Economic development director asks council to prioritize certified sites and steady funding for catalyst fund

Britney Sotel, the city’s economic development director, told the council the department’s mission is to “attract and retain jobs, create capital investment for the city to foster a resilient pro‑growth tax base and improve the community’s quality of life.” She described recruitment work that produced 61 new project leads in 2025 and listed recent wins including Novartis, downtown catalyst projects and several local expansions that together the department estimates contributed roughly $470 million in private investment and more than 1,000 jobs.

Sotel said the city’s catalyst fund began the fiscal year with a little over $5,600,000 but has no sustainable dedicated revenue source; the last transfer to that fund occurred in 2024 and staff is asking council whether to prepare program and funding scenarios for the budget workshop. She proposed a “qualified sites” or certified‑sites approach—pre‑qualifying properties for commercial or industrial development by completing boundary surveys, environmental assessments and utility reviews to reduce site selection risk.

Council members praised the department’s results and pressed for detail on how Denton compares to peer cities. Council members asked staff to come back during the budget process with options that include certified sites, small‑business supports and workforce development priorities. “If you could prepare program and funding scenarios for the upcoming budget workshop,” Sotel said, “we will start working on your objectives.”