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EXAS � O' MIC IDEVEILOPM t C � I� OR STI rip ra 115 r r :rr i r Reach rac 1 i 11 l'y'.jl°„ Ms. Hammond reported that from 2020 to 2025, Lamar County's population increased by 3.62 percent, while the City of Paris experienced growth of 0.73 percent. She stated that total employment in Paris increased by 1,773 jobs since 2020, representing a 10.4 percent increase. She noted that Paris is outperforming most similarly sized rural markets, with only Sherman and Sulphur Springs showing stronger growth. She stated that Paris exceeded job growth in Denison, Marshall, Lufkin, Kilgore, Mount Pleasant, and Bonham. Ms. Hammond explained that employment growth is currently outpacing population growth within city limits and noted that aligning housing capacity with job creation will be an important strategic focus moving forward. Ms. Hammond also reported that manufacturing employment increased by 30.3 percent during the same period, reinforcing the community's competitive position in the manufacturing sector. She stated that the city has maintained an unemployment rate near 4 percent, indicating a tight labor market and reinforcing the importance of workforce development and housing availability as strategic priorities. Ms. Hammond further reported that average wages increased by approximately 22 percent over the past five years. Finally, she noted that city sales tax revenue has increased by 37.5 percent since 2020. Hammond concluded this portion of her report by explaining that these indicators provide important context for the Board. She noted that job growth is exceeding residential growth within the city, creating an opportunity to capture more of the workforce as residents. She then transitioned to a review of projects supported by the EDC over the past five years. Hammond reported that from 2020 through 2025, the Paris Economic Development Corporation supported 16 companies representing a combined capital investment of approximately $571.5 million. These projects accounted for 1,985 direct jobs created and retained and more than $102 million in annual payroll. She further reported that when modeled over a ten-year period, these projects are estimated to generate approximately $5.4 billion in total economic output and support 2,775 jobs with approximately $1.3 billion in total labor income. This estimate includes the jobs, payroll, output, and tax revenues associated with the companies assisted by the PEDC, as well as secondary impacts at other local businesses. Hammond noted that these outcomes represent a measurable return on the quarter -cent sales tax administered by the PEDC and Board on behalf of the community. She added that the community's economic development foundation is stronger today than it was five years ago due to disciplined Page 4 of 7