HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-09-2026 LPDC minutesMINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE LA PORTE
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Members present: Nancy Ojeda, Chuck Engelken, Danny Earp, Amanda Gerrish,
Brent McCaulley, John Blakemore
Members attending remotely: None
Members absent: Richard Warren
Council -appointed officers present: Corby Alexander, City Manager; Clark Askins,
City Attorney; Lee Woodward, City Secretary
The La Porte Development Corporation Board of Directors met on
February 9, 2026, at the City Hall Council Chambers,
604 West Fairmont Parkway, La Porte, Texas, at 4:30 p.m.
1. CALL TO ORDER - President Ojeda called the meeting to order at 4:32 p.m.
2. CITIZEN COMMENT - There were no comments.
3. AUTHORIZATIONS
a. Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve the minutes of the
December 8, 2025, meeting of the La Porte Development Corporation Board
of Directors. [Lee Woodward, City Secretary/PIO]
Member Engelken moved to approve the minutes; Member Earp seconded the
motion; the motion was adopted, 6-0.
b. Enhancement Grant Policy Updates - Presentation, discussion, and possible
action to approve proposed staff -recommended amendments and other
amendments as proposed by the La Porte Development Corporation to the
La Porte Enhancement Grant Policy. [Haley Bowers, Economic Development
Manager]
Mrs. Bowers provided an overview of the requested Enhancement Grant Policy
application updates, to include the applicant's legal business name and the
following information from Article I, Section 6 of the Economic Development
Incentive Agreement template: requirement that recipients provide proof that at
least one full-time or part-time equivalent employee is working at the business site,
evidenced by:
a) Copies of the applicant's 941 Report to the IRS and C3 Report to the Texas
Workforce Commission for each employee (with social security numbers
redacted), or a 1099-NEC for contract workers; and
b) A notarized statement affirming that at least one full-time or part-time equivalent
position is continuously filled at the business site.
Member Earp moved to approve the recommended changes to the Enhancement
Grant Policy application and asked Mrs. Bowers to work with the City Attorney to
bring back language for future consideration that documentation for other items
required in connection with an enhancement grant be included with the application
an -agreement; the motion was seconded by Member Engelken; the motion was
adopted, 6-0.
c. GW Group Properties LLC - Enhancement Grant - Presentation, discussion,
and possible action to approve an enhancement grant incentive agreement
between the La Porte Development Corporation and GW Group Properties
LLC, in an amount not to exceed $13,500.00,-for enhancements to parking
area at business site located at 101 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, La Porte,
Texas. [Haley Bowers, Economic Development Manager]
Mrs. Bowers provided an overview. Member Earp moved to approve an
enhancement grant incentive agreement between the La Porte' Development
Corporation and GW Group Properties LLC, in an amount not to exceed
$13,500.00, for enhancements to parking area at business site located at 101 Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, and to include language to allow the City to use the
parking lot when after business hours; Member Engelken seconded the motion;
the motion was adopted, 6-0.
d. Anchored Restorations LLC - Enhancement Grant - Presentation,
discussion, and possible action to approve an enhancement grant incentive
agreement between the La Porte Development Corporation and Anchored
Restoration LLC, in an amount not to exceed $41,326.00, for enhancements
to the building facade and property for business site located at 914 S.
Broadway St., La Porte, Texas. [Haley Bowers, Economic Development
Manager]
Mrs. Bowers provided an overview. Member McCaulley moved to approve an
enhancement grant incentive agreement between the La Porte Development
Corporation and Anchored Restoration LLC, in an amount not to exceed
$41,326.00, for enhancements to the building facade and property for business
site located at 914 S. Broadway St.; President Oleda seconded the motion; the
motion was adopted, 6-0.
e. The Park on Main - Enhancement Grant - Presentation, discussion, and
possible action to approve an enhancement grant incentive agreement
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between the La Porte Development Corporation and La Porte Entertainment,
LLC, in an amount not to exceed $14,819.35, for enhancements to property
for business site located at 402 W. Main Street, La Porte, Texas. [Haley
Bowers, Economic Development Manager]
Mrs. Bowers provided an overview. No action was taken.
f. Main 101 Grill and Bar - Enhancement Grant Extension - Presentation,
discussion, and possible action to approve a six-month extension of
performance deadlines under terms of enhancement grant incentive
agreement between the La Porte Development Corporation and Main 101
Grill and Bar dated March 24, 2025. [Haley Bowers, Economic Development
Manager]
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Mrs. Bowers provided an update. Member McCaulley moved to approve a six-
month extension of performance deadlines under the terms of the enhancement
grant incentive agreement between the La Porte -Development Corporation and
Main 101 Grill and Bar dated March 24, 2025; Member Gerrish seconded the
motion; the.motion was adopted, 6-0.
R Favorite Things LLC - Amended and Restated Agreement - Presentation,
discussion, and possible _action to approve an amended and restated
Incentive Agreement between the La Porte Development Corporation and R
Favorite Things, LLC in connection with project for building and site
improvements at 228 W. Main Street, La Porte, Texas, in an amount not to
exceed $138,510.00 or a Mutual Rescission and Release Agreement between
the La Porte Development Corporation and R. Favorite Things, LLC. [Haley
Bowers, Economic Development Manager]
Mrs. Bowers provided an update. Chair Ojeda moved to approve a Mutual
Rescission and Release Agreement between the La Porte Development
Corporation and R Favorite Things, LLC in connection with a project for building
and site improvements at 228 W. Main Street, La Porte, Texas; Member Gerrish
seconded the motion; the motion was adopted, 6-0.
h. Panacea Shipping Company Inc. - Amended and Restated Agreement -
Presentation, discussion, and possible action to approve an amended and
restated Incentive Agreement between the La Porte Development
Corporation and Panacea Shipping Company, Inc. in connection with project
for building and site improvements at 311 N. Broadway Street, La Porte,
Texas, in an amount not to exceed $10,406.25. [Haley Bowers, Economic
Development Manager]
Mrs. Bowers provided an overview. Member Gerrish moved to approve an
amended and restated Incentive Agreement between the La Porte Development
Corporation and Panacea Shipping Company, Inc. in connection with project for
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building and site improvements at 311 N. Broadway Street, La Porte, Texas, in an
amount not to exceed $10,406.25; Member Earp seconded the motion; the motion
was adopted, 6-0.
4. EXECUTIVE SESSION
a. Texas Government Code Sec. 551.071(1)(A)-Pending or Contemplated
Litigation - The Board of Directors will meet in closed session with the City
Attorney, City Manager, and Economic Development Manager to discuss
claim associated with termination of incentive agreement between the La
Porte Development Corporation and Shelley Whalen on behalf of
Dimensions Comics.
President Ojeda convened the board into executive session at 5:18 p.m.
5. RECONVENE
President Ojeda reconvened the board at 5:36 p.m. No action was taken.
6. STAFF REPORTS
Mrs. Bowers announced the City had held its first SBA sessions of the year, on small
business development and would be hosting an upcoming Texas Downtown Regional
Roundtable on February 20, 2026, and noted she would be attending the ICSC Red
River convention in San Antonio next week.
7. SET NEXT MEETING - Without objection, the next meeting was set for March 23,
2026.
8. BOARD COMMENTS - Members thanked Mrs. Bowers for her work and requested
an update on LPDC projects.
• D • URN - With ►g ut obiectio , resident Ojeda adjourned the meeting at 5:40 p.m.
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