prosperity

Connect People to Strengthen Local Economy & Community. Secure Allies to Help Achieve Our Vision. 

PROSPERITY

Grant Distribution 

In Summer 2021, the City awarded Centro two grants totaling $500,000 from the Houston Street and Midtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (TIRZs) to administer grants to small businesses affected by construction along the Alamo Plaza and Broadway Corridor Road improvements. The grants were intended primarily for restaurants and retail establishments and favored minority, women, and veteran owned small businesses. Centro received 68 applications, of which 39 were approved for funding with an average grant amount of $10,769. 

UTSA + Harvard MBA Program 

San Antonio was one of 16 cities across the US where Harvard deployed their MBA students to help solve customer problems. The 70 students were embedded in 13 San Antonio organizations. Centro partnered with UTSA to help develop solutions to welcome students and faculty downtown so that when they arrived, they understood downtown, where to go, and what to do for fun with a goal of ensuring they would forever remember our city fondly after they return to Harvard. 

Local Economic Development Plan

We developed an economic development strategy for downtown to help existing businesses, grow new ones, and strengthen the downtown small business ecosystem. The plan focuses on local small businesses and entrepreneurs that enhance the downtown quality of life. The strategy was built in collaboration with area economic development organizations and was vetted by the Economic Development Committee. Learn more at centrosanantonio.org/resources 

$ 0
in relief grants
to 39 Small BusiNesses
2030 URBAN
Development Strategy
for Downtown

Main Street Business

Due to COVID-19, the Downtown Commercial District experienced extensive negative effects including loss of customer base as well as temporary and permanent business closures. Centro started the Main Street Navigator Program in 2020 to support downtown small businesses through outreach, connection to resources, one-on-one consultations, specialty promotions, educational programming, and advocacy. Through this effort, Centro collaborates with area economic development organizations to optimize support. 

In January, we began a partnership with Grow with Google to connect businesses to digital-focused educational materials and special promotions for Google-based business products. We’ve facilitated 5 digital workshops in the past year. 

In June, we launched the Storefront Resiliency Initiative to help businesses install security cameras and recover from vandalism and other property damage. Centro leveraged PID funds and received financial commitments from LISC and Woodforest Bank. 

We have formally joined the Business Development Organization (BDO) Alliance along with LISC, Southside First, Prosper West, SAGE, Maestro Center, and American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions (AITSCM). 

0
Small Businesses Assisted
Provided 0
Businesses With PPE
During Omicron Spike
0 Businesses
Assisted Through Digital Panels

Downtown Development Strategy

With the sunset of the Strategic Framework Plan for the Center City and the related Implementation Plan, Centro developed a strategy to guide downtown development efforts through 2030 and well beyond. The strategy will be built upon the momentum generated by ongoing efforts as well as existing planning initiatives, such as the SA Tomorrow Downtown Regional Center Plan, among many others. It is being developed in accordance with national best practices and stakeholder input through a variety of methods. The resulting strategy will have specific goals, tactical methods, and measurable outcomes focused on enhancing the quality of life downtown to guide our collective efforts in the coming decade. Since late 2021, we’ve hosted focus groups and conducted interviews and surveys. The strategy will be published in Fall of 2022. 

0
Data Requests Completed

DATA CENTRAL 

In late 2021, Centro officially launched the Data Central initiative with the goal of becoming the trusted source for all downtown business, demographic, development, community, and other data and information relied on by a range of stakeholders, including businesses, city government, site selectors, residents, community organizations and educational institutions. We aim to provide accurate quantitative data to help tell an accurate story of our downtown. 

$ 0 +
Raised

 GRANTS + SPONSORSHIPS

Other than funding for our homeless outreach that was secured in 2021 and Travis Park programming, we far underperformed our grant goals. Fortunately, FY22 is looking much stronger with $600K firmly committed. 

