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The FEDC (4A) Regular Meeting on May 21, 2026 focused on downtown buildings, grant requests, and how the city can better market itself. The decisions mostly affect property owners, small businesses, and residents who use downtown for shopping, dining, and events. Board members also talked about future tools for promotion and what comes back next month.

Fire Suppression Grant Approved For Edward Jones Building

The board approved a fire suppression grant for the Edward Jones building at 117 South Main, represented by Denise Gray. The plan covers the whole building, including the upstairs, and the quote includes a riser. Members said the space has been occupied since 2005 and supports three employees, so keeping it protected helps preserve a long-standing downtown business.

McKinney Street Facade Grant Put On Hold

The board did not act on the business development grant request for Gary and Cynthia Ransom at 119 McKinney Street. Members said the building damage came from a car crash, and the grant could not be used to repair accident damage while an insurance claim is still open. They also noted the quotes need to be cleaned up, since two came from the same immediate family.

Coffee Shop Grant Gets The Green Light

The board approved a business development grant for Adam White for work at 206 McKinney Street in the amount of $2,640.41. The discussion centered on the new coffee shop’s planters, which were confirmed to be bolted down. Members said the project fit the downtown goal of filling empty buildings with active businesses.

No Parking Lot For 300 McKinney Street

At 300 McKinney Street, the board discussed whether the city-owned lot should be turned into a parking area, but no action was taken on that idea. Members said a paved lot would be too expensive and would not line up with the current plan to eventually sell the property. Instead, staff was directed to move forward with signage and keep the property on the market.

Kodiak Fire Suppression Pay Apps Get Approved

The board approved pay applications to Kodiak Fire Suppression for work at 100 McKinney Street, 1032 McKinney Street, and 138 Main Street. Staff said hydro testing had been completed and the projects were cleared for the 90% payment stage, though the work is not finished yet. The payment keeps several downtown fire protection projects moving.

Tablet Purchase Plan Still On Hold

An update on joint computer tablet purchases for city boards and commissions showed no new action. The idea had already been tabled at city council after questions came up about how the system would work. For now, members said the bigger issue is making meetings easier to follow with better cameras and audio.

Billboard Search Narrows To A Spot East Of Town

The board discussed billboard leasing as a way to advertise Farmersville. Staff found one available spot east of town on Highway 380, with a monthly lease of $500 and the first creative included. Members talked about using simple wording like historic downtown Farmersville, and asked staff to keep checking options, especially along 380 where more traffic passes through.

Sign Ordinance Review And New City Finance Help Are Coming

Board members got updates on city liaison work, including talks on mixed-use development and a downtown meeting with leaders from McKinney and Denison. The city also said it will rework sign rules, including how murals and side-wall signs are handled, and staff said a new finance person is being hired after John Lawrence’s departure. That should help boards get clearer budget numbers going forward.

Payment Requests Clear The Table

The board also approved routine payments, including attorney fees, electrical work, and utility-related costs. With those bills cleared, the meeting wrapped without further action. Next month, members said they want to return to the billboard discussion, the property at 300 McKinney Street, and possible SEO help for local businesses, along with a proposed downtown strategy presentation that could come back with more details.

Stay connected with real-time updates, local news, and things happening around Farmersville throughout the week.

Visit: https://www.facebook.com/farmersvilleweekly/

In other news outside of Farmersville, our neighbors in Lavon are watching a growing data center debate. Public records, council comments, resident organizing, and a petition all point to the same issue: a possible hyperscale data center tied to the Elevon development near FM 2755 and Watkins Road.

HeardTogether Page Pulls Records Into One Place

A HeardTogether civic record page links the debate to public records involving Lavon’s Elevon development. The page points to a December 2024 ordinance and related records that discuss data center use and site standards, which has become part of the public debate over what could happen next.

Councilman Says This Is Not Final Construction Approval

Lavon Councilman Travis Jacob pushed back on claims that a data center has already been fully approved. According to his post, the city approved a zoning change, but any future project would still need permitting, infrastructure review, environmental requirements, operating rules, and city oversight.

Residents Are Organizing Against The Proposal

A private Facebook group called Lavon Families Against a Hyperscale Data Center has grown to about 400 members. A petition titled “Prevent a data center from being built in Lavon, Texas” was also listed with 229 shares and recent comments.

For now, the record shows Lavon’s data center debate is moving through public documents, council comments, and resident pushback. A final project has not been confirmed, buyer questions remain open, and Elevon-related talks are still appearing on city agendas.

🛍️ Yards of Yard Sales
📅 June 6 | 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Farmersville, TX

If you love a good treasure hunt, this is your kind of Saturday. Expect plenty of browsing, bargain-spotting, and the very real possibility of coming home with something delightfully unexpected.

🧺 Farmersville Market
📅 June 6 | 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
The Historic Onion Shed, 154 S Main St, Farmersville, TX 75442

A classic small-town market day done right. Come for the local vendors and fresh finds, stay for the easygoing community vibe that makes downtown Farmersville feel especially charming.

🏎️ Market & Motors Showcase
📅 June 6 | 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Historic Downtown Farmersville

This one brings the horsepower to your weekend with cars, trucks, and bikes sharing the spotlight downtown. Add live music, food trucks, and a little friendly admiration of shiny things, and you’ve got a pretty solid Saturday plan.

Freedom Through Music: Clay Potter And Band Celebrate The Birthday Of America📅 July 3 | 6:00 PM
📍 The Onion Shed, Downtown Farmersville

Celebrate Independence Day weekend in Downtown Farmersville with live music from Clay Potter and Band at The Onion Shed. Bring a lawn chair, wear your dancing shoes, and settle in for a Friday evening of music, community, and small-town summer energy.
Sponsored by the Farmersville Parks and Recreation Board, the Farmersville Economic Development 4B Board, and the City of Farmersville.