PCDC reports job growth, Venture Fest surge and infrastructure progress; council asks for measurable goals
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Summary
The Pflugerville Community Development Corporation told council it added staff, won reaccreditation, and saw job growth and increased entrepreneurship participation in 2025; councilors pressed PCDC for clear, measurable outcomes and a five-year RFI history.
Jerry Jones Jr., executive director of the Pflugerville Community Development Corporation, presented the agency's 2025 year-end report at the city council work session on Tuesday, highlighting new leadership, reaccreditation and a focus on small-business growth and site readiness.
Jones said job counts rose to 21,993 in 2025 (JobsEQ data) and cited a median household income figure of about $121,964 and strong labor-force participation. He described outreach at the ICSC conference and a Consult Connect site-selection familiarization tour intended to put Pflugerville before national site selectors and reduce reliance on state intermediaries for feedback on RFIs (requests for information).
PCDC reported responding to multiple RFIs and said the agency has been frustrated by a lack of feedback from some state or regional partners; Jones promised the council a five-year summary of RFI activity. He said infrastructure projects (Helios Way right-in/right-out, Impact Way extension) are nearing completion and that those improvements helped keep prospects engaged on alternative city sites.
Jones described a marked increase in entrepreneurship programming: Venture Fest drew more than 460 registrants in 2025, compared with roughly 100 in prior years, and PCDC partnered with Pflugerville ISD on a youth entrepreneurship pipeline and a $300,000+ suite of training grants matched by local contributions. Council members asked for outcome metrics that measure whether participants go on to hire employees, move into commercial space, or otherwise scale businesses; Jones said he would provide more detail and expects to refine measurable goals following a PCDC board retreat.
On staffing, Jones said PCDC has recruited three positions (business development director, innovation/entrepreneurship lead, and business analyst) and hoped to fill them in about 40 days if offers are accepted. He also said a web redesign and expanded marketing are included in the PCDC budget and that the board plans a March work session to present top priorities.
Council members urged PCDC to set a small number of prioritized, measurable objectives for 2026 (examples suggested: number of startups that hire first employee, retail sales-tax gains from specific projects, or primary job growth) and asked for a clearer pipeline report showing lead stage, follow-up activity and conversion. Jones agreed to return with those metrics and a follow-up plan.
