Growth possibility in Diboll's future
By Jerry Gaulding Editor, Free Press

Economic growth prospects for Diboll are hampered by the proximity of Lufkin, but opportunities do exist for growth here, a consultant told Diboll City Council members last week.

The special called meeting of the council also saw modifications made to the city's alcohol ordinance. Deleted was a provision that allowed alcohol sales by an establishment that derives more than 50 percent of its sales from non-alcohol-related goods, a provision that affects mostly restaurants.

The ordinance also was amended to set a single 300- foot limit for alcohol sales in the vicinity of a church or school. Council may still grant a variance to that distance, but the former language granted more discretion to the council.

Consultant Joey Grisham, director of project development for The Retail Coach, a Granbury-based firm that studies retail industries, recommended several strategies through which Diboll could attract additional retail businesses.

Lufkin's nearness distorts Diboll's retail trade area. Diboll is much more likely to draw business from people living to the south, west and east of town rather than the north. Grisham's study identifies just more than 12,000 people in Diboll's primary trade area.

The city should "secure" property fronting U.S, 59 south of town to make availabl

for retail development. Grisham said retailers like to develop "power centers," with several businesses close together, to create destinations for shoppers who are not all looking for the same thing.

City officials should work with the Lufkin-Angelina County Economic Development Partnership to do several things:

• Recruit new industries and businesses to the city that would create good jobs.

• Develop an industrial park.

• Develop an information sheet to be posted on the Economic Development Partnership and city web sites to provide a community profile, spotlight available real estate sites and other pertinent information.

• Market the city at trade shows.

Grisham also encouraged the city to facilitate new residential development in the city to take advantage of Lufkin's strong growth in recent years. "This will help boost sales and property tax values, and attract new shoppers," his report noted.

Retirees can be an opportunity for growth, as well, Grisham noted. Lufkin has marketed itself as a "unique retirement community," he noted and Diboll is in an excellent position to benefit from that. Several million baby boomers will retire in the next few years, and affluent seniors, the types of people who move when they retire, tend to be free spenders.

Grisham stressed the need for the city to enforce city codes and ordinances. While Diboll is a clean and attractive city, his report noted that some structures facing 59 "are not serving their highest and best use."

Council members responded that the city is beginning efforts to demolish abandoned, dangerous structures and is issuing tickets for abandoned and derelict vehicles throughout the city.