Revitalizing Economic Development in Kyle Part 1
As we head into the heart of campaign season, I want to begin outlining the specifics behind my platform. I believe one of the most important areas for Kyle’s future is how we approach and incentivize economic development.
I was selected to serve as Chair of the Kyle Economic Development and Tourism Board in October 2025. Immediately afterward, we divided the Board into subcommittees to research and develop recommendations for updating Kyle’s economic development incentives. Unfortunately, that work was halted during the 2026 budget cuts.
Looking ahead to 2030, Kyle needs to take several important steps to build an economy that works for our residents and strengthens our community.
First, we need to reconstitute the Kyle Economic Development and Tourism Board. As of August 2026, this important Board does not have a quorum and cannot meet because of the membership requirements established by the Kyle City Council. Our Boards and commissions should be populated with community leaders who bring a broad range of experiences—from small-business owners and entrepreneurs to leaders of larger companies. We need people at the table who understand what it takes to start, grow, and sustain a business in Kyle.
Second, Kyle needs to do more to support local entrepreneurs. Not every business has the capital to sign a long-term lease or open a traditional brick-and-mortar location. We should explore low-cost ways to give these entrepreneurs opportunities to establish themselves and grow.
That means expanding community events such as Market Days and exploring the creation of entrepreneur spaces where small businesses can test ideas, build a customer base, and grow without taking on significant overhead. Neither effort requires a massive city investment. Through small, incremental investments in our community, we can create transformational change in how Kyle supports local businesses.
We should also actively promote organizations such as the Plum Creek Makers and Bakers Markets, which connect residents with local businesses and help keep more of our community’s commerce within Kyle.
Third, we need to recognize that some of the most valuable economic development incentives don’t involve tax breaks at all. In conversations with business owners, one of the most attractive things a city can offer is the ability to get a business up and running quickly.
That means investing in the infrastructure businesses need—including roads, power, and water—but it also means improving the permitting process. If a business can get permitted and open its doors faster in Kyle than in surrounding communities, that becomes a powerful incentive to locate here without requiring the city to sacrifice its tax base.
By properly staffing Kyle’s permitting offices and strategically reviewing our regulations and processes, we can make Kyle one of the fastest and easiest places to start and operate a business in the greater Austin area.
Finally, Kyle needs to take a fresh look at the diversity of its business tax base. We need an economy that includes both large “Big-Box” retailers and locally owned mom-and-pop businesses. A well-rounded business community creates a stronger and more resilient tax base, helps protect us during economic downturns, and ensures that economic growth actually benefits the people who call Kyle home.
Our goal should not simply be to attract more businesses. Our goal should be to build the kind of economy we want Kyle to have in 2030—one that encourages entrepreneurship, rewards investment, supports local businesses, and creates opportunity for our residents.
Join me on November 3 and vote for stronger support for local entrepreneurs, faster permitting for new businesses, and a smarter approach to economic development that will help shape the Kyle we want to see in 2030.
