Russellville finance committee forwards East Main restaurant development to full council

The Russellville City finance committee on July 7 voted to forward an economic development agreement with Russellville TR LLC to the full city council for final approval.

Mr. Ligon, representing Russellville TR LLC, told the committee the development on East Main would bring Bowen Kemp and a Texas Roadhouse to the city and is expected to create about 120 jobs — roughly 60 full-time and 60 part-time. He said the agreement projects about $160,000 in combined annual sales-tax revenue and includes clawback provisions requiring repayment to the city if the tenant or developer fails to perform.

The mayor and Council member Justin Keller stressed the city expects to recover the incentive quickly. A developer representative said the projections assume about $8 million in annual sales at the tenant site and pointed to a city report estimating roughly $55 million in restaurant spending currently 'leaks' from Russellville to nearby markets.

A council member moved to forward the item with a recommendation of approval; the motion was seconded and advanced by voice vote. The committee did not take a final vote on the agreement itself — the full council will consider the resolution at next week’s meeting.

Supporters framed the agreement as a local economic retention measure, and the developer emphasized that Russellville TR LLC is a locally based, small business group that would return funds under the agreement's clawback terms if the project fails to materialize.

The full council is slated to take up the resolution next week; committee materials indicate staff and the developer provided financial estimates and the draft agreement including clawback language.