Government
BY KELLY SCHAFLER
Economic development council considers future organizational options
Comparing entities
Economic Opportunity and Development Department
Fort Bend Economic Development Council
Public-private partnership
Public department
Funded by memberships from cities, the county and private businesses Governed by executive committee of business leaders
The Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council’s board delayed its decision on whether the council will dissolve or reorganize to meet the county’s economic strategic plans. The overview The FBEDC’s executive committee met Jan. 10 to receive realignment recommendations from planning firm TIP Strategies and decide whether to end the council’s operations at the conclusion of fiscal year 2023-24 on June 30. The board delayed the decision to explore options, according to an emailed statement from the FBEDC. The backstory The FBEDC is a public-private partnership
governed by its executive committee. TIP Strate- gies was hired last February to create a five-year strategic plan for the county and the FBEDC. This came after Fort Bend County created an internal Economic Opportunity and Development department in early 2022. TIP Strategies gave the FBEDC board two options for the organization, both of which involved reor- ganizing the board and laying off its staff members, Jared Jameson, chair of the FBEDC’s executive committee, said at a special Jan. 9 Fort Bend County Commissioners Court meeting. Jameson said the executive committee would prefer to have a clean slate, dissolving the FBEDC and starting a new organization with help from an ad hoc committee the county plans to form.
Funded by county
Governed by county commissioners
SOURCES: FORT BEND EDC, CARLOS GUZMAN/COMMUNITY IMPACT
However, the committee hasn’t voted yet. What’s next
A minimum of 15 individuals will be appointed to serve the committee, TIP Strategies President Tracye McDaniel said. Over six to 12 months, McDaniel said the committee will work to launch the county’s strategic development plan as well as determine a path forward for the FBEDC.
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KATY SOUTH - FULSHEAR EDITION
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