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Doing Business in The Hill
Radio Free Liberty Hill is telling the stories
of Liberty Hill businesses.
Want your business featured here?
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2118 Scenic Drive, Georgtown
(512) 868-9800
Downtown Liberty Hill
Proprietor: Diana Kipfer
Jewelry and art studio offering classes in jewelry making and painting.
1402 Chisholm Trail Road, Suite D
Round Rock, TX 78681
(512) 388-7774
Proprietors: Karen Holrath, Twylia Baker
Band instrument repair with pick-up and delivery to Liberty Hill schools.
512.731.6893
Liberty Hill, TX
Proprietors: Gene and Jennifer Pollastro
One-on-one tutoring in your home. Grades K-12. All subjects. Free Consultation.
512.515.6226
12701 W. SH 29, Suite 3
Liberty Hill, TX 78642
Proprietor: David Pope
An Independent Agency
specializing in Personal, Commercial, Health and Life Insurance.
512.778.9118
PO Box 238
Liberty Hill, TX 78642
Proprietor: Darryl Lee
Van charter transportation.
Offering airport shuttles, day trips for groups and families, special events, shopping excursions and Hill Country winery tours.
DigiTex Printing
512.778.9191
10610 SH 29
Liberty Hill, TX 78642
Proprietor: Richard Tulp
Printing and copying services.
Call or stop by for a free quote.
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512.515.7624
14251 W. SH 29, Suite B
Liberty Hill, TX 78642
Proprietor: Shelly Wilkison
Professional website development.
Designing websites that are making a difference in our community by helping local businesses and organizations reach more of our neighbors.
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Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce
512.548.6343
Mission Statement:
"The Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce exists to promote the development of the Liberty Hill business community and to enhance the economic well being of our community and citizens."
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Heavily traveled highways through Liberty Hill
may be best lure for new business
(Posted: Nov. 29, 2009)
Liberty Hill's location may be its biggest asset when it comes to attracting new business.
At a recent meeting of the City's Economic Development Corporation, members brainstormed about how to entice new businesses to the area and discussed the type of businesses they would like to see here. The discussion was prompted by questions from the EDC Board's newest appointed member, George Nassour.
Nassour, who is second in command at the Liberty Hill Police Department, is Vice President of GRAM Traffic Counting, a corporation owned by his family. The business, which has 34 employees and offices in five Texas cities, conducts traffic surveys for businesses and government agencies, including the Texas Department of Transportation.
Nassour said many of his business clients are restaurants that look to his company to conduct traffic surveys prior to selecting a location for a new business.
Nassour, who attended his first EDC Board meeting Nov. 12th after being appointed to the Board by the City Council in September, asked his colleagues what type of businesses they would like to see come to Liberty Hill, and whether the City has any incentives in place to help attract them here.
"The way to do it is if you run across someone who expresses an interest in locating here, they should tell us what (incentives) they want and the Council will decide," said EDC President Ken Cousins.
"I've seen developers make deals with cities for all kinds of things," Cousins said. "For example, if a developer wants to put in an office building and the City is needing office space, the City can commit to leasing office space in that building."
"People want something," he said. "The City doesn't have any land to offer, but it can agree to tax abatements as location incentives."
Liz Rundzieher, a member of the City Council who also serves on the EDC Board, said she thought a hotel would do well in Liberty Hill along the heavily-traveled SH 29. Nassour said he thought a 24-hour restaurant would also do well, especially near the Seward Junction intersection where he says as many as 10 tractor-trailer trucks park every night at the Wag-A-Bag convenience store.
"We do have some people talking about building a motel, and they aren't asking for anything," said Mayor Pro Tem Charles Canady, who also serves on the EDC Board.
Canady said the EDC Board should consider contributing funds toward the installation of a sewer interceptor line along Highway 183 near Seward Junction. Canady said having sewer service in that area will make the entire area more attractive to businesses looking to take advantage of the high traffic at the highway's intersection with SH 29. He said the Council will ask the EDC in early 2010 to help fund the interceptor line.
