Gun Barrel City EDC director urges destination-driven strategy, retail coaching and youth-sports fields

EDC Executive Director Charles told the Gun Barrel City Council on Dec. 16 that the city should pursue "destination creation" and a targeted retail strategy to boost local sales tax and capture spending that currently leaks to nearby markets. Charles said the 2020 comprehensive plan and a 2024 strategic update emphasize balanced, market-driven growth that leverages Cedar Creek Lake, tourism and existing businesses.

Charles said business retention and expansion, small-business support, festivals and workforce development will remain near-term priorities, while a three-year horizon should include light industrial attraction, expanded broadband and a structured retail corridor plan. He defended contracting a retail coach to provide market intelligence and national representation at retail recruiting events, arguing the fee compares favorably to costs of independent data and trade-show booths.

On destination projects, Charles proposed exploring a phased conversion of 60 EDC-owned acres north of the park into youth-tournament fields for baseball, softball or soccer. He said a small complex of fields could host multi-team tournaments that bring hundreds of visiting players and families, generating hotel, restaurant and retail spending. "You'll know it when you see it," he said, urging the council to authorize planning surveys and feasibility work and to allow the board to pursue sponsorships and phased capital deployment.

Councilmembers asked for specifics on facility design, parking, restroom needs and likely visitation; Charles described a phased approach starting with grass fields and basic parking, then building infrastructure as demand materializes. Councilmembers also asked Charles to pursue delivery and retail-leakage data — including assessing Kroger's short-lived delivery service — to support grocery- and restaurant-recruitment decisions.

Charles recommended creating EDC committees — a destination-creation committee, a banking-and-finance committee to review portfolio placement and a committee to vet incentives — to provide board oversight and to give him additional review support. He said he would bring summarized recommendations back to the board and work with the council on a joint workshop in the first quarter to align priorities.

The EDC director emphasized confidentiality in early recruitment talks, saying not all meetings produce immediate outcomes but that the city should be prepared to announce prospects when appropriate. The council and Charles agreed on more consistent reporting to council (suggested quarterly) with ad hoc updates for urgent developments.

The next procedural step: Charles will compile notes from the workshop, take recommendations to the EDC board, and propose timing for a joint board–council workshop to refine priorities and measures of success.