Memberships

The Centro Alliance is a separate non-profit membership organization which amplifies and supports the efforts of the Centro Public Improvement District. Community and connection are pillars of Centro membership, so we’ve expanded engagement opportunities by offering an individual level, known as our Advocate level, for the very first time! This redesign has also introduced a brand new event series known as the MIX. Each MIX is a one of a kind evening aimed at connecting “movers, shakers, and industry makers” from all different industries and disciplines downtown with the hopes of sparking creative collaboration to drive investment and shared passion in San Antonio’s future. Learn more at centrosanantonio.org/membership 

97 Memberships

2 MIX events Totaling
300 Attendees

IN CLOSING 

This past year was full of successes, a few surprises and a couple of under-performing areas.  All within a climate of serious external challenges that has pushed us to be increasingly adaptable, responsive and ingenious.  While the challenges persist, we look to the future with confidence and optimism.  We are assured that our team, stakeholders and partners will collaborate well and invest the resources to make significant improvements in the near term.   

As we look more into the future, we strive to ensure downtown, aka El Centro, is full of art, events, spaces and places that make this a specular neighborhood in which to live, love, learn and play.  

All this work takes a full team of dedicated, passionate people to accomplish. We encourage you to visit our About Page at the link below to meet our team and learn about each of them. 

https://centrosanantonio.org/this-is-your-downtown/  

Outreach, Recovery, and Resiliency

As part of COSA’s Covid-19 Community Recovery and Resiliency Plan, Centro was awarded $225,000 to conduct outreach to businesses in and around downtown and connect them to meaningful resources. Centro hired Sarah Esserlieu as our Economic Development Director, Linda Stone as our Senior Main Street Navigator, and four temporary Main Street Navigators to see the grant through to completion over four months. Through this effort, we connected 965 local businesses to vital resources and established a permanent Main Street Business Support Program that meets businesses where they’re at and supports the small, minority, and women- owned business ecosystem downtown. Centro also distributed personal protective equipment (PPE) to 345 businesses to ensure the businesses can open responsibly prioritizing employee and customer safety.

Grants Administration

We have developed and implemented our grant-writing system. We officially secured two grants, one for $369,000 for the Homeless Outreach program and one in collaboration with the San Antonio Board of Realtors for $4,500 for a proposed activation of Peacock Alley!

In April 2021, the City of San Antonio approved Centro to administer $500,000 in grants up to $25,000 for businesses affected by construction along the Broadway corridor, Alamo Plaza, and surrounding streets. 

Governance

We have added five new Committees to help us engage with our awesome community to make downtown SATX more beautiful, prosperous, playful and welcoming.

Chair’s Council: Creative, strategic, and well-connected influencers who ideate on vision and strategy, helping us align to community priorities, and knock down barriers to achieving our mission.

Economic Development Committee: Evolve and nurture main street businesses by participating in strategy development, execution, and advocacy.

Urban Planning & Design Committee: Volunteer professionals with subject matter expertise helping shepherd the realization of downtown projects that support the development of a well-functioning city for all by bringing great new structures, spaces and places downtown.

The Resident’s Voice Committee: A cool group of locals who represent the diversity of greater downtown area keep us connected to their needs and desires, help guide our work, advocate for downtown and have fun at Centro events!

Membership Committee: This working group helps the Centro Alliance recruit paying members, secure sponsorships for our various initiatives, and raise funds for our advocacy work.

Governance

We have added five new Committees to help us engage with our awesome community to make downtown SATX more beautiful, prosperous, playful and welcoming.

Chair’s Council: Creative, strategic, and well-connected influencers who ideate on vision and strategy, helping us align to community priorities, and knock down barriers to achieving our mission.

Economic Development Committee: Evolve and nurture main street businesses by participating in strategy development, execution, and advocacy.

Urban Planning & Design Committee: Volunteer professionals with subject matter expertise helping shepherd the realization of downtown projects that support the development of a well-functioning city for all by bringing great new structures, spaces and places downtown.

The Resident’s Voice Committee: A cool group of locals who represent the diversity of greater downtown area keep us connected to their needs and desires, help guide our work, advocate for downtown and have fun at Centro events!

Membership Committee: This working group helps the Centro Alliance recruit paying members, secure sponsorships for our various initiatives, and raise funds for our advocacy work.

