City updates economic development framework, highlights loans, parcel reviews and facade grants
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Summary
City economic development staff briefed the committee on the strategic framework priorities (adopted 2022), ARPA program closeouts, supplier engagement work and several active programs including a 0% interest loan program that has exceeded loan targets through March 31.
Brenda Hicks Lawrence, director of economic development for the City of San Antonio, briefed the committee on the city's economic development strategic framework (accepted by city council in October 2022) and the fiscal year 2025 priority implementation areas.
Hicks Lawrence said the framework's guiding principles include equitable economic opportunity, resilience, investment and placemaking. Fiscal-year priorities include strategic account management, real estate and placemaking, systems and processes improvements, and small-business ecosystem enhancements. Staff noted continued work wrapping up ARPA-funded programs and rolling out the SABETA implementation approved by council in December (adoption targeted by July 1).
On business retention and growth, staff reported outreach and visit targets: a target of 600 outreach visits for the year, with about 363 visits reported through the March 31 reporting period. Staff said conversion from outreach to on-site visits has been about 18% and that internal staffing changes have increased outreach by 64% in the most recent quarter.
Hicks Lawrence described the city's 0% interest loan program, which the presentation said had a fiscal-year target of 70 loans. Through March 31 the city reported providing 85 loans and "just under 300,000,000 in capital disperse and just over 1,000,000 in interest bought down." Staff added that the program balance remaining was low; the presentation reported a remaining balance of about $13,000 as of the prior week. (Staff said applications are still being processed.)
Council members and staff discussed identifying city-owned parcels for redevelopment; staff said the San Antonio Economic Development Corporation has identified about 10 parcels now undergoing due diligence and that staff will provide a district-level list. Council members emphasized continued support for the facade grant program and warned about displacement pressures on small businesses; staff said they will monitor budget decisions and be prepared to respond during the council's budget process.
Staff also summarized work on closing ARPA programs and updating the small-business ecosystem assessment; responses to the solicitation for that assessment were under review at the time of the briefing.
Ending note: Council members asked for district-level data on program outcomes and emphasized retention work and continued investment in facade and place-making programs as the budget process approaches.