Laserfiche WebLink
Paris Economic Development Corporation <br />Meeting Minutes <br />February 8, 2011 <br />Board Members <br />Staff <br />Steve Gilbert <br />Present: Pike Burkhart, Sr. <br />Present: <br />Shannon Barrentine <br />Doug Wehrman <br />Chad Brown <br />Dan Smith <br />Rick Poston <br />Ex- officio Members <br />Guest(s) <br />Present: Mindy Moree <br />Present: <br />Connie Beard, The Paris News <br />Gene Anderson <br />Fred Green, Wbi Incubator Director <br />Judge Superville <br />Will Biard <br />Legal <br />City Council <br />Counsel: Kent McIlyar <br />Liaison(s): <br />Edwin Pickle <br />John Wright <br />Pike Burkhart, called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m. Pike welcomed those present. <br />Minutes from the January 12, 2011 were approved, as submitted, by a motion from Dan Smith; <br />seconded by Rick Poston. Motion Carried 5 -0. <br />Financial reports for January, 2011 were approved, as submitted, by a motion from Dan Smith; <br />seconded by Rick Poston. Motion Carried 5 -0. <br />Steve Gilbert apologized for the volume of information that he had provided the board, but would <br />appreciate them taking the time to review and possibly discuss in the near future, i.e., Best Practices for <br />Recruiting Water -using Industries; Facts regarding Tijuana, Mexico's industry base; Flip Chart notes of <br />the Strategic Planning meeting that was held on January 12, 2011; Cultural District Designation Program <br />by the City of Paris; Richardson, Texas' Home Improvement Tax Incentive Program, and the RFP by <br />Workforce Solutions of Northeast Texas for Development of Diversity Training Program. <br />Director's Report: <br />• Steve thanked Rachel Schory for her work on producing the "Best Practices for Recruiting <br />Water -using Industries" data. <br />• Strategic Planning meeting of January 12, 2011. Discussion took place as to how to keep <br />moving this process forward. It was agreed to send the flip chart notes of that meeting to all <br />invitees, via email. <br />• Conducted a very productive Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) visit with Direct <br />Energy. Future BREs: AgPro, Paris Regional Medical Center, Magnum Engines and <br />possibly PJ Trailers new owner Tom Keene. <br />• Lamar County Days in Austin is April 5' through 6'. <br />• Emerging Projects: Extreme EZ, Atom Bender, TDK West, Axis and Taste Bud. <br />