South Dallas Fair Park Opportunity Fund plans fall info sessions after reporting larger applicant pipeline

Board staff updated the South Dallas Fair Park Opportunity Fund on outreach efforts and an expanding pipeline of economic development applicants and said the fund will hold a series of info sessions this fall to raise awareness and help applicants prepare.

Nicholas Becerra of the Office of Economic Development told the board on Aug. 25 that staff has moved many early applicants into a "not viable/declined" category after follow-up, while generating new initial contacts through targeted outreach. "We've been kind of hitting the concrete in South Dallas to make sure that we're doing our outreach," Becerra said, noting staff attendance at neighborhood and business events and presentations to local groups.

The update matters because the fund’s ability to support small projects depends on a steady flow of eligible, ready applicants. Becerra said staff have been working with the Point South revitalization committee, landowners, developers and Council Member Basil Dua’s office to identify potential projects and take referrals. He said some projects have progressed into detailed discussions and one applicant is preparing a submission that could move to underwriting soon.

Board members and community speakers pressed for broader outreach. James McGee, who said he runs an innovation center at 3225 MLK, asked how the fund could reach more South Dallas businesses and offered his center as a potential host. "How do we get the South Dallas economic development fund out to more businesses within the South Dallas area?" McGee asked. Chair Leander Johnson (present at the meeting) thanked McGee and directed community members to submit organization contact lists to staff so those entities receive correspondence. "We welcome any and all feedback from the community," Johnson said.

Staff said the fund plans three economic-development info sessions in addition to two NOFA information meetings. The first session is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 18 but Becerra said the date is likely to shift. The sessions will pair a practical technical-assistance presentation—examples given included how to prepare a pro forma or budget—with a program overview so prospective applicants can both learn and apply. Becerra: "An idea for a forum could be having one of the organizations that we work with who does technical assistance provide maybe, like, a 45 [minute] presentation on something like how to make your business more bankable. And then we follow that up with an info session about the South Dallas Fair Park Opportunity Fund economic development program."

Board members discussed potential hosts and partners for the sessions, including bank partners, the South Dallas Cultural Center, the Bill J Pre Center and venues offered by community partners. Becerra said partners will be asked to leverage their networks and that outreach for the sessions will replicate the NOFA approach—press releases, direct emails to prior applicants and partner distribution lists.

Separately, the board’s marketing subcommittee reported on participation at Dallas Startup Week. Subcommittee member Bill Dawkins said the summit at SMU was well attended by entrepreneurs, funders and service providers. "The wrap up event ... had 1,500 some people signed up for it," Dawkins said, and attendees included national participants who had flown in for the event. Board members said those connections may help increase South Dallas applicants if the fund and partners use those networks to drive awareness.

Formal board business included approval of minutes from the June 30, 2025 meeting and adoption of the fiscal year 2026 meeting calendar (meetings proposed for the last Monday of each month). Those motions passed by voice vote; the record does not include a roll-call tally. The meeting adjourned at 6:41 p.m.

The board said it will continue to refine outreach and use subcommittees to develop partner lists and event formats for the upcoming info sessions. Staff said they will return with further planning details and confirmed that technical-assistance partners will be a key feature of the sessions.