Colleyville offers grants to businesses for the renovation of storefronts and signage. (Bailey Lewis/Community Impact Newspaper).
Lindamood stated that it is not a joke. People are moving in because they see we help businesses thrive and they are thriving.
Colleyville City Manager Jerry Ducay stated that the city has gradually created a vibrant business environment through a variety of programs including the Colleyville Business Center and property purchases.
According to Colleyville’s FY 2020-21 economic growth report, more than $1.01million was reinvested into the community by the city’s business support programs.
Ducay stated that it is a good business decision for the city to balance the commercial nature of the community. We have a wonderful corridor. [Hwy.]26 and a great place on [SH] 121. These are opportunities for business owners to succeed while also helping to balance our tax base.
Support programs for businesses
Ducay explained that the city’s support of business in recent years has been keyed by its gift card- and grant-programmes.
The city’s gift card programs were launched in March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Residents receive a $35 gift voucher in the mail that they can use at participating shops. Gift cards have been sent multiple times. The most recent round was distributed in November and December.
Ducay said that the gift-card program is something we believe to be an economic development program. It connects our most valuable resources, which is our residents and our business owners.
Lisa Pardo stated that her husband Paul and she opened Stone House Restaurant in Colleyville, Colleyville, on Sept. 28, 2020. Pardo stated they have been blessed by the city’s resources since opening.
Pardo said that the city partners with local businesses and the recent mailing of $35 gift certificates to all Colleyville citizens is a great example. Stone House was delighted to honor these cards because it allowed us to meet and service new customers who might not have otherwise.
Colleyvilles Professional 1-minute Promos, also known as C-POP (Colleyvilles Professional One Minute Promos), is another grant program that Colleyvilles offers. This program pairs the city’s audio and video production staff to businesses to help them create promotional videos. According to the economic growth report, businesses receive a $1,000 grant to help them promote the video by spending on advertising.
Colleyville Gives, a program that provides $1,000 to qualified businesses for advertising, is another one of the city’s programs. Colleyville Gives members can receive an additional $1,000 grant if they make a $500 donation to a local nonprofit.
The report also stated that the city offers Business Enhancements to Support Transformation grants to local property and business owners to improve their storefronts, commercial corridor appearance, and sign grants to businesses to revitalize their signage.
April Borge, director of Inspire Yoga Studio, stated that she opened her studio in Colleyville in October 2020. She stated that the yoga studio participated twice in Colleyville Gives and once in the sign program which helped spread the word about the new business.
Borge said there’s nothing better than driving up to your building to see your name on a brand new sign. It makes a dream seem real.
Colleyville Business Center
According to the economic development report, the Colleyville Business Center was opened in August 2020 to house the partnership between the city of Colleyville and the Colleyville Chamber of Commerce. The center shares the building with it.
Chelsea Rose, Colleyville Chamber of Commerce CEO, and president, stated that the business center offers workstations that are open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The $25 per day fee includes Wi-Fi, printers, and coffee. For rent, the center has a boardroom as well as a vault room.
Lindamood stated that the business center is very successful and always full. Rose stated that the three offices available for rent are in high demand and have been booked for approximately six months.
Rose stated that because it is the business hub, people regularly come to our chamber board members or our networking groups that meet here. Rose also said that businesses that are present have direct access into the city.
Ducay said that one of the centers’ functions goes with something that is hot among residents, vacancies across retail and office space. The report shows that Colleyville has had stable numbers since FY 2014.-15. There is a 93.2% rate of retail occupancy and an 87.8% rate for office spaces in FY 2020-21.
Ducay explained that part of the reason is that the center has made it possible for people to start their own businesses in the area.
Ducay stated that Colleyville has been very fortunate in that even though we have had vacancies, our occupancy rates remain very high. Our retail stores were always at 90% occupancy, which is higher than the national average.
Beautification and redevelopment of the entire city
Ducay said that the city’s economic growth is also due to key property acquisitions and redevelopments. Colleyville’s northern and southern entrances were purchased by the city.
Colleyville City Council still has to come up with ideas and concepts for these spaces. Lindamood however said that businesses have shown interest in both gateways.
We [bought]These are the people [for]Ducay stated that strategic purposes were needed to have the ability to control the development and to ensure quality, as well as to encourage opportunity.
Colleyville has been working for its commercial corridor beautification project over the last three years, Place 3 City Councilmember Kathy Wheat stated at a Nov. 16, City Council meeting. The groundbreaking ceremony was held to build two new towers on Main Street and Hwy. 26 on November 16.
The beautification project can be broken down into three phases. According to the city’s website, Phase 1 included decorative light poles and Phase 2 included a median-and-right-of-way beautification. Both phases are complete.
Phase 3 is divided into three phases. Highway. 26 is the first site and includes the new towers and lanterns, canopy trees, and improvements to intersection corners. John McCain Road and Hwy. will host a second construction site. 26. It includes a Colleyville identification sign, a tower component, stone walls and flagstone, as well as a native meadow.
The third phase 3 site is located at Little Bear Creek, Hwy. 26 according to the website. It will feature a Colleyville identity symbol, a tower element and stone steps. Ornal trees will be planted along with a trailhead.
Ducay said that we want our business owners, not only to feel connected with quality in the businesses they attract but also in how those businesses operate in exceptional buildings with architecture or landscaping. We also want them to feel part of a unique community corridor.
Click here for the February 2022 edition of the e-edition. This story is featured.
