MCDC approves a cycle of promotional grants and moves several project requests to deeper review

The McKinney Community Development Corporation approved its first-cycle promotional grant awards and moved several larger project grant requests to further review during its Jan. 22 meeting.

Subcommittee recommendations: A subcommittee reviewed Cycle 1 promotional/community event grant applications and recommended awards totaling up to the cycle budget of $125,000. The board approved funding levels for multiple organizations, including Heritage Guild of Collin County ($13,000 recommended), Art by Meta (recommended $5,000), Maingate Therapeutic Horsemanship ($10,000 recommended), St. Peter's Episcopal (recommended $10,000), McKinney Philharmonic (recommended $11,000), Millhouse Foundation (recommended $13,500), McKinney Main Street ($14,000) and others. The board moved and seconded motions for each grant item and the votes passed on the items presented in the meeting.

Reports and presentations: Assistant Finance Director Chance Miller said November revenue included nearly $2.2M in sales tax receipts for the month and roughly $2.5M in total monthly revenue; he noted a 4.8% increase versus the previous year for November receipts and that final FY25 audit numbers would be presented in February. Amy Kinkade, Parks and Recreation director, opened the MCDC’s yearlong 30th-anniversary highlights by presenting a slide package summarizing parks investments: MCDC has supported about $156 million in parks projects over 30 years, roughly 3,000 park acres and 90 trail miles, with service metrics for athletics, aquatics and senior programs. City Manager Paul Grimes and Visit McKinney’s Erin Warner also delivered routine updates on downtown parking, a planned parking-deck contract, an Affordable Housing Summit on April 13, and recent event room-night impacts from hosted sporting events.

Project public hearings and actions: - Palladium McKinney Ranch Senior Living (item 260069): Developer requested $2.5M to fill a financing gap for a 109-unit mixed-income senior community; the board closed the public hearing and asked staff for more analysis before a funding vote. - Heritage Guild / Chestnut Square (item 260070): The applicant requested $148,005 for restrooms and site improvements to support the farmers market; the board asked about ongoing maintenance and fundraising and closed the hearing. - Presidium / Cotton Mill District (item 260071): Presidium requested roughly $13.6M for district-serving infrastructure; community supporters and board members debated staging, eligible costs and protective contract terms. The board left the hearing open to allow staff to refine eligible costs and explore EDC or CIP contributions. - Collin County History Museum (item 260072): The museum requested $13,300 for interior repairs and museum-grade window tinting; the museum director said the county owns the building and that the lease limits the museum’s fundraising. The board asked staff to review the county lease for owner obligations before acting.

Other board actions: The board approved a first amendment extending financing timing for the Craig Ranch JW Marriott Resort Hotel project and approved a fourth amendment for the amphitheater development agreement (revised schedule and signage). Parks staff requested reappropriation of previously awarded funds to complete Wilson Creek Trail Phase 2 and the Towne Lake dog park; the board approved reappropriation and authorized moving the projects into bidding this year.

The board ended the public session and moved to executive session under Texas Government Code §551.087 to deliberate multiple economic development matters.