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Cedar Park staff report modest year‑to‑date gains, raise annual targets
Summary
A Cedar Park staff member told the Economic Sales Tax Corporation the department is tracking slightly behind last year on leads and site visits but has raised annual goals (225 leads, 100 RFPs, 50 site visits) and highlighted recent job announcements and a local hiring event.
A staff member for the Cedar Park Economic Sales Tax Corporation gave a brief economic development update on March 13, saying the office is tracking slightly behind last year in leads and site visits but has seen project wins that led to new job announcements.
The staff member said year‑to‑date leads were 61 versus 69 the prior year, proposals or RFPs were 24 versus 23, and site visits were 13 versus 22. "We've completely shattered the jobs created already for this year between Firefly, Creative 3D, and WrightOne," the staff member said, while noting capital investment and business retention visits were slightly down.
The staff member told the board the department revised its annual goals after receiving guidance from members: leads were increased from 125 to 225, RFPs from 25 to 100 and site visits from 24 to 50. The presenter described outreach activities they control — marketing and recruitment trips such as the Space Symposium and Plug and Play tech summits — as the primary generators of leads.
Board members asked how retention is measured; a committee member noted the posted annual goal of business retention visits is 60. The staff member said retention is tracked through the Business Retention Unit, but that an explicit percent‑based retention target beyond intent to keep businesses in town is not used.
The staff member also summarized a recent hiring event held with John Lamb at Redhorn Brewing Company to help residents affected by layoffs. About 20 job seekers attended and several employers participated; staff said more employer outreach would make future events more effective.
The staff member concluded the open meeting report by noting the board would move into an executive session under Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code to discuss economic development negotiations and legal consultation related to New Hope Land LP and a proposed agreement with Plug and Play LLC. The meeting then proceeded to the regular agenda.
