Following a review of the past year and update on the strategic plan progress, the Wood County Economic Development Commission heard a lengthy report on the just-completed Texas Street Art Festival. The commission is a sponsor.

Todd Witt, who helped steer the project for Wood County Walls and the Flint and Steel Coalition, is also a new WCEDC board member.

“We’re on to something here,” he said of the weeklong event which brought artists from around the country to paint new murals in Alba, Mineola, Quitman, Winnsboro and Yantis as well as Lake Fork, and one in Hawkins that had to be postponed.

He said the event has created a lot of energy including requests for more murals.

Next year’s event is tentatively planned for October 2024.

In the mean time Witt said a partnership with the UT-Tyler art department is in the works to create a center for excellence in the arts in Wood County, and WCW is looking for ways to purchase a location to house a museum to highlight the art.

Among the highlights of the past year, Executive Director Christine Thomas reviewed the marketing and branding efforts to promote the county, progress on expanding broadband internet to rural areas, partnering with educational institutions to expand career and technical education, awarding of grants from the hotel occupancy tax (the largest of which went to Wood County Walls), support of various tournaments including the Patriot Sporting Challenge, public presence by the health advisory committee and working with Jarvis Christian University on workforce initiatives.

The WCEDC supported two major projects, Thomas said, the planned memory life center in Quitman and expansion at the Wood County Airport.

She outlined the progress being made on the strategic plan for the county and noted that Bassmasters fishing tournament would be returning to the county in February 2024.

The county will be responsible for putting on the festival associated with the fishing tournament. WCEDC is partnering with the Pilot Club of Quitman.

Thomas said the county recently approved a tax abatement policy, and there are two projects in the works that would benefit from the incentives.

Kevan Burroughs was also welcomed as a new director.