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Economic Development Committee advances three priorities to align with regional strategy and address infrastructure limits
Summary
On April 16, 2026 the Economic Development Committee agreed to advance three preliminary priorities—regional collaboration, infrastructure development (including wastewater capacity), and urban renewal—for FY 2026–2027 and will present them to City Council as a flexible 3–5-year plan.
The Economic Development Committee on April 16, 2026 agreed to advance three preliminary economic development priorities for FY 2026–2027 and present them to the City Council for input and possible adoption.
The priorities are: (1) regional collaboration and partnerships to align local efforts with the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS); (2) infrastructure development, maintenance and resilience, with particular attention to water and wastewater capacity; and (3) urban renewal. Committee members said aligning the city's priorities with the federally recognized CEDS is necessary to preserve eligibility for state and federal grant funding and to shape longer-term policy direction.
Committee discussion focused heavily on infrastructure constraints. Members said current limitations in water and wastewater systems are restricting business growth and can prevent the city from accommodating additional large employers. The committee framed infrastructure investment as a prerequisite for attracting and retaining businesses and for enabling workforce and industry diversification.
Members also raised business-development barriers including limited visibility and marketing for local firms, a need for training (for example, on taxes and basic business skills), and gaps in coordination and communication among city staff, county officials and the business community. The committee identified outreach and training, and improved intergovernmental coordination, as elements to be included under the collaboration priority.
The committee described the three priorities as a flexible strategic framework with a three-to-five-year horizon. The next procedural step is to present the proposed priorities to the City Council and solicit its input before finalizing them.
No formal vote record, mover or seconder was recorded in the minutes; the minutes state the committee "agreed" to move forward with the priorities and to leave room for City Council input.
