Current JEDCO president Jamey Parsons (left), along with former JEDCO president Jay Patrick, present the final $50,000 check to West Fraser Timber Company’s Angela Bunger. In 2013, JEDCO entered into an agreement with Norbord, Inc., as an incentive to the company to reopen their Jefferson plant. JEDCO offered to payContinue Reading
V. Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute V. Hugh Lewis II Jefferson Jimplecute The City and it’s various boards are starting work on th 2023-24 Fiscal Year budgets, yet some numbers are still unknown. The final tax roll valuations are due to the City in the next week and that will establishContinue Reading
V. Hugh Lewis/Jefferson Jimplecute JEDCO’s proposed 16.507 acre land purchase on the north side of town was again put on hold while the board investigates a possible Federal Wetlands designation that might restrict development of part of the property, and establishes a Public Hearing on the purchase of the land.Continue Reading
V Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute This month’s regular City Council meeting became a special meeting due to last weeks’ power outage with Council meeting in the Courthouse Annext courtroom. Jefferson Mayor Rob Baker set the tone of the meeting by pointing out the addition of a statement to the PublicContinue Reading
V Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute Affordable housing in Jefferson received a high priority request by JEDCO VP/Secretary Raymond Sanders during Tuesday’s regular meeting. “When we had the superintendent here, his main concern was the fact that they had no housing for teachers and for students,” said Sanders. “I want toContinue Reading
V Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute JEDCOs acquisition of 16 acres on US59N hit a few roadblocks Tuesday evening as members debated the needs of a new survey, mineral rights research, and an agenda wording issue preventing the board from approving the contract. JEDCO attorney Pinky Palmer converted last month’s LetterContinue Reading
Hugh Lewis/Jefferson Jimplecute Tuesday night’s City Council meeting was mostly routine business with Council giving the go ahead to JEDCO to spend $15,000 for earnest money on purchasing 16.507 acres of property on the north side of town for future development. At their regular meeting last week, JEDCO approved aContinue Reading
Hugh Lewis/Jefferson Jimplecute Jefferson Economic Development Corporation approved 4-0-3 Tuesday night an invoice they have not received, and don’t know the amount due. Jamie Parsons gave a presentation to JEDCO on some ‘Preliminary Title Research for a City Survey” he was asked to do by board president Bubba Haggard. TheContinue Reading
V. Hugh Lewis Jefferson Jimplecute Two businesses in Jefferson received grants from JEDCO during Tuesday’s regular meeting. Louisiana Famous Fried Chicken, to be located at the former Sonic on US59, will receive $15,000 grant, with a requirement to maintain six employees over a three year period, and a $58,100 3.5%Continue Reading
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 decidedContinue Reading
Austin Lewter/Jefferson Jimplecute Jefferson could soon have a new restaurant franchise and public funds have been requested to help get the new business off the ground. However, the Jefferson Economic Development Corporation (JEDCO) tabled action on the grant application Tuesday night. The funds from which would help remodel the oldContinue Reading
V. Hugh Lewis Jefferson Jimplecute JEDCO is ready to examine possible additional retail businesses along the US59 corridor after accepting a proposal from The Retail Coach president and CEO Kelly Cofer. Cofer gave a 30-minute presentation and question and answer session to JEDCO during Tuesday nights’ regular meeting. According toContinue Reading
Once again, the desire to have a “Quiet Zone” established in town fell on deaf ears of the majority of City Council. It’s been a frequent request of Bed and Breakfast owners, tourists, and those who live along the railroad tracks. But according to one council member those are justContinue Reading
Austin Lewter/Jefferson Jimplecute After two years of deliberations, the Jefferson Economic Development Corporation (JEDCO) agreed Tuesday night to enter a Capstone Agreement with Texas A&M University for strategic planning. Against the advice of their attorney, W.F. Palmer, the board agreed to expend up to $41,000 on the project. PalmerContinue Reading
Staff Reports JEDCO is moving forward again, after a little over two years, with the Texas Target Communities program at Texas A&M to produce a strategic plan for the City of Jefferson following the Board’s issuing of a Letter of Intent at Tuesday night’s regular meeting. When asked if theContinue Reading
V. Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute JEDCO visited the possibility of funding a feasibility study on the upgrading or restoring the Howe Railroad Trestle Bridge in Tuesday night’s regular meeting. “I met with the grant writer Gary Traylor and the engineer, but don’t remember his name,” said JEDCO President Bubba Haggard.Continue Reading
V. Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute The Jefferson Economic Development Corporation decided to only partially commit to funding a new tourism and history attraction, proposed by Bob Thomas for the Jefferson Tourism and Visitor’s Bureau, and indicated other entities and individuals should pay for the project. “Have any of [the otherContinue Reading
Staff Reports JEDCO forgave $35,330 in principal and interest for Queen Wood Products for the year 2020 as per the agreement which has certain employment requirements in exchange for loan forgiveness. Board member Lynn Daughrity asked who approved and verified that Queen Wood Products had complied with the terms ofContinue Reading
JEDCO proposed a budget of $288,000 for the 2021-22 fiscal year during a special called meeting Monday night. The proposed budget, created by Board President Bubba Haggard, projects income at $288,000, which is an average of $24,000 per month. JEDCO is currently on target to finish the 2020-21 fiscal yearContinue Reading
How to fill the secretary position continued to be a topic of discussion for the Jefferson Economic Development Corporation at Monday nights special meeting. The Board ultimately decided to elect the position of Secretary as per their bylaws, but will also consider budgeting to hire a secretary during their newContinue Reading