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| Economic Development |
The Yoakum Economic Development Corporation Board received the Certificate of Achievement for Economic
Development for 2008 from the Texas Economic Development Council. This award recognizes a commitment to
Professional Economic Development by City Administration, elected and appointed officials, and exemplary
professional standards demonstrated by the Economic Development Staff. Board members include:
Front Row (Left to Right): Vice-President, Anita R. Rodriguez; President, Margie McMullen; Economic/Community
Development Coordinator, Patrick J. Kennedy.
Back Row (Left to Right): Allen Dieringer, Tim Faulkner, Tommy Barre, Dr. Louis Boening, and Arthur Hermann, III.
Development for 2008 from the Texas Economic Development Council. This award recognizes a commitment to
Professional Economic Development by City Administration, elected and appointed officials, and exemplary
professional standards demonstrated by the Economic Development Staff. Board members include:
Front Row (Left to Right): Vice-President, Anita R. Rodriguez; President, Margie McMullen; Economic/Community
Development Coordinator, Patrick J. Kennedy.
Back Row (Left to Right): Allen Dieringer, Tim Faulkner, Tommy Barre, Dr. Louis Boening, and Arthur Hermann, III.
| Questions/Concerns? Contact: Patrick J. Kennedy, EDFP PO Box 738/808 Hwy 77-A South Yoakum, TX 77995 Phone #: (361) 293-6321 Cell #: (361) 293-0476 Fax #: (361) 293-3318 Email: pkennedy@cityofyoakum.org |
| Pat Kennedy, the City’s Economic/Community Development Coordinator (3rd from left) makes a presentation to the Yoakum Economic Development Corporation at their meeting on Monday. Members include from left to right: Tim Faulkner, Allen Dieringer, Vice-President Annie Rodriguez, President Margie McMullen, Tommy Barre, Dr. Louis Boening, and Arthur Hermann, III. |
The Yoakum Economic Development Corporation (YEDC) met and prioritized applications for the three
new programs that started October 1st. Due to the overwhelming demand, the YEDC revised their budget
to fund all requests for these matching programs.
Grants approved for the Business Retail program are the Yoakum Shape Shop, Wendel Motor Company,
and Harley’s Restaurant. Under the Business District Preservation program grants were approved for
State Farm Insurance, Turner Pest Control, Pro Body Chiropractic, Jacobs-Weber-Williams-Hull
Professional Building, Yoakum Subway, The Card Shoppe, and Fat Albert’s BBQ and Icehouse. Under
Community Services, grants were approved for Yoakum Heritage Museum, Accolade Hospice Foundation,
and Yoakum Community Hospital.
new programs that started October 1st. Due to the overwhelming demand, the YEDC revised their budget
to fund all requests for these matching programs.
Grants approved for the Business Retail program are the Yoakum Shape Shop, Wendel Motor Company,
and Harley’s Restaurant. Under the Business District Preservation program grants were approved for
State Farm Insurance, Turner Pest Control, Pro Body Chiropractic, Jacobs-Weber-Williams-Hull
Professional Building, Yoakum Subway, The Card Shoppe, and Fat Albert’s BBQ and Icehouse. Under
Community Services, grants were approved for Yoakum Heritage Museum, Accolade Hospice Foundation,
and Yoakum Community Hospital.
| YEDC Board Recognized Yoakum Herald-Times - Wednesday, May 6, 2009, Pg 2 |
| YEDC Approves Local Grant Funds Yoakum Herald-Times - Wednesday, October 7, 2009, Pg 2 |
| Yoakum Gives Economic Grant Victoria Advocate - Monday, December 7, 2009, Pg 1 |
| Small-Business owners expand because of opportunities offered from special program |
BY SONNY LONG
YOAKUM GRANTS -2009-12-06 23:12:00 YOAKUM - When Christie Talbert needed to expand her fitness
center, she wasn't quite sure how to pay for everything that needed to be done. Then she heard about a
grant program offered by the Yoakum Economic Development Corp.
"We need more space and expansion is a big cash outlay," said Talbert, who has owned Yoakum Shape
Shop since September 2006. "When I read about the grant program, it was a catalyst. If the grant hadn't
been offered, I'm not sure I would have been able to do the project." Talbert's project is one of 13 being
partially funded by the economic development corporation's grant program. The projects include retail
enhancement, business district preservation and community service endeavors.
Pat Kennedy, Yoakum's economic and community development coordinator, said the corporation's board
of directors approved the grant program with existing businesses in mind. "The board wanted to do some
immediate need for local businesses," Kennedy said. "As a result of having 13 projects funded, we've
done a good job of trying to address these needs."
