Denton Economic Development Partnership
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414 Parkway
P.O. Box 1719
Denton, TX 76202-1719
940.382.7151
940.243.9695 metro
940.382.0040 fax

Plan of Work

Downtown Development

Focus: Aesthetics & Amenities

  • Organizational / Administrative
    • Adopt a formal implementation structure to carry out downtown initiatives
    • Develop mechanism to evaluate projects
    • Develop and evaluate projects / funding
  • Downtown Plan Projects
    • Parking
    • Streets & Streetscape
    • Transit
    • Planning & Zoning
    • Amenities & Events
  • Business Development Projects
    • Retain & expand existing businesses
    • Attract new businesses

Action taken:

Since a Downtown Task Force was already in place, the EDP Board asked that the Task Force serve as the entity to carry out downtown initiatives and evaluate projects.

The following are some suggested projects and what has occurred to date:

  • Possible parking structure sites identified
  • Streetscapes funding – Cedar Street will be the first (this fall)
  • Transit center site identified; funding for purchase and some construction provided
  • Planning Department developing an Infill Policy
  • Business Retention program enhanced
  • Building and site inventories are being created
  • Plans for the establishment of a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District are underway
  • Plans for implementing incentives for downtown development are underway
  • Five catalyst projects have been identified

Business Park Development

Focus: Identification of sites that could: 1) leverage significant private investment, 2) develop rapidly with minimal negative impacts and 3) fit well with the city's overall comprehensive plan

  • Identify at least 4 potential business park development sites
  • Identify action items for development for each site
  • Create a marketing plan to promote the sites for development

Action taken:

The partnership has always been interested in the development of a business park(s).

  • 4 sites were primarily identified; today, we have 31 sites in our inventory
  • A Business Park Opportunities brochure has been printed that gives site and contact information for each site
  • Granite Point is our newest business park which will consist of 980,000 square feet at build out
  • We are in the application process for the establishment of a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ)

UNT Research Park

Focus: To partner with UNT in the development and marketing/promotion of Research Park

  • Identify infrastructure needs
  • Development of a strategic plan
  • Identify business sector targets
  • Develop incubator plan
  • Market the Park

Action taken:

  • Infrastructure needs are in place for the southern 2/3 of the site. The north 1/3 is raw land and may be a while before water and sewer are available.
  • The University has prepared a master plan for the area that may include housing for Engineering students, a hotel, sites for businesses that partner with UNT.
  • Right now, business targets are basically those that work or can work with the Engineering program as well as biological engineering or environmental engineering. These are future engineering schools.
  • The incubator plan has met some roadblocks but it's still something they'd like to do.
  • Recently, we've talked to UNT about creating an economic development marketing piece for the Park.

Image and Marketing

Focus: Develop an image and marketing campaign to promote Denton both internally and externally

  • Internal and external survey
  • Develop a brand
  • Develop marketing strategy and goals

Action taken:

  • An image and marketing committee was formed and in 2004, we hired a consultant to conduct research on Denton's internal and external perceptions and find optimum branding and positioning among several audiences.
  • In Sept of 2005, the North of Ordinary tag line or a branding theme was selected.
  • The North of Ordinary marketing campaign was rolled out at the Chamber annual banquet in March, 2006
  • Internal and external marketing goals were identified
  • Transitioned existing marketing materials into new North of Ordinary campaign
  • Produced 9 new marketing pieces
  • Placed advertising in trade publications
  • Participating in trade shows
  • Began the process for promoting Denton as a medical destination through the Denton MD campaign

Organizational structure

Focus: Define areas of focus and commitment between Chamber and City

  • Organizational / Administrative
    • Establish organizational plan
    • Create Economic Development Partnership Board

Action taken:

  • The City Council formally adopted the Partnership Plan in May 2003 and in September appointed EDP Board members from these areas.
  • The Board was charged with oversight of implementation of the plan and began by forming task forces to work on each area.
  • The Board of Directors of the Economic Development Partnership is Board appointed by the City Council and consists of representatives from the following:
    • (2) Chamber board members
    • (2) City council members
    • (2) Top 20 taxpayers
    • (1) University of North Texas (UNT)