[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6180298,"mediaKeyId","5119737-284c31787401be0ff8ed0ab44b3730d3","parentId",5119737,"title","City approves EDC support for NewCo Controls expansion, plan includes forgivable loan and job incentives","audioSeconds",203,"startMs",4391000,"endMs",4594000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5119737-284c31787401be0ff8ed0ab44b3730d3&start=4391&end=4594","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5119737-284c31787401be0ff8ed0ab44b3730d3/thumbnail_4391000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6180298/Wichita-Falls/Wichita-County/Texas/City-approves-EDC-support-for-NewCo-Controls-expansion-plan-includes-forgivable-loan-and-job-incentives","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180298-90b3810e5cc3010135272bca9f120565/orig.mp4?Expires=1770516738&Signature=PLdgqe-D6N0YVPVwQfR28eqWQwL8AMJCZD5x06DDmfVRd5IJGDy2j2Rf45X8kWnhfSjqE~H7BEJvdY9MGlOzdbdRUDl~fxoKNem7cLj1nCNBRL-huR8FZOeTUjInCt-8DK-UlnyMkXL89EHifa82mquHLHuIPL0s5TjVJ6jcFHv5-iuPPDpsAOKV6xwBZsjZUcd0k2lfHXZCfXxb7KUezTTAoZS6r3SWL8BMEdXTG9O1r0B7rPZAoGD2f4tr6gbq-UhxitKjWSTkP5nPbw-0zzfOiZcs5FE5~U2PfgJujmMWAQqzh2K7z8Ujkvnq-vDSK9zFaw7685~KplfL7mbnww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Wichita Falls TX","date","2025-07-01T22:44:28Z","article","The City Council approved a resolution on July 1 authorizing Wichita Falls Economic Development Corporation (EDC 4A) assistance to support an expansion by NewCo Controls LLC that city and chamber officials said will add local manufacturing capacity aimed at the data-center market.

Mariah Williams of the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce described the project as an expansion into an 81,000-square-foot building with about 60,000 square feet of additional growth planned. Williams said NewCo will \"continue employing their 27 current employees, and will add about 23 new employees,\" and that the average wage for positions in the expansion is \"above $90,000 a year.\"

Williams explained the assistance package includes both a forgivable loan and cash-for-jobs incentives. City staff described the loan as a two-installment structure: $500,000 in year one and $500,000 in year two, subject to compliance. The company is also offered $7,500 per new job for 23 positions; staff described a compliance and audit process that monitors payroll and retention and said forgiveness occurs over a five-year retention period. Officials said the assistance is structured under tax-based economic development rules that require qualifying manufacturers to export a high percentage of their product outside the region.

Councilors asked staff to explain how the loan works and how compliance is monitored. Chamber and EDC staff said they will conduct semiannual compliance checks, review payroll and maintain records; if the company falls short of job targets in any compliance year it would owe a prorated amount back to the city for that year rather than immediately losing the entire package.

A public motion and second were recorded and the resolution was approved by voice vote. Staff said the agreement requires the company to meet specified hiring, wage and retention benchmarks and that the EDC will monitor compliance over the multi-year term.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Wichita Falls City Council July 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved an EDC-backed performance agreement to assist NewCo Controls LLC in expanding local operations with a multi-part financial support package that includes forgivable loan installments and job-based incentives tied to retention and wage requirements.","taxTitle","Wichita Falls, Wichita County, Texas","taxId",2821,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6180303,"Council approves amendment to fire collective bargaining appendix to expand hiring eligibility",151,4194000,4345000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5119737-284c31787401be0ff8ed0ab44b3730d3&start=4194&end=4345","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5119737-284c31787401be0ff8ed0ab44b3730d3/thumbnail_4194000.jpg","/articles/6180303/Wichita-Falls/Wichita-County/Texas/Council-approves-amendment-to-fire-collective-bargaining-appendix-to-expand-hiring-eligibility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180303-bcbd928977144d3c4605c1de7d2dc204/orig.mp4?Expires=1770516738&Signature=CYnYs4zBg97-zIf4dkcVFAzRwJXyw2XKyu7MpiBinmrrwzaBQJ8erK8RT~YH-6aMp6KUNEAP4hYaSqpYrbkpI3ILiyuYH6j~~fC0H78hI89LIiUGz2Z9-qYbumPg9lum7Kgf27LRwshLRvmqYAj7Hl-GujzAnGZNDBm9QOnunFWIEvRQ3e2J70eLvGUZvZ~TC~sCDmw2~HdgsqTDJL9XJ4ogUqpft2vcytdQsYF0M9oL0f8dDubjUQQ7aghTjghhm3o4F10k7TFACCbfV7fyHjuDVCbX~x0DiLuUFLgT8n-p~YHzta6~rZu3jH-1Z8E5O5C6n3J5RSpwIEuLxASbsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Wichita Falls City Council approved an ordinance on July 1 amending the collective bargaining agreement with the Wichita Falls Professional Firefighters Association (International Association of Firefighters, Local 432) to add Appendix D and adjust hiring eligibility rules.