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LOCATIONS

  • Headquarters
    110 Broadway Street, Suite 230 San Antonio, TX 78205
  • Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:30pm​
  • (210) 225-3862
  • Operations Center
  • 219 E Travis Street, San Antonio, TX 78205
  • Everyday 7:00am - 6:00pm
  • (210) 224-7747

NEWSLETTER

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Copyright All Rights Reserved © 2021 Centro SA |

MATT BROWN

PRESIDENT AND CEO

Matt is the lucky guy that gets to lead a team of passionate placemakers who work every day to make downtown San Antonio more beautiful, playful, prosperous, and welcoming. Since starting his career as an attorney, Matt accumulated 25+ years’ worth of experience in the private sector by founding play and creative companies; consulting for start-ups and Fortune 500s in strategy, innovation, and leadership; and serving as president and C-level executive for Scholastic, Klutz and LeapFrog, among others. Directly prior to moving to San Antonio, he was the Economic Development Director and Interim Land Use Director for Santa Fe, NM.  He and his daughter have visited 15 state capitals on their way to all 50! 

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Elizabeth Burt

DIRECTOR OF URBAN ACTIVATION + PLAY

Liz is a passionate underutilized space evangelist known for collaboration matchmaking + play based troublemaking (snow, pumpkins, and Parisian mimes included). She graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio College of Public Policy studying Public Administration (#BirdsUp)! More recently, she oversaw the award winning Activate Houston Street Initiative, a placemaking action plan to reinvigorate the historic pedestrian corridor in the heart of Downtown, which is recognized as a Best Practice in Public Space Management by the International Downtown Association, for which she is also a proud Emerging Leader Fellow.

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Connie Garza

TACTICAL PLANNING COORDINATOR

Connie is a native San Antonian with roots planted deeply on San Antonio’s Southside. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Global Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Passionate about building strong communities, Connie loves acting as a connector to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and people to help each other reach their goals and work together. She works inbetween the Cultural Placemaking team and the Mainstreet Economic Development team, bringing vibrancy and support to urban core businesses to make downtown the place to be. When not at work, you can usually find her at the local plant nursery buying another plant, exploring new cafes/breweries, and spending time with family.

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Laura Aldrich

MEMBERSHIP & STORY CATALYST

Laura (She/Her) has a Bachelor’s degree in Art History from the University of Texas at Austin where she fostered a deep love for communication, critical theory, & experiential spaces. Her heart lies in community, communication, & creative spaces for connection & collaboration.

She’s found much of her life’s direction in sharing her love for fitness & yoga alongside her deeply lived passion for social equity & women’s equality.

Laura has years of experience in developing & carrying out creative, strategic project management, marketing & membership-based sales as well as large-scale events & leadership training.

Outside of work she can often be found biking downtown with friends, adventuring with her sweet pup on the Greenway & casually perusing the cheese aisle at Central Market. She finds simple pleasures in unexpected live music, mochi, freshly bought pairs of matching socks & toppling the patriarchy.

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Priscilla Lopez

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Priscilla or “P.Lo” as her teammates affectionately call her, has 20 years of corporate administrative experience. Priscilla attended The University of San Antonio with a focus on Business Administration. In her role as office “fixer,” she handles everything from communications and relationship management to IT sleuthing. On weekends you can find her enjoying a Truly poolside. She lives the vegan lifestyle and is  a proud member of the Peleton community.

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Jacqueline Lucio

DIRECTOR OF PID OPERATIONS

Jacque is a longtime downtowner with a deep passion for community service. She oversees Centro’s Clean & Safe and Homeless Outreach services, which aim to create a more beautiful, welcoming, inclusive, and hospitable downtown. For nearly two decades, Jacque has lived in downtown San Antonio and has been actively involved in the transformation of the urban core. Through her work with nonprofits, local government, and news media, she’s continually focused on championing more sustainable, diverse, and equitable communities. Jacque has led efforts to support asylum seekers, served as communications director for City Council District 5, and served in public affairs role for Clear Channel Outdoor San Antonio. Jacque studied Mass Communications and Mexican-American Studies at UTSA.

