The Department of Economic Development and Tourism is recruiting Volunteers for their recently refreshed Business Engagement Program!

Originally launched in 2018, Southlake’s Business Engagement program is aimed at accomplishing a number of goals for the department;

• Building relationships with Southlake businesses
• Learning about long-term goals of Southlake businesses
• Learning about concerns, needs and challenges of Southlake businesses
• Helping to identify future challenges of Southlake Businesses, and
• Helping to identify opportunities for partnerships with the City

Volunteers will be responsible for reaching out to business representatives, scheduling a brief phone, or in-person interview, and facilitating a discussion about the business and the Southlake business environment! Volunteers will also have the opportunity to contribute original marketing content for Southlake businesses, such as photos, from their errands and activities throughout Southlake! This material will then be utilized by the Select Southlake and Visit Southlake social media accounts to help market our Southlake businesses to residents and visitors. A bonus? Hours are flexible to volunteers’ schedules!

The initial volunteer training will take place Tuesday, May 30^th, at 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Southlake Town Hall.

To register as a volunteer, visit the Volunteer Southlake page at this link: https://www.cityofsouthlake.com/2565/How-to-Volunteer

For additional information, please reach out to EconDev@ci.southlake.tx.us or call (817) 748-8198.

The days of finding a primary care doctor strictly through your insurance network may be on their way out! Instead, some physicians and patients in Southlake and beyond are turning to the Direct Primary Care model of health care.

Direct Primary Care (DPC) differs from traditional medical insurance-driven practices in that it does not involve medical insurance at all. DPC physicians charge a monthly membership fee directly to their patients in exchange for a place in their care and offer a variety of services to their patients through fee systems, without any third-party involvement from insurance. DPC physicians often operate micro practices consisting of themselves, and one or two support staff such as a nurse and/or administrative assistant.

For small business owners, Direct Primary Care can be an affordable alternative to medical benefits for their staff. Rather than paying to help supplement insurance premiums for their employees, business owners can cover all or a portion of their employees’ membership at a DPC practice. A membership to a DPC practice can also serve to supplement traditional medical insurance, providing patients with more comprehensive care overall with the added security of medical insurance.

Dr. Elvira Jasarevic, owner of Crescent Direct Primary Care in Southlake, recently shared her thoughts about the Direct Primary Care model in an interview:

Why did you decide to practice under the DPC model? “Through the DPC model, I am able to devote the appropriate amount of time to my patients and avoid feeling rushed or pressured to prescribe them medications for a ‘quick fix’. Instead, I can take the time to build a relationship and give them the attention their current medical situation requires, whether that means weekly visits or constant communication.”

How do referrals to specialists and other outside services work? “Without traditional medical insurance, specialists or other outside services are paid for out of pocket. Often DPC physicians will build relationships with other practices/service providers in the community and identify a cash rate for services for patients referred to them from the DPC practice. For those with traditional medical insurance plans, we do make referrals like they would get with regular medicine.”

Crescent Direct Primary Care is located at 1202 S. White Chapel Boulevard. Also serving the Southlake community utilizing the Direct Primary Care model is Covington Family Health, located at 1330 N. White Chapel, Suite 100. Both practices opened in the past few months and are accepting patients.

**Image Credit: K.D Photography.**

Leadership Southlake Class of 2022 wrapped up their leadership project Taste of Southlake earlier this month on March 3rd! The event was a huge success raising funds and awareness to support local restaurants still impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and current staffing shortages.

Hosted by the Cambria Hotel, Taste of Southlake brought together stakeholders of the Southlake Restaurant Community including Armend’s Pizza & Pasta, Cake Pops & More, Calabrese, Fajita Pete’s, Feedstore BBQ, Jane., Jellicos, Kirby’s Steakhouse, Pokeworks, Scratch Kitchen, Shuck Me, Sky Creek, Thailicious, Wildwood and more!

With the purchase of a ticket, attendees were invited to the Cambria Hotel to eat, drink, enjoy live music and learn about the local restaurants serving and supporting the Southlake Community. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sales of tickets to attend the event as well as the funds raised from gift card sales went back to the restaurants. In total, the Leadership Southlake class of 2022 raised more than $10,000 for our local restaurants.

“From its inception we wanted Taste of Southlake to be planned in a way that it could easily be continued after the conclusion of our leadership program," said Daniel Paschke, a Leadership Southlake 2022 participant. “Our hope is that the Southlake Young Professionals Group within the Southlake Chamber of Commerce will take on the event, give it a new flavor, and continue to support our local restaurants in the coming years.”

If you missed out on Taste of Southlake, another opportunity to celebrate Southlake’s community and culture is right around the corner! Celebrate Southlake is scheduled for Friday & Saturday, March 25 & 26. Join in on the celebration with family and friends to enjoy food, cultural performances, and fun! Or sign up to volunteer and help make a memorable event for the whole city! Find more information on the city webpage.

Leadership Southlake is hosted by the Southlake Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the City of Southlake. To learn more, please visit the Southlake Chamber of Commerce’s webpage.

