JEDCO tables restaurant grant again

City of Jefferson

Hugh Lewis/Jefferson Jimplecute

Louisiana Famous Fried Chicken took another step closer to coming to Jefferson during Tuesday night’s JEDCO meeting.

The $75,000 grant request submitted by David and Sophia Neely was tabled for a third month in a row, but following a recommendation by Jefferson Mayor Rob Baker, JEDCO decided to authorize JEDCO President Bubba Haggard and JEDCO VP/Secretary Raymond Sanders to work with Neely over the next 30 days and bring back a couple of options for funding that were agreeable to Neely.

“We should look at the three properties we have and the values of the property per promised employee,” said JEDCO Treasurer Doug Thompson. “Maybe a $25,000 grant and a $25,000 loan with a personal guarantee is more along the lines of what we can do.”

“I’m not keen on the $75,000 grant,” said board member Lynn Daughrity.

Neely verbally updated his application in that he plans on hiring 8-10 people full time. His original application indicated four jobs over a period of two years. Neely is currently renovating the old Sonic drive-in on US59. He supplied a series of receipts on what has already been spent on the building, and an invoice for approximately $98,000 for the equipment and signage required to get the location open.

The Retail Coach provided an update on their efforts to attract more businesses to the US59 corridor in Jefferson. The group was hired by JEDCO as a consultant to review the available development areas and try to bring some national retailers to town.

Cary Everitt, with The Retail Coach, was on hand and gave a presentation with their results so far.

So far the group has identified a retail trade area with a population of about 15,000, which ranges from Avinger to Linden to Woodlawn to the state line. They have also reached out to CEFCO on their unused property on possible development, as well as the property owners of the old Shell station and the property next to VeraBank.

Everitt said their initial retail matches for the area included: Whataburger, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Ace Hardware, Tractor Supply, Cobblestone Hotels, Neighborhood Pet and Farm Supply (Petco), Shipley Donuts, Taco Bell, Golden Chick, Chicken Express, and Pizza Hut.

An O’Reilly’s is currently in the works by the owner of the property just south of Don Juan’s.

Everitt said they were attending the ICSC Red River retail trade show this month and would be reaching out to a variety of businesses to spur their interest in Jefferson.

JEDCO will meet again at 5:30p on February 14.