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EDC to relaunch Thrive Business Grant Program with expanded outreach; staff to open applications in April
Summary
The EDC agreed to proceed with a third cycle of the $300,000 Thrive Business Grant Program, directing staff to update outreach materials and the website, begin door‑to‑door outreach across six commercial areas, and follow an April opening with June deadlines and approvals.
Trophy Club's Economic Development Corporation on Feb. 25 directed staff to proceed with a third cycle of the Thrive Business Grant Program and to expand outreach and application guidance to attract more improvement‑focused proposals.
Staff told the board the Thrive program was initially funded with $300,000. The transcript lists prior cycle reimbursements (cycle one approximately $76,521; cycle two approximately $5,775) and states the program has "a remaining balance of almost $200,000." Staff also said the program has a sunset in fiscal year 2028.
Staff proposed a timeline: open applications in April, set application deadlines in June and return approvals to the EDC in June. A board member asked about prior interest: staff said cycle one had 10 applicants (seven granted, five completed) and cycle two had six applicants with two approvals. Board members and staff agreed previous rounds attracted many operational‑cost requests, which the EDC prefers to limit in favor of projects that improve business appearance or attract customers.
Board members discussed outreach tactics, including sharing an infographic and website updates, door‑to‑door visits across six commercial areas and coordinating schedules so owners are not contacted by multiple board members. Staff said they would "revamp the infographic as well as the website," prepare a calendar for outreach and lead scheduled visits so outreach is coordinated.
One member said, "I personally I like the program ... businesses really do need help," arguing the program should remain targeted and standards should be clearer to avoid funding purely operational requests. Board members also expressed concern about repeat applicants across cycles and asked staff to track turnover and applicant diversity.
The board did not record a formal vote on the Thrive program at the meeting; members provided direction for staff to proceed with cycle three and the outreach plan. Staff said they would post the schedule and updated materials on the website and begin outreach ahead of the planned April application opening.
Next procedural steps: staff will publish the outreach calendar and revised application materials, open applications in April, and present approvals for the board's review and potential action in June.
