Committee updates business outreach; approves 2026 economic development operating budget

City economic development staff provided a series of updates Oct. 20 on outreach and promotional initiatives, then the committee took a voice vote to adopt the department's proposed 2026 operating budget.

Tom Lee highlighted a business forum scheduled for Oct. 23 (7:30'8:30 a.m. in the community room) and said about 13 businesses had committed to attend. Lee reported several commercial openings and transitions: Tula Indian Hearth and Bar at 16721 Main Street is open with dinner hours; Tableau Kitchen and Bar is taking over a recently closed Main Street location; and Premier Martial Arts owner Thomason was recognized as a local achievement award recipient.

Lee updated the committee on the Wildwood "proud local business" window decal program: 30 businesses had posted decals and staff has about 100 stickers remaining, with a goal of 130 participating businesses by 2026. Lee described the program as a low-cost shop-local promotion and said it cost roughly $200 to produce the initial run of stickers.

Staff also discussed recruitment for a communications/economic development-manager role; staff said the job posting was expected after the budget process and that a realistic earliest start date for a hired candidate would be in January 2026 given holiday timing.

On the budget, the administration department's economic development portion retained funding for the communications/economic development manager role and included $20,000 for community relations and events (tree lighting, resident packets and related programs). A motion to approve the economic development budget was made and seconded; the committee approved the budget by voice vote.

Provenance: Business updates and the budget discussion begin at 04:40:00 and the budget motion and voice vote are recorded at 01:41:45.