consultant had already discussed the city’s Chamber of Commerce relationship and the need to prime the pump with a business engagement campaign. McKay said her team would provide maps showing priority focus areas, a publicly usable project flyer and ongoing milestone presentations to keep council and staff informed.

Council members asked about deliverables and whether a highest‑and‑best‑use study — an in‑depth site‑specific analysis — would be included. McKay said the scope includes a product‑based market analysis and feasibility work but that a separate, detailed highest‑and‑best‑use study likely would be out of scope and could be commissioned later.

No vote was taken. Blackwell said the item was for discussion and that a formal procurement or sole‑source authorization would be handled in a later agenda if council wished to proceed.