Anna EDC outlines three-phase downtown redevelopment, schedules public workshops

EDC staff presented a three-phase downtown redevelopment roadmap at the April 2 joint meeting of the Anna Community Development Corporation and Anna Economic Development Corporation and encouraged broad community participation in upcoming public workshops.

The presenter said the project has three phases: phase 1 focuses on branding (name, tagline and logo being refined by consultant Eisenberg), phase 2 will create a marketing map and run a public charette and workshops (staff referenced an April 13 kickoff and public meetings the week of April 13–17 with evening sessions Tuesday and Wednesday from 5–7 p.m. and a Thursday, April 16, recap presentation), and phase 3 will address historical-district considerations and is still being defined. "We are currently refining the name, tagline, and logo to be presented to the committee based on their feedback, and then will be presenting them to the public," the Presenter said.

Staff encouraged residents to attend and provide input for the downtown design, requested that board members and partners share promotional materials on social media and neighborhood networks, and noted the EDC will help make materials publicly available; staff also described ongoing coordination with the communications department to include EDC items in the weekly city newsletter.

During questions, a committee member asked how consultant Eisenberg distributed a public survey and whether community members who later say they never received outreach might be reached by an app-based notification system. Staff responded that the consultant emailed council members, EDC members and community contacts and that the city currently relies on those distribution systems; the committee member recommended considering a city app and opt-in push notifications to expand reach.

Staff also highlighted related events and outreach: an 'Anna Update 2026' session (next Wednesday, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Anna ISD building; Superintendent Toby Tucker will provide lunch), volunteer recognition on April 14 before the council meeting, and National Small Business Week activities May 4–8 with a May 6 small-business appreciation event at the community library.