Current and past council members have at times expressed disappointment with the company鈥檚 work to bring businesses to Zachary as well as communication about their activities.
The council, however, won鈥檛 get a say in whether to extend the contract again. That decision will be up to the mayor, who has described it as a 鈥渄ay-to-day operation鈥 not requiring a council vote.
If the contract is renewed, franchises will be a focus of Retail Strategies in Zachary.
Bailey said she hopes to organize an event connecting residents with companies offering franchise opportunities.
鈥淥ur biggest win is when somebody from Zachary opens a business here,鈥 she said.
Experiential retail and entertainment venues are another area with potential for growth in Zachary. Bailey offered to help the city create incentives such as an entertainment district, sales tax rebates or paying a portion of utility bills to entice retailers.
鈥淲e would be happy to strategize and workshop those ideas,鈥 Bailey said.
It鈥檚 important to attract businesses that will appeal to the many families with young children who have moved to Zachary for its top-rated schools, Councilwoman Brandy Westmoreland said.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e here for the school district 鈥 but we don鈥檛 have one thing for kids to do,鈥 she said.
Councilman James Graves said there should be plenty of opportunity for business growth in Zachary. He urged Retail Strategies to capitalize on the large trade area that Zachary anchors, noting that people from the Felicianas and even Mississippi regularly visit his barbershop.
鈥淧robably 15% of my customers come from Mississippi because it鈥檚 a main corridor in front of my business,鈥 he said. 鈥淭hey come to Zachary for three main reasons: because there鈥檚 a Home Depot, there鈥檚 a Walmart and there鈥檚 a place to pay their phone bill.鈥
