NEDERLAND — A crash course on the ins and outs of the Nederland Economic Development Corporation brought forth information from strategic plans and how incentives work to funding sources, regional partnerships and the importance of a positive image.

The 2025 NEDC Forum, held Tuesday at First Baptist Church Nederland’s Fellowship Hall, is to be an annual event to inform the public on NEDC projects and more.

Kay DeCuir, executive director of the NEDC, said the organization was formed in 1996 as a nonprofit and is a Type B organization. This type of organization is for cities with 20,000 or less population and those classified as landlocked. This mission is to enhance the “quality of life in Nederland by attracting and growing primary retail and industry jobs, increasing sales tax revenue, increasing property tax revenue, while leveraging community investment, supporting a positive business climate,and promoting and assisting businesses.”

The NEDC receives funding from a portion of the city’s sales tax for projects. They do not control property tax but helps bring businesses that contribute to property tax. 

The organization has several pots of funding.  They budget $120,000 for PRIDE grants for beautification projects with grants of $5,000 to $10,000 for specific projects. Cost Business Analysis Incentive which are larger grants over $10,000 for businesses creating a large amount of jobs, moving to Nederland,expanding their current service or product offerings, and other stipulations. 

The NEDC sets $75,000 annually for disaster loans to help businesses get back on their feet after a disaster such as a hurricane or other catastrophic event. 

“When COVID hit and no one could get out and go to the store, some of the stores, they were very scared,” DeCuir said, adding the businesses were advised to reduce inventory as opposed to adding more inventory. “What we did was 0% interest for six months, and we offered them loans to help them continue to stay open, and at the end of the six months, they paid their loan back.”

Longtime businessman Robert Turner, president and CEO of JK Subaru, JK Chevrolet, and Turner Chevrolet Crosby, and a member of the Regional Economic Development Corporation, knows the importance of supporting businesses.

“All  boats rise in the tide. I don’t care if you got a little bitty boat or a bigger boat.  I want you to remember that all boats rise in the tide,” Turner said. “Everybody does better if the market does better.”

This approach shows how cities can benefit from each other. Larger cities such as Port Arthur may have the tools such as land and more to entice a business to locate there. Nederland can benefit from this as people will likely shop and eat there thus contributing to sales tax numbers.

“We sat down and figured out that if we could stop small communities from fighting each other over whatever was trying to come into this market, but instead work together and let them see a united front to the region,” he added. 

The forum featured a number of other speakers including Mike Roebuck, principal with The Echo Group and CEO of Echo Maintenance LLC, NEDC Finance Manager Cheryl Dowden, NEDC Attorney James Wimberly, Jessica Hill, Entergy Texas Inc., project manager, business and economic development, and a letter from Howell Furniture Co-Owner Shawn Atkins was read by NEDC Board President Anthony Toups.