Smithville Comprehensive Plan: Economic Development Survey POST MEETING

The following suggestions were made at the Economic Development Community Forum and on the preliminary survey by members of the community. These are offered to help craft the direction the City will follow in its Comprehensive Plan. The number of stars you choose, if you choose any, will indicate your agreement/preference for the idea offered. Please feel free to provide more comments and suggestions to these lists. Thank you for participating! Your voice makes a difference!

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* 1. Which City-Sponsored Community Forums have you attended?

Comp Plan: Transportation (9/12/24)

Comp Plan: Economic Development (9/17/24)

Comp Plan: Land Use (9/24/24)

Comp Plan: Housing (10/7/24)

Any Comp Plan Stakeholder Meeting in 2024

Any Transportation Meeting in the past

Any Housing Huddle Meeting in the past

Any Economic Development Meeting, including the Lorie Vincent series, in the past

Not Sure which meeting

I have never attended a community meeting hosted by the City of Smithville

Other (please specify)

General Suggestions from the Survey and the Forum

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* 2. "The goal should be to grow in a way that doesn't change the feel and landscape of this town. We are in the Triangle and it's going through a boom, let's protect Smithville from turning into something we hate just for the almighty dollar."

Retail and Commercial Activity Ideas and Suggestions from the Survey and the Forum

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* 3. "There is a fine balance between small town living and embracing growth, but this balance is possible WITH the right leaders in place. But whether people like it or not, growth is happening and will continue to occur, so it is much better to be on the forefront of growth with correctly trained economic development and chamber professionals (along with city staff) that can understand and accommodate the growth that is going to happen. Speak with current or former community leaders who have led communities during high growth times and learn from both their triumphs and mistakes."

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* 4. "Hope Floats absolutely captured Smithville's hidden Gem feel, there is something rare here, you feel it in Brookshire Bros, eating Dinner at Pockets, Trick or Treating downtown or talking to your kids' teachers or bus drivers. I grew up with that and I saw a town completely lose it because of Economic Development choices that didn't fit with the culture and no preparation of the infrastructure to handle it once it started pouring in...driving long time residents to move due to wanting the small town feel or having to leave because they were priced out and couldn't afford to live there anymore."

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* 5. Acquire downtown retail spaces

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* 6. Construct hotel/conference center for weekend events

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* 7. Attract more grocery store options and variation

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* 8. Hire a Main Street Manager to get grants

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* 9. RETAIL: If you have other ideas, please state them here and indicate their ranking in comparison with the ideas on this list

Business Retention/Expansion/Attraction and Downtown Revitalization Activity Ideas and Suggestions from the Survey and the Forum

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* 10. Tax discount on square footage to incentivize occupancy on Main Street

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* 11. “Good” Competition – attract a new grocery store

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* 12. Senior Living Facility with levels of care

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* 13. Attract manufacturing

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* 14. Attract technology businesses

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* 15. Create a "Smithville Investor" group to assist building owners in fixing up buildings to meet code and attract renters

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* 16. Recruit and Support SMALL businesses

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* 17. Large box store on 71 or way down the loop (away from downtown) THAT OTHER NEARBY COMMUNITIES DO NOT HAVE. Like youth entertainment complex, Target, Costco (yes we don’t have the population, but it would attract from Bastrop, La Grange, other communities within 30-45 minutes).

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* 18. Make Main Street more of a "walking only" district for dining, shopping, small events, tourism development. Make this a draw for visitors to come in and spend their money, stay the night, dine; bringing in sales tax revenue and local business income.

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* 19. Find out what current business owners want to see developed in Smithville.

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* 20. Ask Lorie Vincent to talk with Main Street building owners about the idea of selling their building to make room for new business.

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* 21. Economic development needs to focus on Primary Employers. Our local businesses will never be able to truly develop a robust economic environment without us bringing in primary employers.