Canady fielded questions about business growth from members of the Liberty Hill Chamber of Commerce during their monthly membershp luncheon a few days prior to the EDC meeting. Encouraged by the opening this month of Sonic Drive-In, local business owners wanted to know what the City is doing to attract new business to Liberty Hill. Canady discussed the importance of getting the interceptor line in place, and added that the City Planner regularly talks with businesses interested in locating in Liberty Hill.
In the past, the Chamber has requested the City pay the salary of an employee to man the downtown office of the Chamber of Commerce. Chamber President Zack Milam said the individual would assist with efforts to reach out to potential new business. The City provides the Chamber with an office at no expense to the organization, but the Council has not agreed to pay for an employee partly because the City Planner already has this responsibility.
Canady and his wife, Kathy Canady, who is chair of the City's Planning & Zoning Commission, told the Chamber that the City has been contacted by individuals interested in opening an assisted living center for senior citizens. Among other businesses making their way to Liberty Hill are CVS Pharmacy, HEB, and Bush's Fried Chicken. However, none of these have submitted site plans to the City, which must be done before construction can begin.
Downtown, where a parking shortage has become an issue in recent months, the Planning & Zoning Commission got Council approval last week to enter into negotiations with AT&T to build a parking lot on a portion of the property AT&T owns along RR 1869 and Loop 332. Mrs. Canady, who initiated the discussions with the corporation, said an additional 25 parking spaces will make a difference for downtown businesses and those who might be considering a move there.
Among the "incentives" requested by AT&T include connection of its equipment building on the property to city sewer at the City's expense, and advance approval of future expansions of the building. The company also requested to be listed as a permanent sponsor of all City events where the parking lot was utilized. While the City's attorney said some of the requests made by AT&T may not be feasible, Mrs. Canady said it's a starting place for negotiations. ( Read the Story)
"This is a place to start," Mrs. Canady said. "It may not end up just like this, but we've been talking about this for years. I'm excited that we finally got them (AT&T) to communicate with us (the City)."
"If we continue to grow and correctly position ourselves, as weak as our position is, we will have opportunities (to attract new business) as the economy begins to recover," Cousins said. "We ought to talk about this every meeting . After all this is what we're all about."
The EDC meets once each quarter. Meetings for 2010 have been set for Jan. 4, April 5, July 5 and Oct. 4.
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More to the Story...
Nassour says serving on EDC Board
with Council members not a conflict
 Liberty Hill Police Captain George Nassour says serving with Council members on the Economic Development Corporation's Board of Directors will not be a conflict for him.
Three members of the City Council will be seated at the same table with Nassour when he takes his position on the EDC Board in November.
While it might appear a bit unusual for an employee to serve on a city committee, City Attorney Kerry Russell says it's all legal.
"As long as the committee is not making decisions regarding the employee's pay, there is no conflict," Russell told Radio Free Liberty Hill recently.
Nassour said that city officials researched the issue before the Council voted to appoint him Sept. 28th.
When asked what he would do if he found himself in a situation where he disagreed with those Council members who make decisions regarding his pay and benefits, Nassour said he would not feel pressured to side with his bosses.
Nassour, who is second in command at the Liberty Hill Police Department, is Vice President of GRAM Traffic Counting, a corporation owned by his family. The business, which has 34 employees and offices in five Texas cities, conducts traffic surveys for businesses and government agencies, including the Texas Department of Transportation.
"I think I was chosen (for the EDC appointment) because of the contacts I have with businesses," he said. "I might be able to help bring some new businesses to the area."
Nassour said many of his business clients are restaurants that look to his company to conduct traffic surveys prior to selecting a location for a new business.
"I would like to see a 24-hour restaurant near the (Seward) Junction," he added.
Nassour said he was interested in serving on a committee because he wants to make Liberty Hill a better place. Because he resides outside the city limits, the EDC Board was the only appointment for which he was eligible.
Members of the City Council who also serve on the seven-member EDC Board are Mayor Pro Tem Charles Canady, Glen Gavin and Liz Rundzieher. Other members of the EDC Board are Ken Cousins, David Parker, and John Austin, who was also appointed Sept. 28. |
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