Economic Development Corporation
“We're Growing Places”

The Economic Development Corporation Board (EDC) was started in March 2000.  The EDC was organized for the purpose of benefiting and accomplishing the public purposes of the City of Converse. The EDC is empowered to issue bonds, notes, and other forms of debt instruments on behalf of the City of Converse. The EDC was also empowered to acquire, maintain, lease, and sell property and interests on behalf of the City of Converse. To date, the EDC has worked diligently to fulfill it commitment in promoting economic development within the City to eliminate unemployment and under employment by promoting and encouraging employment in the public sector.

Over the past seven years, the Board has served as an integral part of the City by successfully supporting the construction and erecting of several new city buildings. It has also supported new business growth throughout the City of Converse, which has provided new jobs to the residents of Converse. New business growth brings financial support to the City of Converse. The consumptions of goods and services by patrons of these businesses provide both ad valorm and sales tax dollars. We are proud of the new businesses that chose Converse as their home. Some of the early businesses to come to Converse were O'Reilly Auto Parts, Kiddie Round-Up Day Care, HGD Foods Manufacturing Corporate Headquarters and McDonalds.

In 2005, the Board of Directors authorized the development of a Market Analysis for Commercial Development. This document is presented on the website and in hardcopy form for existing and aspiring businesses to review essential data and demographics important in determining location and future business achievements. The Executive Director, Mark Luft, and his staff put many hours in compiling this document in order to share it with prospective businesses seeking to expand their market share. Another initiative of the Executive Director is the Predevelopment Grant Program. This program is provided as tool for new and existing businesses to use to assist with additional funding for responsible business growth.

Our first project was the completion of the beautiful new library and EDC facility on South Seguin Street. This was a cooperative effort with the city. The result being a 3000 square feet modern library with thousands of books for research, reference, and just plain reading. Additionally, computer stations with internet access were made available for community use. This new building has an additional section of 1500 sqare feet that serves as the headquarters for the EDC. There is also an area in this facility that is available for clubs, churches, and private citizens to rent for meetings and other functions. Citizens wishing to reserve the facility can do so by contacting the Executive Director’s office.

A major EDC project is the widening of Toepperwein Road. This is an ambitious and lengthy project, but one with great long-term benefits for our city. With better access into the city, we should be able to attract more business. More business will help shift the tax burden from the residents to the business sector. We have begun acquisition of right of way and expect to complete this portion of the project in about six years.

Another major project the EDC is working on is the development of the Converse Lake Area in conjunction with the Planning and Park & Recreation Commissions. This too is a long-term project and will take several years to complete.

The Kitty Hawk Road Improvement is a joint project with the City Council.

There is also an Urban Corridor project for the Toepperwein , Kitty Hawk, South Seguin, and FM 78 thoroughfares.