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* 22. Stricter building code to protect "look" of the historic downtown

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* 23. BRE&A/DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT: If you have other ideas, please state them here and indicate their ranking in comparison with the ideas on this list

Workforce Activity Ideas and Suggestions from the Survey and the Forum

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* 24. Utilize Career Tracks to market businesses to come to Smithville

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* 25. Continue to support Career Tracks to train regional residents

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* 26. Hire certified trainers as employees at Career Tracks

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* 27. WORKFORCE: If you have other ideas, please state them here and indicate their ranking in comparison with the ideas on this list

Infrastructure Activity Ideas and Suggestions from the Survey and the Forum

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* 28. Construct appropriate wastewater treatment plant

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* 29. Ensure critical utilities infrastructure

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* 30. Critical Infrastructure Needs: Wastewater, Roads, Utilities, Public Facilities

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* 31. Annex properties along Hwy 71

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* 32. INFRASTRUCTURE: If you have other ideas, please state them here and indicate their ranking in comparison with the ideas on this list

Housing Activity Ideas and Suggestions from the Survey and the Forum

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* 33. Build more rooftops

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* 34. Build additional multifamily

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* 35. Seek solutions for affordable housing

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* 36. Draw in more retirement age residents and build senior living options. By 2030 there will be 61.3 Million Boomers as the last group turns 65. Focusing on that group could help grow our community without changing it in a way the current residents would hate. Many of this group will be looking for sense of community, leisure activities to do, help in caring for themselves and either low maintenance single level homes or affordable rental homes/senior living communities that help them enjoy their Golden years. This could bring in additional medical services and jobs in the Healthcare Sector for our young residents to find careers in.

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* 37. HOUSING: If you have other ideas, please state them here and indicate their ranking in comparison with the ideas on this list

Education/Information Activity Ideas and Suggestions from the Survey and the Forum

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* 38. Start a new Smithville Newspaper

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* 39. Continue to partner with Smithville ISD to ensure quality opportunities for enrichment through Library and PARD programs

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* 40. EDUCATION: If you have other ideas, please state them here and indicate their ranking in comparison with the ideas on this list

Tourism Activity Ideas and Suggestions from the Survey and the Forum

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* 41. Eco Tourism: State Park/Riverbend Park Promotion

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* 42. Fishing & Hunting Opportunities

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* 43. Turn the train cars into food truck incubator/commercial kitchen to support the Farmers’ Market

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* 44. More events at Train Park and Riverbend Park

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* 45. More events at Rodeo Arena at Riverbend Park

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* 46. Dog shows/Competitions/Events at Dog Park

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* 47. Sports/Youth Sports/Entertainment Complex

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* 48. Advertise RV Park Amenities at Riverbend Park

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* 49. TOURISM: If you have other ideas, please state them here and indicate their ranking in comparison with the ideas on this list

Arts & Culture Activity Ideas and Suggestions from the Survey and the Forum

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* 50. Capitalize on the Film Industry as the 1st Film Friendly Designated Community

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* 51. Advertise locations of art

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* 52. Continue to use Arts and Culture as a driver of Economic Development and Tourism

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* 53. Seeing the economic impact of just one art show is profound. At the last Main Gallery opening. 10 guests (including the Austin artist) rented an Airbnb, all went out to dinner, all went out to breakfast at comfort cafe the next day. Just a microcosmic view had major impact.

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* 54. ARTS & CULTURE: If you have other ideas, please state them here and indicate their ranking in comparison with the ideas on this list

Parks and Recreation Activity Ideas and Suggestions from the Survey and the Forum

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* 55. Improve access to Colorado River and Riverbend Park

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* 56. Eco Tourism at Colorado River: docks/piers/stream; bank restoration; trails; kayaks & swimming

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* 57. River access and its impact on tourism

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* 58. Develop our area along the Colorado River. A very under utilized asset.

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* 59. Recreational Activities to attract visitors such as a dock down by the river, keeping that area clean, and river activities run by the Rec like paddle board and kayak rentals, etc.

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* 60. Use Riverbend park to its full capacity! Monthly dances, festivals created by existing groups, make the river more swimable, etc.

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* 61. The Colorado River is a natural resource that we have right here. We have multiple access points to it. We need to take advantage of this to bring people to Smithville.

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* 62. PARKS/REC: If you have other ideas, please state them here and indicate their ranking in comparison with the ideas on this list

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* 63. Please make any other comments or suggestions about economic development that you want to have included in the Comprehensive Plan. Thank you!