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EDC director reports retail outreach, business-retention rollout and rising sales tax
Summary
Anna EDC staff reported outreach at the ICSC Red River trade show, launched a Blue Dot business-retention directory, noted increases in social-media followers and reported November and December sales tax gains.
Anna Economic Development Corporation staff presented highlights of recent outreach and business-retention work at the Feb. 13 joint CDC/EDC meeting.
"We had the privilege to attend the ICSC, Red River, in Dallas," said Mr. Parker during the director's report, describing meetings with regional retail vendors and restaurants considering Anna. Staff said the event produced many business contacts and follow-up communications.
Staff also described the launch of a business retention and expansion program using the Blue Dot platform. "Blue Dot is our business directory," said a staff member. The platform allows businesses to add listings, map locations, publish hours and filter by services such as delivery or takeout. Staff said they are visiting local businesses in person to collect updated contact information and to add or correct listings.
The director reported measurable outreach results: staff recorded 11 meetings with real estate brokers, 12 business retention touches (in-person visits, not just phone calls), and five architecture/construction meetings in January. The EDC newsletter had 2,159 subscribers and staff reported adding four new subscribers that month; LinkedIn gained 13 members; Instagram gained 15 followers for a total of 38; staff also reported the new Facebook page reached 57 followers in its first week.
On sales tax, staff said November receipts were up 8.4% from the previous year and that December receipts increased about 30% from the prior year. "So the trajectory is going up, and we are definitely excited about that," Parker said.
Staff also noted single-family permit activity in the region and reported Anna issued 1,254 single-family permits for the year-to-date comparison cited, a 31% increase from the prior year. The director contrasted that to a regional comparison but did not supply a definitive permit count for the comparison city.
A board member commended staff for adding a development section to the EDC materials and said the change would help developers find opportunities in Anna.
Staff reminded board members about Open Meetings Act training and promoted upcoming local events, including the Greater Anna Chamber of Commerce awards banquet on March 1 and the board-hosted annual development forum on July 17.
No formal board action was taken during the director's report; the presentation was recorded as informational and for future follow up by staff.
