Department of Economic Development Records

The Economic Development Department serves to promote the City of Denton’s local businesses with recruitment, retention, and expansion support as a community service. It is responsible for the creation of over 7200 jobs since 1999 due to the inception of its incentive program, in which the City invested $16.5 million in tax-related incentives. Denton earned a 300 percent return for all the incentives awarded. Economic services include developing proposals for industrial prospects, administration and coordination of the City enterprise zones programs, development of economic incentive programs, production of the City Fact Book, coordination of employee relocation programs, the compilation and distribution of community statistics and information, and working with the Denton County Historical Commission and Texas Landmark Commission for preservation.

The department also works with international businesses and governments through Sister Cities International for economic development partnerships. Sister Cities International was founded by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 to unite diplomats and volunteers across the globe, creating mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation between cultures. In previous years, Denton City Officials have traveled to the Nuevo Leon region of Mexico as part of the program and hosted delegates for festivals such as the Cinco de Mayo and Fuego de Alma celebrations. Additional international relations such as the Japan-Grassroots Conference, University of North Texas trip to Brazil, and the International Law Enforcement Program have been sponsored for economic development.

Downtown Denton established the Denton Main Street Program through the Economic Development Department in 1989 and was named a Texas Certified Main Street in 1990. The program is managed by the Denton Main Street Association, a non-profit organization funded by sponsorships, memberships, grants, and volunteers. Through a low interest loan program cosponsored with downtown’s First State Bank, free design assistance from the Texas Main Street architect and a 50 percent tax abatement over 10 years from the City to anyone who purchased a locally designated historic building, the program was able to support the improvement of more than 94 downtown structures. The association now hosts many City events and festivals each year including Wassail Weekend, the Denton Black Film Festival, and the Thin Red Line Fest. The Denton Main Street has instilled its partners to bridge differences, find commonalities and work together for a joint cause.

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Dane, Suzanne G. Main Street Success Stories. Washington, D.C.: National Main Street Center, National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1997.

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City of Denton Annual Program of Services. Public Affairs, 2018

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City of Denton Annual Program of Services. Paul Lehrer and Word Processing, 1990

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Sister Cities International, https://sistercities.org/about-us/, 2020

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Economic Development Partnership, https://dentonedp.com/about-us/denton-facts, 2020

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Denton Main Street, https://www.dentonmainstreet.org/about

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City of Denton: Economic Development https://www.cityofdenton.com/en-us/business/economic-development