Denise Morris spoke to a packed house at the PointBank Business Breakfast in Pilot Point on Wednesday morning.
Morris, who serves as the economic development director for the Pilot Point Municipal Development District, spoke of the Pilot Point game plan for economic development.
'On a daily basis, that's kind of how many of our conversations are starting with developers and prospects; they really just come in and say, 'Show us the money,'' she said, quoting 'Jerry Maguire.' '[The city staff and I] all have to kind of pump the brakes and say, 'Let's hear about your project. What do you have going on? How can we work together? And maybe we'll get to the money situation.’' In addition to drawing in new business, the MDD focuses on retaining existing businesses, both big and small, that employ residents and contribute to the local economy.
'We want to support and nurture those businesses and keep them here,' Morris said, mentioning the business retention visits and the property investment
improvement grant program.
'We also have economic development grants that can help … if you're bringing on employees or when bringing new equipment and technologies,' Morris said.
She added that the comprehensive plan is helpful for the MDD to help guide development.
Morris touched on the Pilot Point Works project, which is a joint effort between the MDD, the Pilot Point Chamber of Commerce and Pilot Point ISD.
'We work to make sure our young people are coming up to be our future workforce,' Morris said.
Morris then complimented the school district on its work to increase its career and technical education programs, which are already robust.
She also touched on growth at Chandler Cabinets, the largest employer in the city.
'They have continued to grow in this community, and yet again, they are growing with their latest expansion of their facilities,' Morris said. 'They have some of the most state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities for their industries in the country. They are continually investing in their community and their employees.'
She also mentioned several businesses including C4 on JC Lane, Tiger Mart and Christie's Golf Ranch, and she touched on the businesses on and near the Square, including Yearby's Barbecue & Waterice, which made the Texas Monthly Top 50 list for barbecue joints, and the new retail shop for the Windmill Ceiling Fan Company.
The new hotel project along U.S. 377 and Washington Street on the north side of town is progressing, too, Morris said.
'We have the Brown family who invested in the Farmers and Merchants Bank building,' Morris said. 'They're kind of leading up with a lot of excitement of what their use will be, but they're getting very close to sharing with all of us what the plans for the building are, and they're doing painstaking measures to make sure they preserve the history of that building.'
The city is also working on a deal for Big Red, another cornerstone building on the Square.
She added that a Tuesday evening joint workshop between the City Council and the MDD board helped give her more direction on the goals she should prioritize and what the MDD can say no to incentivizing.
'We appreciate everybody buckling down with us and getting through the process,' Morris said.
