The Quitman Development Corporation (QDC) approved a budget proposal to be presented to the city council for 2021 without provisions for a new executive director Monday.

The proposed budget is $275,000, which is up from last year’s budget of $258,205.

Last spring when the COVID-19 pandemic hit local businesses hard, the QDC gave out small grants to help businesses inside the city limits of Quitman. The board hopes to use some of the money to directly help Quitman businesses.

“We want to free some money to spend on what is most important, Quitman businesses. They are the reason we are here,” Dr. Greg Eberhart said. 

The QDC has been without an executive director since the organization and Denea Hudman parted ways in February.

“We are not posting the executive position at this time,” QDC Board President Martha Scroggins noted. “Of note, the money we have allocated for special projects we hope to utilize to offer grants to Quitman businesses.”

The special projects part of the proposed budget includes $42,500 for projects to be determined. It also includes $20,000 to work on the pavilion at Jim Hogg City Park and $19,000 for advertising and promotion. The overall special projects portion of the budget is $82,500.