During Tuesday afternoon’s meeting of the Brownwood Municipal Development District Board of Directors, updates were provided by BMDD Executive Director Ray Tipton on upcoming projects.

Of note, Home2 Suites – extended stay hotel suites by Hilton – is expected to break ground on its facility in March. The hotel will be located behind Studebaker’s and in front of Big Lots and Tractor Supply on Commerce.

Regarding the Food Plaza under construction at Austin and Coggin, the City of Brownwood has completed sewer line work. No date on completion was provided.

“Like any construction project, getting supplies, getting labor is just slowing everything down,” Tipton told the board. “I don’t know of a construction project in town that’s on time right now.”

Common Grounds at the Firehouse is preparing to pave its parking lot, but a utility pole with a guy-wire stands where the drive-through exit is located, so Oncor must first move the pole. TxDOT will also be reconfiguring the intersection at Austin and Main, which will result in new sidewalks at the Common Grounds location.

Lampasas Trucking has purchased property in the Industrial District near FM 45. Lampasas Trucking, according to its official website, provides trucking services including equipment hauling and general trucking services. The Lampasas location includes a full-service one stop crane operation, a full-service trucking business and a high-speed cement batch plant.

A plasma center is going in next to the KFC location

The City of Brownwood is continuing to discuss potential incentives regarding the Brownwood Hotel, and city officials intend to visit the Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells soon. While there, city officials will visit with the City of Mineral Wells regarding how its incentive package was determined.

On the downtown front, Fuzzy’s Tacos, Lucille and Mabel’s, and Primal Brewing are all expected to open in the next two to three months.

Regarding the event center project, the sidewalk and lighting around the Brownwood Coliseum are complete. Bids are being received for Phase I and Phase II of the event center project. Bids are expected to be opened Feb. 15 and within 30 days bids should be approved. The Ice House slab demolition is expected to be completed this week.

Also, an announcement is expected soon on a new business coming to Commerce Square. No additional details were provided.