Economic Development Plan (Development Corporation of Wylie, Inc.) •
THE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF WYLIE, INC.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN
INTRODUCTION:
Wylie is interested in economic development and voted to
have a one-half percent sales tax in order to fund such
development. An organizational meeting was held on December
10, 1990 to get organized and started.
The charter and by-laws determines the use of funds entrusted
to the Corporation. The Corporation will take those actions
necessary and prudent to create and retain jobs, increase
business activity, and to increase investment in Wylie.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the economic development plan is to
present a program of action which will create and retain
jobs, increase business activity, and increase investment in
Wylie. In addition the economic development plan will be
used to in developing the annual budget of the Corporation.
SCOPE:
The scope of the plan covers the planned action of the
Corporation to be taken in the next few years in the area of:
business retention and expansion;
new business location and startup;
retiree attraction;
tourism attraction;
community development;
financial assistance;
political action; and
regional cooperation.
The actions to be taken in the first year are more
detailed and explicit than those of the out years because the
planning process focused on the actions to be taken in the
first year.
EXISTING BASE:
The business base of Wylie is composed of small retail
stores, real estate rentals, home based businesses, several
small manufacturing firms and two larger manufacturers,
Sanden and Extruders. The ad valorem tax valuation of
commercial and industrial property in Wylie for the tax year
of 1990 was $73,584,495.00. Total valuation for the City of
Wylie was $363 ,809,172.00.
PROGRAM CONSIDERATIONS:
The methodology to produce this plan was to contact
forty (40) of the existing economic development corporations
to get an idea of what they have been doing and select from
this information data which would be put to use for the best
interests of Wylie. The results fell into the following
eight categories:
Business Retention and Expansion Program;
New Business Location and Startup Program;
Retiree Attraction Program;
Tourism Attraction Program;
Community Development Program;
Financial Assistance Program;
Political Action Program; and
Regional Cooperation Program.
The first five categories are normal categories in which
economic development actions fall. The last three categories
were included, however, because of the uniqueness of Wylie
and the actions apply generally to the first five categories.
BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION PROGRAM
Form a business support team to assist existing businesses.
Prepare and administer a business survey to identify
business needs the Wylie.
Conduct a slogan contest for shopping in Wylie first.
Conduct a shop in Wylie campaign.
Develop and conduct an advertising program to reach the
Wylie area.
Develop and conduct a "labor" survey.
Develop a financial assistance team to provide information
and assistance to the small businesses in Wylie.
Conduct quarterly meetings with business to present timely
subjects for consideration.
Develop site and building information sheets.
Develop community video.
Develop and update community profile.
Develop a presentation folder.
Develop a fact book.
Develop a quality of life magazine.
Pursue the FORTE' program.
Develop a direct mail campaign to target industries in the
cross match study.
Review economic development tools annually and update as
needed.
Train and get training for all involved.
RETIREE ATTRACTION PROGRAM
Establish a retiree assistance team to oversee the retiree
attraction program and to provide assistance to retirees
interested in Wylie.
Develop appropriate brochures for attracting retirees.
Develop newspaper and magazine advertising.
Develop a retiree welcome packet containing information
needed by a retiree to make the decision to settle in and
around Wylie.
Develop and organize day activities for retirees in the area
such as shopping trips, sports events, fishing and golf
trips, trips to Dallas for plays and musical events.
Monitor the progress of the senior citizens, ARP, VFW, etc.
TOURISM ATTRACTION PROGRAM
Take steps to develop relationships with the Corps of
Engineers to better utilize the park area on Lake Lavon.
Advertise to Winter Texans and other potential visitors in
periodicals and piggy back on ads by the Department of
Commerce.
Advertise where necessary to get the weekend business back to
Lake Lavon.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Determine priorities for beautification and physical image
improvements.
Develop a "Pride in Wylie" advertising campaign.
Develop an "Adopt-a-Street" program for litter control,
beautification and landscaping.
Develop a veterans memorial "Plant a Tree" project.
Support Wylie Sports Association to improve availability of
recreation for those interested (all ages)
Develop program to include the ETJ as a part of Wylie in
beautification.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Investigate establishing a loan assistance fund to help start
up small businesses.
Contact local financial institutions, educators, accountants,
and attorneys to join the Financial Assistance Task Force.
Organize a list of banks with specific lending areas, legal
loan limits, officer to contact, types of loans available,
etc.
Develop directory updated quarterly detailing sources of
funds and availability.
POLITICAL ACTION PROGRAM
Form a team to plan strategy for getting 78 and 544 widened.
Plan strategy to make sure Wylie gets its share of County
Bridge Funds.
Plan strategy to assist WISD where needed to keep quality
education in Wylie.
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PLANNING ACTIONS
The following are actions suggested and listed not in any
priority:
a. Work more with adjoining communities
b. Recruit Manufacturers
c. Promote shopping in Wylie
d. Less restrictions on developers
e. Construct solid waste recycling plant
f. Sell school system to potential residents
g. Improve the image of Wylie
H. Encourage tourism
i. Identify shortfalls - retail and pursue
j . Attract retirees
k. Become involved in community functions
1. Better shopping areas
m. Lower school taxes
n. Encougage all residents to sell Wylie
o. Expand thinking -working Wylie
p. Landscape ordinance
q. Build three attractive "Welcome to Wylie" signs
r. Open up to sell beer and wine
s. Establish industrial sites with rail service
t. Make business owners feel like a part of Wylie
u. Lower tax rates
v. Construct regional reclamation site
w. Larger RV park
x. Set and communicate goals
y. Host regional sporting events
z. Investigate enterpise zone.
aa. Publish borchure to promote retirees
bb. Sell chamber
cc. Advertise -promote beauty of Wylie
dd. Agressively pursue grants
ee. Beautify the city
ff. Postcard advertising July Jubilee
gg. Brighten the city at night
hh. Attract industry to Wylie
. needs motel
. determine and promote labor force
ii. work on financial network
jj . Aid expansion of local businesses
kk. Advertise industry and business resorces
11. Market our low cost of living
mm. Develop tax deferral program
nn. develop rodeo capability
oo. Obtain a new building for Chamber of Commerce
pp. Offer incentives for "Clean industry" to locate in
Wylie
qq. build golf course
rr. Utilize fishing opportunities to public
ss. More participation in the Chamber