The request for funds was immediate and more than Kennedy and the board expected. Expecting to fund
about six projects, $45,000 was budgeted for the grant program. The first day applications could be
accepted on Sept. 1, five people were waiting at city hall when Kennedy arrived before 7:30 a.m. and an
hour later he had processed eight applications.
When the time came for board approval on Oct. 5, the directors were so impressed by the 13 applicants
that they amended the budget to about $70,000 to fund all of them. "We've got to take care of our own,"
Kennedy said. "We have to have businesses expansion and retention. It's about creating and retaining
jobs."
Talbert's grant fell under the business retail program and as a requirement to apply she had to submit a
business plan coordinated with the University of Houston-Victoria Small Business Development Center.
Talbert, who is doubling the size of the fitness center in the 100 block of East Gonzales Street, anticipates
also adding employees including a massage therapist, personal trainer and instructors.
The community services grant program is assisting the Yoakum Heritage Museum, Yoakum Community
Hospital, and Accolade Hospice Foundation with projects. The organizations have to mention the
economic development corporation funding in all advertising and marketing.
Kennedy said the grant program is a cost reimbursement, the work has to be completed before funds are
dispersed. Although funding has been completed for 2009-10, Kennedy said he would anticipate the
program being in place again next budget year.
YOAKUM GRANTS -2009-12-06 23:12:00 YOAKUM - When Christie Talbert needed to expand her fitness
center, she wasn't quite sure how to pay for everything that needed to be done. Then she heard about a
grant program offered by the Yoakum Economic Development Corp.
"We need more space and expansion is a big cash outlay," said Talbert, who has owned Yoakum Shape
Shop since September 2006. "When I read about the grant program, it was a catalyst. If the grant hadn't
been offered, I'm not sure I would have been able to do the project." Talbert's project is one of 13 being
partially funded by the economic development corporation's grant program. The projects include retail
enhancement, business district preservation and community service endeavors.
Pat Kennedy, Yoakum's economic and community development coordinator, said the corporation's board
of directors approved the grant program with existing businesses in mind. "The board wanted to do some
immediate need for local businesses," Kennedy said. "As a result of having 13 projects funded, we've
done a good job of trying to address these needs."
The request for funds was immediate and more than Kennedy and the board expected. Expecting to fund
about six projects, $45,000 was budgeted for the grant program. The first day applications could be
accepted on Sept. 1, five people were waiting at city hall when Kennedy arrived before 7:30 a.m. and an
hour later he had processed eight applications.
When the time came for board approval on Oct. 5, the directors were so impressed by the 13 applicants
that they amended the budget to about $70,000 to fund all of them. "We've got to take care of our own,"
Kennedy said. "We have to have businesses expansion and retention. It's about creating and retaining
jobs."
Talbert's grant fell under the business retail program and as a requirement to apply she had to submit a
business plan coordinated with the University of Houston-Victoria Small Business Development Center.
Talbert, who is doubling the size of the fitness center in the 100 block of East Gonzales Street, anticipates
also adding employees including a massage therapist, personal trainer and instructors.
The community services grant program is assisting the Yoakum Heritage Museum, Yoakum Community
Hospital, and Accolade Hospice Foundation with projects. The organizations have to mention the
economic development corporation funding in all advertising and marketing.
Kennedy said the grant program is a cost reimbursement, the work has to be completed before funds are
dispersed. Although funding has been completed for 2009-10, Kennedy said he would anticipate the
program being in place again next budget year.
| YOAKUM GRANTS Business/Organization Total Project Cost Grant Amount Yoakum Shape Shop $84,815 $10,000 State Farm Insurance $21,240 $7,500 Turner Pest Control $24,475 $7,500 Yoakum Subway $15,000 $7,500 Fat Albert's $21,582 $7,500 Harley's Restaurant $12,283 $6,141 Yoakum Heritage Museum $10,275 $5,000 The Card Shoppe $9,276 $4,638 Wendel Motor Co. $6,738 $3,369 Accolade Hospice Foundation $6,500 $3,250 Shandila Cretors Chiropractic $6,701 $3,000 Yoakum Community Hospital $3,800 $1,900 Jacobs-Weber- Williams-Hull Professional Building $1,633 $750 |
Photo by Sonny Long/Victoria Advocate
Grant Whitaker, of 4C Materials, works on an expansion project at Yoakum
Shape Shop. The fitness center will be awarded $10,000 in grant funds
from the Yoakum Economic Developent Corporation when the project is
complete.
Grant Whitaker, of 4C Materials, works on an expansion project at Yoakum
Shape Shop. The fitness center will be awarded $10,000 in grant funds
from the Yoakum Economic Developent Corporation when the project is
complete.