At a Dickinson Economic Development Corporation meeting, EDC staff said they have submitted roughly $2.5 million in reimbursement requests for the Water Street parking garage but that payments and communications from the U.S. Economic Development Administration have been interrupted by the federal government shutdown.

EDC staff member Dave Coker said, “we have reimbursement requests in for roughly 2 and a half million dollars to date,” and that “our emails are getting kicked back… shut down, and unable to view or respond to any of our requests.” He told the board staff is contacting the EDA several times a week and does not expect special leniency for delays.

Why it matters: the EDA reimbursements cover a substantial portion of the garage work and a prolonged interruption could leave the city with immediate cash needs or force contingency decisions.

Coker gave construction details: site drainage and utilities are being installed, the detention pond is complete, and the building pad is roughly 60% finished. He said Flintco and EDC staff are coordinating billing to reach the reimbursement thresholds the EDA requires. “When we submit a request for a million dollars… we get reimbursed at 66%,” Coker said, adding that to capture $3,000,000 in grant-eligible expenses the city needs to invoice roughly $4.3 million in payments first.

On risk, Coker said staff is preparing an exposure and contingency assessment—showing contractual obligations, timing scenarios and what would happen if funds were delayed or denied. He estimated that additional submittals of roughly $2–3 million remain to be billed and that the city’s exposure could be large if federal reimbursements were cut.

Park View permitting: Coker reported ongoing negotiations with Alliance Residential over permits and final plat procedures. He said the project currently requires 14 separate permits and about 3,000 pages of permit review. Alliance had requested issuance of the final plat only after all permits were complete; EDC staff said they will withhold final plat in that situation and are negotiating a path forward with community development and the city attorney.

Bayou Village / ‘‘Body Village’’ athletic development: Coker detailed business‑recruitment work on a multiuse athletic and retail development for Bayou Village, including an investor site visit scheduled for Oct. 21 (date provided by staff). He said the EDC has held feasibility and layout sessions with an operator partner, met with national facility operators, and is tracking retail demand and hotel needs related to proposed youth athletics venues.

Coker summarized market data given to the EDC: a gap between local retail demand and current supply, an 88% retail leakage rate in some categories, and a full‑service dining demand figure of about $25.5 million versus current full‑service sales of roughly $3 million. He said national consultants suggested athletic venues could draw roughly 4,000 youth per week (not including accompanying adults) and that youth‑sports economic activity has grown in national analyses (staff cited historical estimates: 2021 about $36.9 billion; 2025 about $56 billion; 2028 about $65.1 billion; and a long‑range estimate to 2035 of $154.5 billion). Coker noted those figures include differing scopes (direct fees vs. ancillary spending) and said a final industry report was still pending.

Staff identified business‑intelligence tools discussed for retail recruitment, naming a product staff called PlaceSure AI, and said additional retail pad sites are being targeted along FM 517 and at the Bayou Village 14‑ and 58‑acre parcels. Brad Elmore, the project developer, was cited by staff as confident the projects will proceed.

Public‑safety planning: Board member Matt Savatier asked whether police and EMS had been engaged to plan for staffing and on‑site requirements at large athletic events. Coker said he would bring the question to those departments and start conversations about potential overtime, ambulance needs and officer presence as venues advance.

Next steps: staff will continue coordinating with Flintco and the EDA on reimbursements, negotiate permitting timing with Alliance Residential, host the investor visit on Oct. 21, and schedule a joint EDC–city council workshop on Bayou Village later in October pending council confirmation.