Assistant City Manager Allison Reed briefed the council Tuesday on the city’s first 90 days of implementing the tourism strategic plan and introduced the new destination manager, Michelle Ebank.

“Michelle's really a great fit for that role,” Reed said, and the destination manager presented accomplishments and near‑term actions including updated visitor materials, redeployment of a visit kiosk to area hotels later this month, and marketing placements in statewide publications.

The nut graf: Staff described a downtown business support program funded by the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) that will reimburse eligible façade and storefront improvements, signage, and beautification projects up to $10,000. The program will accept online applications and staff will process approvals administratively; applications are scheduled to open in February.

Destination Manager Michelle Ebank reviewed ongoing visitor attraction steps: rollout of a new Visit Cedar Hill and Great Greenway website in spring, billboard and digital advertising for the Great Greenway, seasonal photo‑ops at Pioneer Park, an elevated farmer’s market beginning in May, and a proposed downtown community street dance in April. “We will also launch the great Greenway brand with billboards, digital ads and exciting new promo items,” she said.

On the downtown support program, Ebank said the 12–13 month‑old branding effort and visitor materials will be paired with direct assistance to existing downtown businesses. She described a simple online application, staff review and administrative approval process, and said the EDC‑funded program will reimburse qualifying expenses up to $10,000. Ebank said staff will brief the new Destination Advisory Board monthly on applications but that final administrative approvals will be handled by staff.

Council members generally welcomed the program and asked about the advisory board’s role. One councilmember suggested winners or recipients be recognized at council meetings to increase public engagement; Ebank said staff would brief the board on applications and could present winners publicly.

Ending: Staff said applications for the downtown support program will open in February, the new tourism website will launch in spring, and the Destination Advisory Board’s first meeting is scheduled for February.