Kennedale — The council’s strategic workshop emphasized economic development tactics that include recruiting destination retailers/restaurants, leveraging existing assets such as the local racetrack and a distillery, and encouraging entertainment uses that can increase the city’s commercial tax base.

Councilmembers and the city manager discussed examples and options for shifting some of the tax burden from residential property owners to commercial businesses, including targeted recruitment of restaurants, entertainment venues and hotels near major attractions. Staff and council noted that larger recurring events and destination businesses generate more consistent local spending than one‑off events.

The city manager described prior experience in another city where a shopping center developer repaired a local drainage problem as part of a development agreement; council members cited that example as a model for negotiating infrastructure improvements with future developers. Staff said the World of Outlaws and other racing events bring large crowds to the area on race weekends and that leveraging those visitors for local dining and lodging would support the tax base.

Council asked the economic development director and city manager to focus recruitment efforts on three target areas discussed at the workshop — portions of Bowman Springs, the town center corridor and lands near existing racing venues — and to report back with a strategy that identifies priority sites, target business types and incentives or infrastructure investments that would unlock private development.