Schertz jump-starts Main Street revival From the cover
The overview
The timeline
August 2022
Schertz City Council approves $3.5 million in certificates of obligation for Main Street improvements. The city of Schertz creates an empowerment zone for the Main Street area.
The Main Street incentive area stretches from Curtiss Avenue to Schertz Parkway, with the city using it to stimulate business and commercial activities. The area encompasses programs like the Local Flavor Economic Development Program and the Preservation Incentive Program. The city began investing more into Main Street in 2022, when Schertz City Council approved $3.5 million in certificates of obligation for Main Street improvements. Certificates of obligation are funding for public works projects that do not require voter approval. In August 2022, the city created an empowerment zone for the area, waiving certain fees associated with startup business costs. In September 2022, council approved Kimley- Horn Associates Inc. for work and design services on infrastructure improvements. Kimley- Horn presented the city with a preliminary engineering design concept for street and utility work in January 2024. The refined design concept Kimley-Horn brought forth added items like maximizing street
drainage and proposed bulb-outs at Randolph Avenue and Williams Street intersections. A bulb-out is better known as a curb extension, a narrowing of the roadway to create a safer environment for pedestrians. Schertz’s Main Street is also welcoming more businesses into the area with spots like Americana Coffee & Espresso Bar and The Purple Pig BBQ, which opened in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Other businesses that joined Main Street’s portfolio include Unified Jiu Jitsu and No Mames Tacos, which opened in 2024. Demetric Herron, co-owner of The Purple Pig BBQ, has been in business with the restaurant since 2021 after operating a successful food truck on Main Street. Herron said he wants to bring a “hometown niche” and feels the city’s plan echoes this. “I think it’ll give back that hometown feel to the community, where people [are] able to walk and shop and do things like that,” Herron said.
September 2022
Schertz City Council approves Kimley- Horn Associates Inc. for work and design services on Main Street.
November 2022
Schertz City Council amends the Main Street Area Preservation Incentive Program.
January 2024
Kimley-Horn Associates provides preliminary engineering design concept for street and utility work.
Mid-2025
Design work finishes on overhead line replacements; sewer and waterline construction begins.
Fall 2027
Main Street improvements expected to be completed.
SOURCE: CITY OF SCHERTZ/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Explained
The impact
and outdoor settings, and a signage improvement grant for both new signs and renovation of existing ones. The Preservation Incentive Program is another incentive that matches funds up to $20,000 per property for renovations to existing historic structures. Deputy City Manager Brian James said this program is for longtime businesses to cover upkeep expenses. “We want to make sure that we don’t lose structures to neglect,” James said.
Coupled with its Main Street Improvements Project, council member Tim Brown said the city of Schertz is also providing economic incentives to bring businesses into the area. One of the financial tools available to businesses is the Local Flavor Economic Development Program, which provides a dollar-for-dollar match on grants up to $40,000 over a five-year period. Grants available through the program include a systems grant for infrastructure improvements, a site improvement grant for items like landscaping
About 20 properties have taken advantage of the different grant types offered from the Preservation Incentive Program, James said. Council member Brown added that there is nothing in big amounts, just funding to encourage businesses to stay viable. The grant programs are working alongside the Main Street Neighborhood Empow- erment Zone to waive fees for businesses coming into the area. Scott Wayman, Schertz Economic Development Corporation executive director, said his organization also assists in the fee-waiving process.
Grants available through city of Schertz economic programs
Grant type
Items included
Max amount matched by city
Costs associated with actual construction of structure Landscaping, lighting, sidewalks, driveways, outdoor areas
New construction
$60,000
Fueling Main Street revitalization
Site improvement
$20,000
50 grants awarded to businesses
Preservation Incentive Program Renovations to existing historic structures
$20,000
20 properties have received grants from the city $75K given by the city via the Preservation Incentive Program $200K provided by the city via the Local Flavor Economic Development Program
Facade improvement
Painting, roof, windows, foundation, wall repairs
$20,000
Systems
Wiring, plumbing, HVAC, insulation
$15,000
Signage improvement
New signs, renovation of existing signs
$5,000
Capital equipment
Durable items used to produce goods or services
$2,500
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