Keene EDC staff: General Land Office awards $250,000 to update city master plan

Keene city staff reported that the Texas General Land Office awarded the city $250,000 to update its comprehensive (master) plan, a funding decision staff said will support a multi-year roadmap for development and zoning.

Holly, identified in the meeting as city staff, told the Keene Economic Development Corporation board that the city originally applied for $300,000 and understood a lower amount of $200,000 might be available, but "they did award us 250,000." She said the grant administrator is moving forward with required documents and that Public Management Inc. (PMI), which prepared the application, will modify its contract to match the award so the city is not out of pocket. "They apply. They, and their cost comes out of that grant award," Holly said.

The board framed the update as a planning opportunity: the president described the work as "kind of a road map for the next 10, 20 years" that will cover development, zoning and growth. Staff said the process will include town-hall meetings and broad board and citizen participation to help define priorities and draft the plan.

Holly and other staff emphasized program design choices will shape how the grant is used, including which departments lead specific tasks and how the public engagement schedule is set. The board discussed previous work (the last plan cited as around 2018) and noted changes in the community that prompt an update.

Next steps: staff will complete the paperwork with the General Land Office, PMI will adjust its contract to reflect the award amount, and town hall meetings will be scheduled to collect public input. No board vote on the grant itself was recorded at the meeting; staff described the award and preparatory steps.