The Amarillo Economic Development Council (AEDC) elected Elliot McKinney as its new chair on Tuesday, Aug. 12, capping off a week of leadership changes and budget discussions that set the stage for the council’s upcoming fiscal year.
The vote to appoint McKinney, co-founder and partner of Llano Construction, was unanimous among the four board members present. His nomination came from board member Randy Burkett and was seconded by Dean Crump.
McKinney succeeds Alex Fairly, who resigned July 15 after serving as chair. McKinney and Fairly previously worked together in the healthcare network company OccuNet, though McKinney has since focused his efforts on construction and development.
Mayor Cole Stanley expressed appreciation for both leaders.
“I obviously will miss having Mr. Fairly as the chair. I thought he did an excellent job and appreciate his leadership there,” Stanley said. “I think Elliot McKinney can step right into that role. He has excellent business acumen, and I believe in that team coming together. With all of the successes they’re looking at over the next couple of years, I think they’ll take off running and be knocking targets down left and right.”
New Board Appointment
McKinney’s election came just days after the Amarillo City Council filled a vacant AEDC board seat, appointing Brian Bruckner on Aug. 8 during a special meeting. The appointment received unanimous support from the council.
Bruckner serves as president of Bruckner’s Truck & Equipment, a Mack and Volvo truck dealership with deep local roots. Founded in 1932 by his grandfather, B.M. “Bennie” Bruckner Sr., the company has expanded under his leadership to dozens of locations across the Southwest and Pacific Northwest. The business has also made strides toward innovation, becoming the first Mack dealership in Texas to receive electric vehicle certification.
His appointment is expected to bring a blend of local heritage and forward-looking business experience to the AEDC board’s work.
Budget Planning for 2025–26
In addition to leadership changes, the board reviewed its proposed fiscal 2025–26 operating budget. Revenue projections include $3.24 million from sales tax collections, which form the primary funding source for the organization, plus an estimated $210,000 in interest income.
On the expense side, salaries and benefits account for the largest single category at $1.32 million. Marketing and business development are budgeted at $700,000, reflecting AEDC’s push to attract new employers and investment. Professional fees total $260,000, with a significant portion allocated to the search for a new permanent president/CEO.
Other operational expenses include rent, utilities, and insurance — typical overhead costs for the organization.
CEO Search Process
The board formally approved sending out a request for proposals (RFP) to hire a permanent president/CEO. The RFP will go to a targeted list of 10–15 firms, both those the AEDC has worked with in the past and new prospects identified through staff research. The list will not include the “big five” global executive search firms, signaling a more tailored, cost-conscious approach.
The council aims to consider a diverse field of candidates, including both traditional economic development professionals and non-traditional applicants with deal-making or leadership experience from other industries. Responses to the RFP are due Aug. 29. After review, the board will either select one firm directly or create a short list for interviews.
Projects and Agreements
The AEDC’s projects budget for the upcoming year totals $23.76 million, drawn from sales tax revenue. Of that, $14.8 million is designated for company incentive agreements — financial commitments aimed at attracting or retaining employers in the Amarillo area.
Additional allocations cover workforce training grants, infrastructure improvements, and payments on existing bonds. The council also considered ongoing memberships in regional and statewide organizations, including Ports-to-Plains and the Texas Economic Development Council, which connect Amarillo to broader economic development initiatives.
One of the day’s significant actions was approval of Project No. 25-07-05, a matching program for the Texas Workforce Commission’s High Demand Job Training Grant. The AEDC will provide $150,000 to support vocational programs in five local school districts, matching state funds to expand access to technical skills training.
The board also approved Amendment No. 2 to its purchase and sale agreement with Endries Enterprises LLC. The deal covers the sale of 19.96 acres for a planned 100,000-square-foot cold storage facility. The AEDC will contribute approximately $100,000 toward road and utility extensions to serve the property. The purchase price is set at $550,000, and the agreement includes clawback provisions to protect the AEDC’s investment if project commitments are not met.
Economic Development Outlook
With the election of McKinney, the appointment of Bruckner, and the launch of a CEO search, the AEDC enters the next fiscal year with a mix of continuity and fresh leadership. The budget emphasizes core economic development tools — incentives, marketing, and infrastructure — while also investing in workforce development to ensure the local labor market can meet employer needs.
For Amarillo, these steps come at a time when competition for jobs and investment is increasingly fierce among mid-sized U.S. cities. Sales tax revenue remains the AEDC’s primary resource, meaning its fortunes are closely tied to the broader retail and business climate. The inclusion of interest income reflects a modest but useful supplement to these revenues, particularly in a higher interest rate environment.
The workforce training match program, in particular, reflects a longer-term view. By funding vocational education at the school district level, the AEDC is betting on homegrown talent to fill jobs in manufacturing, logistics, and other high-demand sectors. Such programs can also help retain young people in the region, addressing one of the challenges facing many smaller metropolitan areas.
Meanwhile, the Endries Enterprises cold storage facility represents an investment in Amarillo’s logistics and food processing sectors, which benefit from the city’s central location and transportation links. Cold storage capacity can serve both regional agriculture and national distribution needs, positioning Amarillo as a competitive hub for temperature-sensitive goods.
A Week of Transitions
The past month has been marked by significant shifts for the AEDC. Fairly’s resignation in mid-July prompted both the leadership change and the city’s move to fill the board vacancy with Bruckner. McKinney’s appointment as chair now sets the tone for the coming months, particularly as the board seeks a new CEO and finalizes its budget for adoption.
The mayor’s confidence in McKinney’s business experience underscores the AEDC’s focus on leadership with practical, results-driven skills. At the same time, the inclusion of Bruckner brings in another voice from a company with nearly a century of Amarillo history — and a track record of adapting to industry changes.
Looking Ahead
Over the next few weeks, the AEDC’s immediate focus will be on the CEO search and refining budget priorities. The RFP deadline of Aug. 29 will likely lead to an active September as proposals are reviewed and interviews scheduled.
Longer term, the success of the cold storage facility project, the workforce training initiative, and other incentives will be key indicators of whether the AEDC’s strategy is meeting its goals. The challenge will be balancing high-profile recruitment efforts with the less visible but equally important work of supporting existing employers and strengthening local infrastructure.
While leadership transitions can disrupt an organization’s momentum, they also present opportunities for recalibration. With new board members in place, a clear budget outline, and targeted investments in both people and facilities, the AEDC is positioning itself to keep Amarillo competitive in the regional and national economic landscape.
If the board can match strategic planning with steady execution, the “targets” Mayor Stanley mentioned may indeed start falling — one project, one partnership, and one job at a time.
0 Comments