City of Brownwood staff attended the Innovating Commerce Serving Communities (ICSC) Red River Conference February 17th-18th in San Antonio to gain information regarding the most current industry issues, as well as to make crucial connections with real estate professionals doing business in the region. ICSC’s mission statement explains the organization’s purpose is to promote marketplaces where people shop, dine, work, and play as foundational ingredients of communities and economies.
The City of Brownwood has been represented at ICSC for many years in an effort to recruit retail businesses to the community to increase sales tax, which enables the City to continue to provide essential services, improve Parks, develop the Downtown Brownwood area, and more. City of Brownwood officials set up in 2011 as their inaugural year at the conference. In 2026, the City of Brownwood was represented by Assistant Director of Economic Development and Tourism Amy Whitmer, Deputy City Manager Ray Tipton, and City Manager Marshal McIntosh.
The City of Brownwood has seen a rapid increase in development in the last few years bringing a 47% increase in sales tax revenue in the last decade. 2025 marked a new record high year for sales tax collection within the City limits of Brownwood, Texas.
During the conference, City representatives met with developers and fostered relationships with new and existing brokers, potential retail clients, and retail industry professionals.
A continued focus on retail as a pipeline of future projects is being created. City of Brownwood currently has the Shops on Commerce including new tenant mix of Ross, Ulta Beauty, Five Below, Bath & Body Works and James Avery under construction. The new retail development located at 537 W. Commerce and will include more than 41,000 square feet of new retail space, and will represent a capital investment of over $9 million. This development will add to Brownwood’s growing slate of national developments that have opened in the last few years including TJ Maxx, Shoe Department Encore, Home2 Suites, Panda Express, 7 Brew Coffee, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Boot Barn, Chick-fil-A and many others.
ICSC is one example of the City of Brownwood and Brownwood Municipal Development District leveraging their partnerships to improve the community through common strategic goals.
To learn more about the business advantages in Brownwood, visit: www.brownwoodbusiness.com or contact the Brownwood Municipal Development District at 325-646-9600.