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Council weighs EDC role, buy‑local campaign and potential part‑time business liaison
Summary
Council heard an EDC status update and retail leakage data showing more than $1.3 billion in trade‑area sales with roughly two‑thirds leaking outside Lakeway; members asked staff for an EDC status report and discussed adding a part‑time staff liaison while keeping volunteers as outreach ambassadors.
The council discussed the Economic Development Committee's work and next steps after assistant city manager Rick Goodman reviewed the group's accomplishments and a retail‑leakage analysis.
Goodman said the retail coach's leakage report shows more than $1.3 billion in sales in the Lakeway trade area and estimated that about 0.667 of that spending leaks outside the city. He told council the EDC successfully launched a "Buy Local" campaign and has been building relationships with neighborhood businesses, but that the committee has limited capacity and lacks a dedicated funding source to offer incentives.
Larry Harland, EDC chair, said the committee is "hitting on all cylinders" with public‑facing work but could use more coordination for business recruitment and a liaison to council on incentive discussions. Council discussed whether to add council liaisons, form a subcommittee, or create a part‑time staff role focused on recruitment. Several members said they preferred keeping volunteers as ambassadors for outreach and using staff to provide continuity; council directed staff to prepare an EDC status report for an upcoming meeting and to return options for coordination and possible part‑time staffing.