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Matt Sirgo

DIRECTOR OF STORYTELLING

Matt graduated from Texas Tech University in 2016 with a Dual Major in Media Strategies and Honors Arts & Letters with a minor in Italian (Benvenuto a tutti!). Matt oversees the marketing, public relations, and digital content for Centro. After sharing the story of Downtown San Antonio on digital channels, he enjoys creating TikToks about LGBTQ+ media. His mug graces a Fiesta Mural on the St. Mary’s Strip just north of Downtown. You can’t miss it. 

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Andi Rodriguez

VICE PRESIDENT OF CULTURAL PLACEMAKING

Andi is a long-time urban champion and leads Centro ‘people projects’ which tell our stories and bring us joy, such as Centro’s Art Everywhere and Zona Cultural. Serving on the Leadership Council of Urban Land Institute, she is a former city Planning Commissioner, Founding Chair of the Hemisfair Conservancy, Co-founder of Power of Preservation/PROM, former Chair of the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women and immediate past Chair of Leadership San Antonio. Andi considers herself a servant leader; she has an MS in Architecture/Urban Planning, and enjoys advocating for the unifying power of art, history, and public space.

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Jakob Villareal

STAFF GRANT WRITER

Currently studying for a B.A. in English at A&M San Antonio and Majoring in Writing & Rhetoric, Jakob is a key player in securing additional funding for Centro’s many projects and initiatives. Jakob acts as a matchmaking service for Centro’s projects and Initiatives. Using his intimate knowledge of our goals and ideals, he seeks to find the perfect match of project and potential funding organization. When he’s not busy fundraising Jakob also fills the roll of Game Master, host the team’s various get–togethers and keeping the party going with games galore. He spends his free time painting miniatures, and is an avid Dungeons and Dragons & Table Top RPG enthusiast.

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JanIe Garza

OFFICE MANAGER

Janie is a native of Corpus Christi, TX and has made San Antonio her home since 2012. Her 15+ years’ experience allows her to serve a broad range of functions that allow the organization to operate efficiently, including, accounts receivable/payable, record management, information technology, office management, and assisting with human resources. Outside of the office she enjoys spending time with her family, visiting local art museums, and enjoying a German beer in Southtown.

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Michael Cirlos

JEDI CAMERAMAN

Michael began his studies and volunteer work at Webster University Thailand with a focus on international relations and Buddhism. After returning to San Antonio and graduating from UTSA, Michael began photographing and telling the stories of people in Downtown San Antonio to help connect and increase awareness of our vibrant urban culture. Michael’s work has appeared in several news media organizations, and has produced digital content for small- and large-scale marketing campaigns for Red Bull, COSA Department of Arts and Culture, World Heritage Office, National Park Service, and others. Michael is a former Pecha Kucha San Antonio Speaker, best-selling author at Trinity University Press, entrepreneur, and adventurer.

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Sarah Esserlieu

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

Sarah is a passionate urbanist who has spent the majority of her career on downtown revitalization efforts. Downtown is the best part of any city where you can find the finest history, culture, life, and beauty. Sarah has a Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of California, San Diego. Sarah enjoys visiting small local businesses, enjoying foodie culture, cooking, hiking, and visiting the cities of the world. 

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Edward A. Romero

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Eddie is responsible for understanding community needs through research and dialogue, serving the organization’s community development and advocacy efforts while delivering Public Improvement District services and marketing campaigns. Eddie earned a B.S. in Mass Communications from Texas State University and a M.A. in Interactive Communication and Design from the University of the Incarnate Word. He has spent the past eight years leading Centro in multiple capacities, including membership, events, marketing, community engagement, and district operations.

Copy and paste the following url in your browser to listen to Eddie’s “Downtown” playlist: https://spoti.fi/30fSerZ. 

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KANDICE PERKINS

FINANCIAL DIRECTOR

Kandice is a Sunnyvale, CA native and has made San Antonio her home since 2014. She graduated from University of Argosy in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and continued to complete her Master’s in Business Administration from University of Phoenix 2020. She has worked in downtown San Antonio for years, bringing 15+ years of accounting experience to the organization and has been tasked with promoting and developing the city’s urban core. When not at the office, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, managing her family’s businesses, and enjoys cooking and baking.  

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” – Steve Jobs 

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