Henderson approves HeadCo performance agreements for jobs, retail and housing
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Summary
The Henderson City Council approved a series of HeadCo performance agreements and a budget amendment that fund facility repairs, retail and housing projects and small-business expansions; HeadCo described several grants and incentives intended to retain jobs and spur local construction.
The Henderson City Council on a voice vote approved multiple performance agreements presented by HeadCo aimed at retaining jobs, supporting local businesses and jump-starting housing development.
“Mister Gardella” (HeadCo) told the council the investments are intended to keep businesses and services in Henderson and to create local jobs. “The monies that we're putting into this project are all front facing. So we're treating it in essence like a grant that is gonna beautify the property and everything will face the street,” Gardella said, describing assistance to a property owner whose renovation would allow the Railroad Commission to remain in town.
The approved agreements included support for:
- Henderson Boys Baseball Association (facility/operations support through HeadCo).
- Bain Investments Holdings, which Gardella said required renovation assistance to keep a state Railroad Commission office in the city; Gardella described the financial help as ‘front-facing’ assistance to renovate space and preserve jobs.
- A local family business (Saddler Powder Coating Coating LLC, with a related Petco project) where HeadCo’s contribution was described as under 10 percent of the project cost and tied to job creation and retention obligations.
- Wiseman Ministries: a proposed 10,000-square-foot retail site that HeadCo estimates could generate roughly $40,000 in annual city sales tax revenue.
- First Methodist Church preschool: HeadCo support for repairing a failing retaining wall. Gardella described the total scope as about $65,000 and HeadCo’s share as roughly $32,500; two council members disclosed personal connections and said they would remove themselves from the vote or abstain. The council approved the agreement after those disclosures.
- Henderson Civic Center Incorporated: a $50,000 contribution for interior improvements and carpet replacement to maintain the facility’s status as a class-A venue.
- Brasso Development & Construction LLC: site work on approximately nine acres to make land shovel ready for new housing. Gardella described an initial phase with a developer option to expand building activity, and said the agreement asks the developer to hire local contractors and source materials locally. The council approved the housing agreement; one council member announced an abstention for a banking-related conflict.
Gardella also presented budget amendments for HeadCo to reflect increased work scope, higher office and contract-labor costs and expanded marketing and recruitment activity; the council approved the amendments on voice vote.
Why it matters: the bundle of agreements directs public economic-development funds toward a mix of job-retention, small-business and housing projects. Several items tie public assistance to job-creation or maintenance commitments and include conditions (time-limited job-retention periods and local hiring preferences) that HeadCo staff said will be monitored.
The council approved each item on voice votes; Gardella’s presentations provided the principal financial details and projected outcomes. The council did not set specific long-term monitoring reports during the meeting beyond the program descriptions given by HeadCo staff.
What’s next: the agreements will move to implementation under HeadCo oversight and the city’s economic-development staff; council members asked staff to return with details if additional budget amendments or project modifications are needed.