The ordinance moves two negotiated changes—raising the maximum hiring age to 39 and changing the eligibility-list timing to 18—so they take effect earlier than October 1. The fire chief told the council the measures had been agreed with association leadership and membership and that the department had 84 applicants registered for an upcoming test; the chief said moving the dates sooner may attract additional candidates.

Alba Total, president of the Wichita Professional Firefighters Association, praised the collaboration between staff and the union and said the change shows ‘‘a willingness for everybody involved ... to find a path to yes.’’ The council approved the ordinance by voice vote; the mayor called for those in favor to say \"aye,\" and the motion passed.

The chief said the city will administer the written test on Aug. 9 and expects higher turnout. No financial appropriation was associated with the ordinance amendment at the meeting; it implements negotiated terms in the already-adopted collective bargaining agreement.","The City Council approved an amendment to add Appendix D to the collective bargaining agreement with Wichita Falls Professional Firefighters Local 432 to change age and eligibility-list timing; staff said the change aims to increase applicant numbers for upcoming tests.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6180307,"City holds HUD-required hearing on 2025 consolidated plan; $1,206,417 CDBG allocation and HOME funds discussed",301,3750000,4051000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5119737-284c31787401be0ff8ed0ab44b3730d3&start=3750&end=4051","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5119737-284c31787401be0ff8ed0ab44b3730d3/thumbnail_3750000.jpg","/articles/6180307/Wichita-Falls/Wichita-County/Texas/City-holds-HUD-required-hearing-on-2025-consolidated-plan-1206417-CDBG-allocation-and-HOME-funds-discussed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180307-e48e40fcbb5554588dcbb54846435dc3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770516738&Signature=I~1R-hQls-e3oNAMoviBuBKzbFyoSrHG5BLbTrvBoy~-tVBnOxcOjNJ2jvWdvtKpGVxBkUEbh1Ah2OdIA5CngmkyxiittCftDa158wSDAbwzbCJRXMoRhxpS5Blr2KwotjfbrqvQfHjiQYsXAmu25hju6fPbn4XlO88EiztYBejt652Q5ztTDIAbZ7tawMNJiPcQioiK~v6~blABuMBjmXpahFcL2uIuKGnw3VmGnZoWkJvb3BwfcQEtFGRtGJzKQmBfJURtn8b0vDJYUT36~C-OVAzXbtaa9yT714WUEtvm-sGM1p2aLPpTy6SV6FjTkLTq~a2wtM8B9rlE2lvp9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff opened a HUD-required public hearing on July 1 to review the proposed 2025–2029 consolidated plan and the fiscal year 2025 annual action plan that will allocate Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnership Program funds.

Terry Floyd, director of development services, told the City Council the consolidated plan is required every five years by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and summarized recommended allocations from the council subcommittee on outside agencies. Floyd said the FY2025 CDBG allocation is $1,206,417, staff proposed reallocation of $100,000 in prior-year CDBG funds and $830,000 in FY2025–26 HOME funds for housing programs.

Floyd said roughly $1.3 million in requests were received and that the subcommittee and staff recommended about $1.3 million in awards including funding for long-standing nonprofit recipients such as Child Care, Inc.; Senior Citizens of North Texas (Meals on Wheels); and Christmas in Action. Staff also recommended funding for code enforcement, demolition, minor emergency repair programs and targeted capital projects, including place-making and parks investments.

Floyd noted that the Bridwell Park mural project announced during public comment had been funded through the CDBG program and that additional funds were recommended for renovation and rehabilitation projects at the MLK Center. He said the sidewalk program would receive $75,000 toward gap sidewalk reconstruction in the neighborhood revitalization area and described the first-time homebuyer program set-aside under HOME to assist low-to-moderate-income buyers, including work with Habitat for Humanity.

Floyd said the city had engaged a third party to help draft the consolidated plan and that the schedule calls for a 30-day public comment period following the hearing, with a final resolution to be returned to council in August for approval and subsequent submission to HUD.

