The City of Navasota and Navasota Economic Development Corporation (NEC) were excited to be featured in the March 2021 edition of the Texas Municipal League’s Texas Town & City Magazine.
 
Over the last year, community members and organizations throughout Navasota, such as The City of Navasota, the Navasota Economic Development Corporation, Navasota Grimes County Chamber of Commerce, Willy 98.7, the Navasota Examiner, and many more have come together to develop an extensive Shop Local Navasota Campaign.
 
What started as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Shop Local campaign has transformed into a permanent program benefiting not only local businesses, but also the community as a whole. The Shop Local Navasota campaign includes the website, www.ShopLocalNavasota.com, the weekly Grilling Stafford video series, the Navasota Freedom Festival, the Navasota Home for the Holidays event, the NEDC COVID-19 Relief Grant that ran from April 2020 to May 2020, free advertising for local businesses, and much more.

​On February 24, 2021 representatives from both the City of Navasota and the Navasota Economic Development Corporation were invited to attend the Bryan/College Station Chamber of Commerce 2021 Economic Outlook. As regular attendees of the annual event, the 2021 Economic Outlook Conference has been able to provide the City and NEDC opportunities to learn about regional growth, strengthen relationships with regional partners, and gain insight for how to best serve the Navasota community, local businesses, and future prospects. 

In December 2020, the City of Navasota and Navasota Economic Development Corporation kicked off a Christmas shopping promotion for small businesses. Between November 27, 2020 and December 14, 2020, both Navasota residents and visitors were able to turn in receipts via email, text message, or by coming to City Hall.

Every $25 spent at any small business in Navasota earned one entry into the drawing for a chance to win a Navasota gift basket. Receipts from multiple stores could also be submitted and added together to meet the $25 entry level.

Throughout this period, receipts were submitted from shoppers supporting 28 local businesses. 

On the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Navasota Economic Development Corporation was quick to respond and approve a Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant. The grant was designed to assist small Navasota businesses and provide short-term, immediate financial aid. The first round of grant funding opened Wednesday, April 29, 2020 and closed Wednesday, May 6, 2020. In the first round, the Navasota Economic Development Corporation was able to award all 36 applicants grant funds. The second round of grant funding opened Monday, May 18, 2020 and closed Friday, May 22, 2020, with all 23 applicants receiving funding.
 
The NEDC was able to assist a total of 59 small businesses and independent contractors, which was 100% of the applicants, totaling $52,750 in grant funds distributed. The types of industries that received funding varied greatly. Examples of industries supported with the grant funds include, but are not limited to:

Accounting Firms, Barber Shops, Beauty Salons, Bed and Breakfast Inns, Boutiques, Car Washes, Commercial and Industrial Machinery Repair, Computer Repair Shops, Cosmetologists, Daycare Facilities, Event Rental Companies, Family Clothing Stores, Floor Covering Stores, Floral Shops, General Contractors, Hotel/Motels, Insurance Agencies,  Laundromats, Landscaping Services, Manufacturing Firms, Mobile Food Services, Nail Salons, Offices of Dentists, Offices of Lawyers, Real Estate Agencies, Restaurants, Retailers, Sports Bars, Tax Preparation Services, Tire Shops, Travel Agencies, and Used Merchandise Stores.

For additional press, visit The Examiner, KAGS, and KWHI