Brownsboro's Economic Development Corporation is preparing for the first time since its creation about five years ago to allocate funds for improvements at City Park.

"On our half-cent sales tax, we just finally got enough money to help somebody or to do something," EDC board member Dusty Wise said. "We're going to help Keep Brownsboro Beautiful with City Park, and we're going to put up an EDC Web site."

Plans for the park include a second softball field, walking trail, playground equipment, and kitchen equipment for the concession area of the pavilion. KBB is seeking private donations.

for the playground equipment and landscaping for the project, the cost of which is expected to reach $100,000.

More than $300 was raised in December for the initiative when 326 customers included a $1 optional donation on their Brownsboro water bills.

The organization is entering its second year. Last December, after publicly asking for donations to buy materials for a new nativity scene, enough money was raised to display the new nativity on State Highway 31 by Christmas. The cost for that project was $1,300.

A board for City Park was formed in October, and members conducted their first meeting in November.

Brownsboro's EDC is governed by a seven-member board of directors. The Texas Development Corporation Act provides it may use revenue generated from its half-cent sales tax to "give communities an opportunity to undertake a project for quality-of-life improvements," such as athletic and tourism facilities, public parks, infrastructure, and affordable housing.

"The state governs a lot about what we can and can't do with that money," Wise said. "It's got to go into something you think will generate jobs or tax revenue in the community.

“It's still a learning process, but we think our first major deal is helping Keep Brownsboro Beautiful on the park."

The EDC has generated about $125,000, Wise said.

"We have empty buildings here in Brownsboro we need to fill," he said. "And we want someone to get into (Piggy's) restaurant over here. Retail business of any kind is where we are going to build our tax base. Maybe we'll get a small industry here one day, but we need to start something now."

Randal Clayton, Greg Wyatt, Brenda Richardson, John Doud, Jerry Alexander and Carol Mayfield also serve on the EDC board on staggering two- and fouryear terms.

The board is scheduled to meet on the first Monday of each month, at 6:30 p.m., at City Hall.