Economic Development
Strategy & Consulting
Helping Texas cities attract investment, retain employers, build tax base, and design the incentive frameworks and public-private partnerships that drive sustainable community growth — without adding full-time staff.
Economic development is one of the highest-impact roles a city government plays — and one of the most under-resourced. Many Texas cities lack dedicated economic development staff, and those that do often need external strategic support to compete with larger municipalities for business attraction, workforce investment, and federal funding. Connor Resource Associates brings executive-level economic development strategy to cities of all sizes, on a fractional or project basis that fits your budget.
City Managers
Administrators who need an economic development strategy but lack a dedicated ED department or the staff capacity to develop one internally.
Economic Development Corporations
Type A and Type B EDCs seeking strategic planning, project management, and grant writing support to maximize their sales tax funding.
Mayors & Councils
Elected officials who want to understand what economic development tools are available to their city and how to use them responsibly.
Small & mid-size cities
Communities under 50,000 that are growing, facing development pressure, or trying to attract or retain a major employer.
Economic Development Strategic Plan
A comprehensive multi-year roadmap aligning your city's growth priorities with actionable programs, targets, and funding strategies.
Business Attraction & Retention
Frameworks for recruiting new businesses, retaining existing employers, and competing for site selection in your target industries.
Incentive Policy Development
Design and analysis of Texas Chapter 380/381 agreements, tax abatements, TIRZ structures, and performance-based incentive frameworks.
Public-Private Partnerships
Structuring and negotiating P3 agreements for infrastructure, housing, downtown development, and community facilities.
Downtown & Corridor Revitalization
Strategies for activating downtown districts, supporting small businesses, improving placemaking, and attracting mixed-use investment.
Economic Development Grant Writing
Federal and state grant proposals for workforce development, infrastructure, broadband, and community economic growth programs.
Texas economic development tools we work with
Texas provides cities with a powerful set of economic development tools. Connor Resource Associates helps City Managers and EDC directors understand, design, and responsibly deploy each of these instruments.
Community & market analysis
We evaluate your city's existing assets, industry base, workforce, infrastructure, and competitive position relative to peer communities in your region.
Strategy development
We develop a targeted economic development strategy — defining priority industries, incentive frameworks, partnership structures, and a realistic action plan.
Tools & execution support
We assist with drafting agreements, writing grant applications, facilitating stakeholder sessions, and preparing council presentations for adoption.
Performance measurement
We establish metrics, reporting frameworks, and annual review processes so your council can track economic development outcomes and adjust strategy over time.
No full-time staff required
We deliver the expertise of a seasoned economic development professional on a fractional basis — giving your city big-city capability at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.
Texas-specific expertise
Deep familiarity with Texas economic development law — Chapter 380/381 agreements, TIRZ structures, Type A/B EDC authority, and the state's competitive incentive landscape.
Grant funding aligned
We connect economic development strategy directly to federal and state grant opportunities — so your strategy doesn't just identify what to do, it identifies how to pay for it.
Council-ready deliverables
Every engagement produces materials your council can review, adopt, and present to the public — transparent, documented, and built to withstand scrutiny.
"We were a growing city with developer interest we didn't know how to manage strategically. Connor Resource Associates helped us build a framework for evaluating incentive requests, understand our Chapter 380 authority, and position ourselves to compete for a distribution center that brought 200 jobs to our community. The investment in strategy paid for itself many times over."— City Manager, growing North Texas community
Ready to grow your community strategically?