Cibolo EDC expands EDGE grant flexibility, backs local restaurant and hardware projects

The Cibolo Economic Development Corporation on March 17 approved a clarification to its EDGE (Economic Development Growth and Expansion) grant rules and authorized staff to advance a package of business grants, including two special-circumstance requests recommended at up to $50,000 each.

Clancy Harden, the city’s economic development manager, told the board the amendment keeps the standard $15,000 per-business cap in place but creates an explicit exception for ‘‘special circumstances’’ (grant type F) that allow the board to recommend awards above that limit based on measurable economic impact. He emphasized that any award exceeding $15,000 must be submitted to Cibolo City Council under the EDC’s bylaws.

The change passed after board discussion and a voice vote. Harden said the clarification is intended to remove ambiguity in administering multiple grant types and to allow staff and the board to focus on merit and economic return.

Why it matters

Staff framed the amendment and the awards as investments in the city’s tax base. Harden said the EDGE grants are paid from Type B sales tax revenue (the voter-approved sales-tax stream that funds EDC activities) and that successful projects can replenish the fund through future sales-tax returns.

Major grants approved for submission to council

- Max & Louise New York Diner: Staff recommended an EDGE special-circumstance award not to exceed $50,000 for the diner’s Cibolo location, a project staff described as representing ‘‘well over a $4 million’’ private investment and a projected employment impact (staff cited roughly 125 positions across full- and part-time roles). Owner Drew Glick told the board the 9,100-square-foot site requires substantial interior and exterior work and that the business has already hired and begun training more than 100 employees. The EDC vote authorized staff to forward the grant to City Council for consideration on March 24; the transcript records a board voice vote but does not record a roll-call tally.

- River City Ace Hardware: Staff recommended a special-circumstance award not to exceed $50,000 for River City Ace Hardware, saying the family-run store will include a garden center, a boutique area and an ACE Handyman office and that the initial investment is roughly $1.2–$2 million. Owner Mike Ecklund described plans for a garden center and a 30–40-person store team. The board approved forwarding the request to City Council for March 24 consideration; the transcript reflects approval by voice vote.

Other downtown and small-business grants

The board also approved several business-improvement grants in the $15,000 range (reimbursable upon verified invoices): a façade and seating improvement grant for 1908 (Oldtown property), a preservation-focused grant to repair and replace windows at Kindling Texas Kitchen, and a $15,000 grant to repair the parking lot at 102 Raw Avenue used by multiple downtown businesses. Liz, the applicant who presented the three related Oldtown requests, described the projects as preservation-minded and said the parking-lot repairs address immediate compliance and safety concerns.

Child-care infrastructure

The board approved an EDGE grant of up to $15,000 to assist Little Cowboys & Tiara’s Daycare in connecting from on-site septic to city sewer following annexation. Staff noted the project’s estimated cost was roughly $16,534 and explained the EDC reimburses based on paid and verified invoices; the advertised board authorization was up to $15,000.

Quotes from the meeting

Maggie Titterington, president of the local chamber, urged support for the projects: "It is just a fantastic way of letting these businesses expand, help them do business," and she described the combined private investments as "almost over $5 million combined." Drew Glick said of his diner project, "People aren't going to believe it when they walk in there what it looks like," and asked for the board’s support while describing rising costs and significant hiring.

Votes and next steps

Most approvals at the meeting were by voice vote; the transcript does not include itemized roll-call tallies. For awards exceeding the board’s $15,000 internal funding threshold, staff will forward the board’s recommendation and verified-invoice conditions to Cibolo City Council for final action. Staff also said it will present a request to council to reload the EDGE fund after the board’s spending exceeded the last $100,000 budgeted line item.

The EDC intends to continue administering grants through its subcommittee process and to propose consolidating overlapping programs into a single, clearer EDGE grant in the FY 2027 budget process.