Cedar Park Economic Development Director Announces Retirement

CEDAR PARK, TX — Cedar Park's longtime director of economic development, Phil Brewer, has announced his retirement, city officials said Tuesday.

Brewer, who has served in his current role since May 2005, is retiring on May 18, according to a press advisory. Brewer shared his retirement plans with city staff and council in late April, officials noted.

As Director of Economic Development Brewer is responsible for developing and implementing programs that facilitate economic growth and development in Cedar Park. City officials observed that Brewer’s retirement comes on the heels of a big announcement last week: The expansion of the Presidio 2 development which includes plans for an Alamo Drafthouse in Cedar Park.

According to an independent report prepared in 2015 by Impact DataSource, the many economic development projects that Brewer was involved in between 2005 and 2015 resulted in the creation of 7,350 permanent jobs in Cedar Park, officials said. Economic development investments totaling more than $35.2 million netted direct and induced impacts to the local economy of more than $24 billion, according to the report.

Yet the report doesn't do full justice to Brewer's contributions, officials suggested. Brewer-helmed projects from the past three years not reflected in the report include growth-minded agreements with VUV Analytics; The Parke; Riverside Resources; American Constructors; Scottsdale Crossing; Visual Lighting Technologies; ETS-Lindgren’s expansion; Innovative Funding Services; Fifteen Five; Hyliion; and many other projects in the pipeline. Moreover, major employers Brewer and his team have lured to expand or relocate in Cedar Park over the years include Dana Corporation; BMC Millworks; Firefly Space Systems; Corvalent; Voltabox; Fallbrook Technologies; Swagelok; Revenue Cycle; and many more.

“I’m extremely grateful for all of the opportunities and projects that I have had the chance to experience while working at the city," Brewer said in a prepared statement. "Every one of our successes can be attributed to the great team of professionals at the City I have had the opportunity to work with over the last 13 years.”

Brewer was instrumental in major projects such as Cedar Park Regional Medical Center as well as H-E-B Center at Cedar Park which houses the Texas Stars AHL Hockey Team and the Austin Spurs NBA G-League Team, according to a press advisory. City officials added that Brewer is responsible for bringing Cedar Park the shopping/dining/family entertainment development 1890 Ranch to Cedar Park, as well as the Costco/Town Center retail and restaurant development, The Parke shopping/dining development anchored by Whole Foods 365, Dick’s Sporting Goods/Field and Stream, DSW, Nordstrom Rack and other major retailers, and Cross Creek Market which features Cedar Park newcomers the Grove, Beau Kisses and Woodhouse Day Spa. One of Brewer’s most recent projects is Presidio Phase 1 where the new Mandola’s Italian Kitchen is located.

“Phil Brewer’s fingerprints are all over this city,” City Manager Brenda Eivens said in a prepared statement. “Without his creativity, innovative thinking and stewardship over the past 13 years, I think it’s fair to say that we would not have many of the major employment, shopping and unique dining opportunities that we have today here in Cedar Park. He will be greatly missed but his mark on our community will last for many generations. We wish him the very best in his retirement.”

>>> Photo of Phil Brewer courtesy of City of Cedar Park