The council closed the public hearing at 9:37 a.m. No final funding decisions were adopted at the hearing; staff will return with a resolution after the comment period. Anyone seeking the full plan was directed to a published version available via a QR code on the meeting materials, and staff offered to provide copies on request.","City staff opened the HUD-required public hearing on the 2025–2029 consolidated plan and the FY2025 annual action plan for CDBG and HOME funding, outlined recommended agency and capital allocations and started a 30-day comment period ahead of an August resolution to send the plan to HUD.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6180316,"Citizens group presents 'A City at Home' plan as Wichita Falls leaders pledge coordination",1338,1277000,2615000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5119737-284c31787401be0ff8ed0ab44b3730d3&start=1277&end=2615","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5119737-284c31787401be0ff8ed0ab44b3730d3/thumbnail_1277000.jpg","/articles/6180316/Wichita-Falls/Wichita-County/Texas/Citizens-group-presents-A-City-at-Home-plan-as-Wichita-Falls-leaders-pledge-coordination","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6180316-c9cbac32a9030248b90228971f1575dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770516738&Signature=Nv56rQMLiskywpemyP~EqUl3giMBQOPYK6asLuZb3718ge840QNcsMioP7E0RzpZpDSwGCQjxP8PYSAXoDtc5ngE1SURqbEhr1eMgW7tre1rH33equEy7TG0X3lDYTiXTqLD655xt0-LGx7KUZ5WndGPeoczyYjG7cJmY3kghP9JjDkExgKabNr8YVwEfFuUcmF7VAyxM6NMKSUar7HN-z~0lh0wV4~dEHjLBjtFCd59YgNfBQCHp29PB3kobB~SKDrG6cfdx7cB7pbsLsSKINTtxdIY080nRk0oaMRvPCvi4yrGkTzRgMBHJJvkmSE3JGilsl~oeu7rDhClICcVIw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A citizen-led coalition presented a comprehensive report to the Wichita Falls City Council on July 1 calling for expanded data sharing, street-based case management and new shelter and respite options to respond to a documented rise in both sheltered and unsheltered homelessness.

The report, titled A City at Home, was introduced by Louis Wilson, an organizer and physician, and Steve Sparks, who co-led the Citizens Addressing Homelessness effort. Wilson said the initiative gathered health care providers, nonprofits, public safety and citizens and that \"the time is now.\" The county judge told the council the county \"stands ready to join with the city\" to turn the report into action.

The report’s authors said the homelessness surge in Wichita Falls mirrors national trends and that key local drivers include addiction, untreated mental illness, higher housing costs and migration of unsheltered people who are not necessarily from Wichita Falls. Wilson told the council the community needs better client-level information sharing through the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and said the Continuum of Care’s existing tools are \"quite powerful\" but are not being fully used.

Wilson and Sparks urged the council to adopt a coordinated approach rather than rely solely on enforcement. Sparks said the city should \"do something for the homeless and our community,\" stressing programs that reach \"the reachable\" and restore people toward self-sufficiency.

Several public speakers — including representatives of Faith Mission and nonprofit providers — described existing services and gaps, especially for women with minor children and unsheltered people with acute medical needs. Faith Mission’s representative outlined that the organization provides shelter, case management, addiction recovery and job-readiness services and said more case managers are needed.

Council and county officials responded with offers to coordinate. Mayor Tim Short told speakers the city would move forward: \"in the coming weeks and months, we'll probably put together some type of ordinance for a committee to get this ball rolling\" and said staff would consider revised ordinances and a public information campaign. City Attorney James McKechnie said his plan is \"to bring at least two different ordinances to the council first meeting in August.\" County leadership urged creation of a task force or group to maintain momentum.

No formal council action or vote was taken on the report during the meeting; presenters and the county framed the next steps as coordination and drafting of ordinances and implementation plans. Organizers said the report includes a proposed action-plan outline (noted during the presentation as beginning on page 52 of the document) and specific recommendations such as expanding HMIS participation, creating street-based case management positions, developing respite units for people discharged from hospitals, and piloting innovations in permanent supportive housing and voucher circulation.

Public commenters and council members emphasized that ordinances alone will not solve the problem and reiterated the need for cross-agency case management tied to health-care providers, law enforcement and nonprofit partners. Organizers said several actions in the plan are achievable within 12 to 24 months if city and county leadership commit and staff positions and partnerships are funded.

The council closed the public hearing after supporters and affected residents spoke. Staff and presenters said the report is public and available on request; presenters and county officials said citizens and nonprofits plan to remain engaged as the city and county develop ordinances and implementation steps.","A citizen-led report recommends shared data, street-based case management and new shelter options to address a rise in sheltered and unsheltered homelessness; city and county officials pledged to work together and staff said ordinances and a public information campaign are coming.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City approves EDC support for NewCo Controls expansion, plan includes forgivable loan and job incentives

Council approves amendment to fire collective bargaining appendix to expand hiring eligibility

City holds HUD-required hearing on 2025 consolidated plan; $1,206,417 CDBG allocation and HOME funds discussed

Citizens group presents 'A City at Home' plan as Wichita Falls leaders pledge coordination