Helotes EDC grant reimbursements returned to council for procedural review; Twin Brothers and Sherwin-Williams projects on next agenda

City and EDC staff briefed the Helotes City Council July 10 on process changes and two pending reimbursement applications under the EDC's retailer and commercial tenant improvement program.

Scott Hardwick, executive director of the EDC, told the council the Twin Brothers Hospitality Group application had been approved by the EDC in 2023 but staff later found procedural steps were not properly documented. Hardwick said the EDC has corrected procedures going forward: the EDC will hold a public hearing, vote, and then any award above $10,000 will come to council for two readings.

Hardwick said the Twin Brothers application will be before council for the required readings and that the EDC has prepared a draft performance agreement so reimbursement will be conditioned on validation of paid invoices and fulfillment of the agreement. He described the program as a reimbursement program: applicants expend funds, submit paid invoices and receipts, and the EDC (via staff) validates expenditures before providing reimbursement.

Hardwick also outlined a separate approved EDC application for new construction by Helotes Development Group LLC, a projected $1.2 million private investment to house a Sherwin-Williams store. The EDC approved that application in November; staff said the applicant has a 10-year lease and will generate sales and property tax benefits. Councilmembers thanked Hardwick for standardizing procedures and said they expected the applications to return on a subsequent council agenda with performance agreements and required readings.