WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS APPROVE ECONOMIC INCENTIVES FOR CHICK-FIL-A IN BRENHAM

  

Chick-fil-A is officially on its way to Brenham.

Washington County Commissioners at their meeting today (Tuesday) voted 4-1 to approve an economic development agreement between the county and Brenham CFA Series, LLC to build a full-service restaurant in the Brenham Market Square development, located on the north side of Highway 290 between Cantey Street and Chappell Hill Street.

Brenham | Washington County Economic Development Director Susan Cates said the project will benefit both the city and the county by generating “significant sales tax revenue.”

 

Through the agreement, a total of $250,000 will be contributed by the county, City of Brenham and Brenham Community Development Corporation (BCDC) to help the developer, Lisciotti Development Corporation, offset increased supply and construction costs.  That includes $150,000 from the BCDC through sales tax dollars, along with $50,000 apiece from the county and the city.

Cates estimates the county’s investment will pay off in less than two years, based on projected sales tax revenue from the project in addition to property taxes.  She said this development is a $2.5 million investment in the community.

 

Cates predicts the restaurant will open in around six months.

Commissioner Kirk Hanath voted against the economic development agreement.  He said he is not opposed to bringing a Chick-fil-A to town, but was not in favor of using an economic incentive agreement to do so.  He believes the county’s investment should go toward the manufacturing industry instead of retail, as manufacturing “has a longer effect on our community in terms of economic development.”  He said, “We need to be a self-sustaining economy, and manufacturing does that for us.”