Earlier this year, the state of Texas experienced one of the harshest and devastating winter storms in decades. The impact on businesses was significant as many were already struggling through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and was then compounded by a winter storm that resulted in further lost revenue.

To further support these local businesses in overcoming these challenges, the Southlake City Council adopted the Southlake Landscape Reimbursement Grant Program. This grant program is aimed at providing relief to local business owners whose landscaping was killed by the winter storm of February 2021. This grant will reimburse businesses the amount spent for the city required landscaping on their commercial property.

“This is a unique grant program but one that our local business property owners will appreciate,” Director of Economic Development and Tourism Daniel Cortez said. “Our main goal is to bring back the aesthetic beauty that landscaping brings to Southlake. It’s been difficult enough for businesses to manage through a pandemic, but the winter storm of February added to the hurt our businesses were facing.”

While most businesses have recovered from the winter storm and the economic impacts of the pandemic have mostly passed, there remains some visual impacts from the winter storm, specifically the landscaping on commercial properties. Many business properties throughout the city have needed to replace their landscape due to the extreme cold temperatures from the storm. While many business owners have already replaced most of the landscaping that was lost due to the low temperatures, the costs associated with acquiring the landscape materials were higher than normal due to the demand across the state.

To assist businesses that have already replaced their landscaping or are in the process to replace it, the City is offering a reimbursement grant for local business owners with commercial property in Southlake. Here is what business owners should know to apply for the grant:

• Business owners should have a landscape plan for their commercial property.
• If you don’t have a landscape plan, the City will likely have one on file. You can request one by emailing planning@ci.southlake.tx.us.
• Identify what landscaping was replaced due to the impacts of the February 2021 winter storm.
• The landscaping that qualifies for the reimbursement will be only what is required by City ordinance.
• Obtain a copy of your paid invoice for the landscaping material. The cost breakdown of material will need to be provided.
• Read the eligibility requirements of the grant program at SouthlakeLandscapeGrant.com.
• Submit your application online once you have all your documentation.
• The city will review your application and conduct an inspection of your new landscaping.
• A check will be mailed at the address provided in your application.

The application period for this grant program is open from October 11, 2021 to December 31, 2021 until all funds for the grant are disbursed. Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.

To find out more information about the grant program, visit the Southlake Landscape Reimbursement Grant Program webpage. For questions, please contact the Office of Economic and Development and Tourism at BusinessGrant@cityofsouthlake.com.

To support Southlake’s local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, the City Council adopted the Southlake Business Relief Grant Program. This grant program is the first of its kind ever in Southlake aimed at providing relief to local business owners.

“Southlake is a strong community. Over the last several months, I have spoken with countless business owners that are operating with a reduced capacity in customers, staff and are making it work despite the challenging environment. The City Council wants to make sure that we give back to our businesses that have given to the community so much over the years. By helping our businesses succeed, we can continue to build a stronger Southlake and stronger economy together,” Mayor Laura Hill said.

Over the last several months, the business community has experienced an increasingly challenging environment due to the ongoing pandemic. Changing consumer behaviors and loss of revenue, are just two things on Southlake business owners’ minds. They have also had to adjust to state and local mandates while finding the best ways to accommodate their customers and reassuring them their business is a safe environment to be in.

“This program will help our local businesses bridge the revenue gap they’ve experienced so they can continue to provide the great products and services to the community without having to consistently worry about revenue. It’s important to understand that when our local businesses hurt and struggle, as a community, we do as well,” Economic Development and Tourism Director Daniel Cortez said.

This business relief grant is the newest of many recovery efforts the City has provided to its business community. Earlier this year, the Southlake City Council, with input from the Economic Recovery Task Force and the Community Enhancement and Development Corporation also provided strategies to help local businesses in their recovery efforts by allowing them to expand their offerings, from outdoor retail sales to outdoor dining and signage placement. This grant program further expands on Southlake’s relief efforts.

The application period is open from December 3 to January 15. Notifications to all businesses that apply will be sent beginning late January with grant disbursements to occur in February.

To review eligibility requirements or to apply for the grant, visit the Southlake Business Relief Grant Program webpage. For questions, please contact the Office of Economic and Development and Tourism.

This list of new Southlake businesses is provided by the Southlake Department of Economic Development and Tourism to help you see what’s new and what’s coming into the Southlake market! Contact us by Email if are a new business coming into town or if you have any questions about our listings.

You may also visit www.SelectSouthlake.com for other business information or follow us on Facebook for the latest business news.

