SAN MARCOS, Texas — Despite its size, the city of San Marcos has a shortage of grocery stores.
On Tuesday night, city leaders approved new economic incentives to try and lure grocery stores to town.
The incentives include property and sales tax rebates up to five years from the resolution. But council members didn't add requirements for things like size or jobs, in order to attract stores of all sizes.
The grocery stores that are currently in San Marcos include two H-E-B stores and a Poco Loco Supermercado, along with Target, Walmart, Sam's Club and several convenience stores and neighborhood markets.
The city council hopes these new incentives will help speed up construction.
"I want this to stay open and on the floor as a potential, as an option until we feel like we've got enough grocery stores," San Marcos City Councilmember Mark Gleason said.
According to food access data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 6.5% of San Marcos residents don't have a car and are more than a half-mile away from a supermarket.