EDC staff presented a draft application and program parameters for a proposed restaurant and retail incentive program and a broader segmentation of incentives into industrial/workforce, retail/restaurant, and small‑business tracks.

Staff said the segmentation is informed by local market analysis and a “void analysis” showing where Hutto residents travel for shopping, dining and entertainment. The draft application includes conditional questions so applicants in different use categories receive tailored screening items rather than a single, one‑size‑fits‑all form.

Board discussion emphasized soliciting community input in ways that produce actionable data. Several members recommended asking residents what jobs they want locally (“what kind of jobs do you want?”) and whether parents need day care near workplaces, rather than an open‑ended list of desired restaurant brands. Board members suggested focusing surveys and QR‑code outreach on specific examples to elicit clearer answers (for example, naming a few restaurant chains as choices) and said food and alcohol‑related questions usually draw the most responses.

Legal staff and board members discussed whether nontraditional items such as housing or day‑care could qualify for incentives. Staff referenced an Attorney General opinion in which residential incentives were allowed where the board found that housing shortages prevented economic development; attendees said a similar factual link would be needed to justify incentivizing day care or residential projects. The board also discussed offering nonmonetary incentives — for example, expedited permitting, priority engineering review or short‑term rent relief — as alternatives to cash payments.

The board asked staff and two board liaisons (Vikram Morales and another board member) to refine the application, finalize the red‑lined language and return a recommended program to the November meeting; staff said they would also run targeted outreach (website, EDC newsletter and social) and consider focus groups or a community survey.

No formal action was taken on program adoption at the meeting; staff was directed to return with a draft for November.