Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Weatherford council votes to end downtown facade-improvement grant program
Summary
The Weatherford City Council voted June 9 to discontinue the Central Business District facade-improvement grant program, accepting staff recommendations after a public comment urging the program’s continuation. Staff cited private reinvestment and administrative complaints as reasons to end the program.
The Weatherford City Council voted June 9 to discontinue the Central Business District facade-improvement grant program, accepting a staff recommendation after a brief public comment period.
Assistant City Manager Chad Marbutt told the council the program, established in 2021 to encourage preservation and enhancement in the CBD, approved 27 grants representing more than $650,000 in public investment. He said the FY2026 budget for the program was $200,000, seven grants awarded in the year have totaled $191,000 and staff had been directed previously to honor pending applications up to $33,000 before returning with a recommendation on the program’s future.
“This program was established to encourage preservation and enhancement of properties in the Central Business District,” Marbutt said during his presentation, noting the bulk of private reinvestment now appears to be occurring without grant incentives.
In public comment, contractor Jackie Fowler urged the council to keep the program, saying grants help launch larger renovation projects and produce a more seamless look downtown. “I think it is vital that we keep the facade program rolling,” Fowler said, adding that some buildings remain dilapidated and that city assistance helps start projects that otherwise might not move forward.
Council discussion highlighted repeated changes to program rules and citizen complaints. The chair argued that the program had generated more criticism than thanks and recommended ending it, saying, “no good deed goes uncriticized.”
Council member Rod White moved to accept staff’s recommendation to cease the program; Luke Williams seconded the motion. The council voted to approve discontinuation of the program. No roll-call tally was provided in the transcript.
Staff told the council it will return at a future meeting with a recommendation on how to allocate any remaining funds and with details on how pending applications will be handled.
