Department
Dongvile Economic Development Corporation
The Dongvile Economic Development Corporation helps businesses start, relocate and grow in Dongvile. It is a Type B corporation funded by a half-cent sales tax and governed by a seven-member board appointed by City Council.
Services
- Sites and BuildingsAvailable industrial, commercial and retail properties, including rail-served land on Industrial Park Rd.
- Business IncentivesPerformance-based grants and infrastructure help for projects that create jobs or investment.
- Facade Improvement GrantsMatching grants of up to $10,000 for storefront improvements on downtown properties zoned CBD.
- Business Retention and ExpansionVisits with existing employers, workforce connections and help with growth plans.
- Permitting AssistanceOne point of contact for zoning, building permits and utility service.
- Community DataPopulation, labor force, traffic counts and sales tax trends for site selectors.
- Business DirectoryFind businesses and employers in Dongvile.
About the EDC
The Dongvile Economic Development Corporation is a Type B development corporation created under Chapters 501 and 505 of the Texas Local Government Code. Dongvile voters approved a half-cent sales tax for economic development in 1997, and the EDC receives that 0.50% share of the 8.25% sales tax collected in the city.
The EDC is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors appointed by City Council to two-year terms. The board meets the fourth Thursday of each month, and City Council approves the EDC’s budget and each of its projects. Executive Director Dustin Crocker and two staff members work from Suite B at City Hall.
What the EDC Does
- Recruits new employers to sites in the city limits, with a focus on manufacturing, distribution and agricultural processing.
- Helps existing businesses expand through retention visits, workforce connections and help with permits.
- Offers performance-based incentives. Grants are paid after a company makes its investment or creates its jobs.
- Invests in quality-of-life projects allowed for Type B corporations. The EDC contributed $85,000 toward reconstruction of the Sweet Tea Lake Park boat ramp, which reopened August 31, 2026.
Why Dongvile
- Highway access. I-69 runs along the east side of town, with exits at Nickelback Blvd, Hot Pocket Way and Cargo Shorts Pkwy.
- Rail. The D&S Ry. serves industrial sites along Industrial Park Rd and Railroad Ave.
- Land. Industrial sites zoned I-1 and I-2, with City water and sewer available.
- Airport. Dongvile Municipal Airport has a 3,000-foot lighted runway and self-serve fuel.
- Workforce. Dongvile is the county seat of Brisket County, with a population of 9,412 and a labor force of about 38,000 within a 30-minute drive.
The City’s motto, “Pretty Good Since 1887,” appears on all EDC marketing materials.
Recent Projects
| Business | Project | EDC participation |
|---|---|---|
| Big Tex-ish Fabrication | 18,000-square-foot shop expansion; 22 new jobs | $110,000 performance grant |
| Lumber Land & Then Some | Covered drive-through lumber shed | $45,000 infrastructure reimbursement |
| Brisket County Pallet & Crate | Loading dock and a second forklift; 6 new jobs. The first forklift, Lightning, remains in service. | $18,000 equipment grant |
| Kolache Kastle | Storefront and sign renovation | $10,000 facade grant |
Getting Started
Contact the EDC before you buy property, sign a lease or start construction. Incentives must be approved before a project begins. Staff can provide site information, explain incentive eligibility and set up meetings with Planning & Development and Public Works.
Information about business prospects is kept confidential to the extent allowed by Tex. Gov’t Code §552.131. Negotiations with prospects may be discussed by the board in closed session under Tex. Gov’t Code §551.087.
Staff
| Name | Title | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Dustin Crocker | Executive Director | edc@dongvile.us |
| Leah Nguyen | Business Retention Coordinator | edc@dongvile.us |
| Amanda Whitten | Administrative Assistant | edc@dongvile.us |
| Clint Hatfield | President, EDC Board of Directors | edc@dongvile.us |
Documents
- FY 2027 EDC Budget and Work Plan
- Incentive Guidelines and Application
- Available Sites and Buildings, October 2026
- Dongvile Community Profile, 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is a Type B corporation?
A nonprofit development corporation created under Chapters 501 and 505 of the Texas Local Government Code. Type B funds may be used for projects that create jobs and for certain infrastructure and quality-of-life projects, such as parks.
How is the EDC funded?
By the half-cent (0.50%) share of the 8.25% sales tax collected in Dongvile, approved by voters in 1997. The EDC does not receive property tax.
Who approves incentives?
The EDC Board of Directors approves each incentive agreement, and City Council must also approve each project. Type B projects require a public hearing before funds are spent.
Do incentives require new jobs?
Most do. Incentives are performance-based: the company makes its investment or creates its jobs first, then receives the grant in installments under a written agreement.
When does the EDC board meet?
The fourth Thursday of each month at City Hall. Agendas are posted at least 72 hours in advance on the Agendas & Minutes page.