During its Dec. 9 meeting, Town Council voted 6-1 to approve the issuance of more than $104,380 in grants to help businesses make improvements and upgrades at their location.
Place 4 Council Member Rhylan Rowe was the lone no vote.
The fiscal year 2024-25 budget had appropriated $150,000 for the program with $150,000 additional granted for future fiscal years, according to city documents.
“I’m so thrilled to see our local businesses benefit from this,” Place 5 Council Member LuAnne Oldham said. “If you want to stimulate an economy, you’ve got to help out the businesses and that is exactly what this program was designed by EDC [Economic Development Corporation] to do. I’m so happy we’ve got two-thirds of it still to take new applications and find new creative ways to help our local businesses.”
Trophy Club will have $195,619 remaining for future grant cycles, according to city documents.
The specifics
The recipients of the grants were Trophy Club Vision Care, Grace Development, Envision Complete Fitness, Fish & Knife Japanese Cuisine, Jolley Orthodontics and Mathnasium.
Each business proposed different projects to the Trophy Club EDC:
- Grace Development, owners of Shops of Trophy Club, will repair and paint the exterior of the shopping center—where Fish & Knife is located—along SH 114
- Fish & Knife will purchase new tables, a booth and a refrigerator and add a hibachi grill
- Jolley Orthodontics will add additional dental chairs for expanded office space
- Mathnasium will install new signage, replace office furniture and update lighting inside
- Envision Complete Fitness had the highest project cost of $120,000, with plans for new cryotherapy, infrared sauna and compression therapy equipment
- Trophy Club Vision Care will add low-level light therapy to treat dry eye disease
The six businesses totaled seven different grants, with Mathnasium chosen for two. The total cost of projects ranged from $3,725 to $120,000.
Assistant Town Manager Tamara Smith said the grant is a 75%-25% split. She said the business will pay for the projects fully and then be reimbursed at 75% once financial documents are submitted and a review takes place by the city to verify the proposed work was completed.
Smith said businesses have until Dec. 9, 2025, to complete the work.
What they’re saying
Rowe spoke about his wish that the grant be used to help bring new businesses to town.
“I don’t agree with the use of EDC funds,” he said. “I think our EDC funds should be used primarily to expand available uses of property that is commercial in town because we are limited."
"These are expensable items for these businesses, and I wish them all the best luck. Again, the program is available, so more power to you," Rowe said. "But, from a principal perspective, based on my 10 years of experience in leadership and having lived here for 20 years, I don’t believe that our voters agree with this level of use of tax dollars.”
