Brownwood News – The Brownwood Municipal Development District Board met on Tuesday, May 19 with Board President Daniel Hutson presiding.

The BMDD has issued a survey of local businesses, asking what they need, as businesses are allowed to re-open.  The survey is not complete, responses are still coming in.  So far, most businesses are saying that they are OK for now, the PPP (Payroll Protection Program) has kept them going, but they are not sure about the future.  BMDD is working to develop an assistance program for local businesses, depending on what needs are identified through the survey.

In other news, site work has begun on the new Chick-Fil-A Restaurant on East Commerce, in the site of the former Skillet’s Restaurant.  Demolition of the Skillet’s building may begin as early as Thursday of this week.

Construction of the new hotel on East Commerce, behind Studebaker’s Restaurant, Home2 Suites by Hilton, is expected to begin in autumn 2020.

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Other highlights from the meeting are as follows:

• Loan and Incentive payments were made in April to:  Hendrick Medical Center (new clinic being built on East Commerce); Chick-Fil-A (new restaurant being built on East Commerce); and LeeCo (owner of Shoppes on Pecan Bayou Shopping Center, on East Commerce).
• Building Improvement Incentive Grant payments were made to:  The Hen House, Intermission Books, and Stephen McCrane, all owning buildings in downtown Brownwood.
• BMDD sales tax collections for the month of March were down 4.1%
• Brown County unemployment rate in March was 5.5%.  852 unemployment claims were filed in March, compared to a normal range of 550-600.
• Total Unemployment claims in Brown County related to COVID-19, March through May-to-date:  3009.

BMDD has also budgeted $100,000 for downtown improvements.  Under consideration are improvements to Pat Coursey Park (corner of Center Ave and Baker St), and deep-cleaning the brickwork intersections downtown.

(story by Mike Blagg)