• Fajita Pete’s - Pete’s new concept, boasts a small footprint with a majority dedicated to the kitchen so they can focus on catering and home or office delivery services. Drivers deliver authentic Fajitas during all open hours, whether to an office lunch meeting, birthday party, or employee anniversary. This efficient and convenient service quickly makes Fajita Pete’s a household (and officehold) name everywhere they open. Fajita Pete’s recently opened at 721 East Southlake Blvd., Suite 100 in the Village at Timarron. 817-410-3654 FajitaPetes.com

• Eggsquisite Café – Eggsquisite Cafe is locally owned and operated.  They specialize in breakfast and lunch.  They take pride in offering the freshest ingredients and friendliest staff.  Their caring and committed staff will ensure you have a fantastic experience with them. Eggsquisite Café recently opened at 260 N. Kimball Ave., Suite 262 in Southlake Corners. (682) 477-4411 EggsquisiteCafe.com

• Cold Stone Creamery – How good is their ice cream? Well, let's just say that on a scale of 1 to 10, they're somewhere around an 11.5. But they’re about more than just serving up amazing ice cream. Cold Stone likes to think they’re really in the business of making people happy! Cold Stone Creamery recently opened at 410 W. Southlake Boulevard, Suite 120B at Bicentennial Plaza. (817) 410-3872 ColdStoneCreamery.com

• uBreakiFix – uBreakiFix fixes electronic devices (it’s in their name after all). From the classic phone drop in the parking lot to the tablet in the toilet. They’ve seen it all. They understand how traumatic it is when you break your favorite devices and they want you to feel better the moment you walk in. uBreakiFix recently opened at 2140 E. Southlake Blvd. in Southlake Village Center. (682) 900-3100 uBreakiFix.com

• Rally House – Visit Rally House Southlake to shop the most diverse selection of apparel, home decor and gifts for your favorite Texas professional and collegiate teams. Shop Rangers jerseys, Cowboys sweatshirts, Stars tees, Mavericks hats, Longhorns tailgating gear, Aggies drinkware and so much more. You'll find the best brands at Rally House Southlake, including Nike, Adidas, Majestic, New Era, Retro Brand, '47, Mitchell and Ness. Rally House recently opened at 301 N. Carroll Ave. in Southlake Town Square. (817) 778-8080 RallyHouse.com

• Prestige Wealth Management - No one strategy fits everyone, which is why every client gets their undivided attention—from planning to execution to follow-up. They take a proactive approach to helping you develop a strategy to address your financial goals and objectives, using the most efficient methods available. Prestige Wealth Management recently opened at 2011 E. Kirkwood Blvd., Suite 100. (817) 637-8121 PWealthMGMT.com

This list of new Southlake businesses is provided by the Southlake Department of Economic Development and Tourism to help you see what's new and what's coming into the Southlake market! Contact us by Email if are a new business coming into town or if you have any questions about our listings. You may also visit www.SelectSouthlake.com for other business information or follow us on Facebook for the latest business news.

• VariSpace Southlake – VariSpace Southlake is designed to elevate the way businesses approach their office space. The 339,621 square-foot Class A workspace brings first-class amenities and flexible space solutions together in a multi-tenant campus ideal for enterprise-level tenants. VariSpace Southlake recently opened their new campus at 1 Kirkwood Boulevard. VariSpace.com

• Panda Express – Part of their mission at Panda Express has always been to create a flavorful variety of American Chinese dishes that appeal to the varying preferences and tastes of our valued guests. Over the past few years, our teams have been hard at work to make recipe adjustments to remove animal products from some of your favorites, Chow Mein and Eggplant Tofu. Panda Express recently opened up their second location in Southlake at 2325 W. Southlake Boulevard. 817-865-1778 PandaExpress.com

• Custom Ink - They believe in the power and importance of community. That’s what they have always been about - even before they knew it - and it’s why our brands offer innovative ways to help activate and strengthen communities. Custom Ink enables people to design and order custom t-shirts and gear for their clubs, companies, charities, family reunions, and more. Custom Ink recently opened in Park Village at 1151 E. Southlake Blvd., Suite 320. 817-204-0553 CustomInk.com

• Crisis Response Company - Crisis Response Company, LLC (CRC) provides professional advisory, contingency logistics, and global security services to government and commercial clients internationally including the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Defense. CRC is committed to their founding value as a customer-centric company focused on innovative, out-of-the-box solutions, to help quickly solve our customers’ operational challenges. CRC recently opened at 121 River Oaks Drive. 817-337-1000 CrisisResponseCompany.com

• Cultivate Behavioral Health & Education - At Cultivate, they hustle. They aim to outdo themselves by constantly learning and growing in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and competing against who we were yesterday as we look to becoming who we’ll be tomorrow. Cultivate Behavioral Health & Education opened their first North Texas location at 2815 Exchange Boulevard, Ste 100. 817-203-8708 CultivateBHE.com

• MyEyeDr. - You want the best for your family when it comes to their vision health. At MyEyeDr., their optometrists are committed to helping you see your best. Whether you need treatment for dry eye or astigmatism, or you need to book your annual eye exam, rely on their team members to help make eye care in Southlake Town Square simple and convenient. We also welcome all insurances for our vision services. MyEyeDr. Recently opened at 1247 Main Street. 817- 481-2070 MyEyeDr.com

• Aesthetic Specialists - Aesthetic Specialists was created by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jason K Potter, MD, to provide Southlake and the surrounding communities with a world-class suite of non-surgical medical aesthetic services. Aesthetic Specialists recently opened at 245 W. State Highway 114, Suite 100 inside of the Chapel Crossing office building. 817-912-1200 StayAgeless.com