Kennedale EDC drops chamber-membership requirement for grant applicants

The Kennedale Economic Development Corporation voted March 24 to update its grant qualifications and application, removing a prior requirement that grant recipients be members of the Kennedale Chamber of Commerce.

The board’s revision strikes the membership requirement from section three, paragraph H of the qualifications and removes a membership question from the application form. Staff also changed language in section four, paragraph Q so the program’s review cadence reads 'annually,' matching the statement on the first page of the qualifications.

Board members said the edits were needed after the local Chamber closed, which left the earlier requirement infeasible. A board member explained that the changes were intended to align the application language with the program’s original intent and make the form clearer for applicants. "Section three paragraph H I removed grant recipients must be or become members of the Kennedale Chamber of Commerce," the staff explanation said during discussion.

The motion to approve the updated grant qualifications and application passed following a second from Ryan. No additional conditions were attached in the discussion.

The board did not specify any immediate changes to award criteria or funding levels; staff said the budget documentation will include more detailed line-item explanations in the next budget book. The amendments take effect for future application cycles, and staff will proceed with the revised form.

What’s next: staff will implement the revised application and present budget clarifications in upcoming materials for the EDC and city council.