Moving Groups to Action

By MARK ASHLEY/Desert Star. Wednesday, December 5, 2007 12:28 PM PST

Bill Davis, consultant for the California Association for Local Economic Development, addresses a workshop in Needles.

MARK ASHLEY/Desert Star

NEEDLES - In an effort to strengthen the economy of Needles' local business owners, city staff, developers and citizens met with members of the San Bernardino County Economic Development Agency and economic development consultants on Nov. 29 and 30.

The two days of meetings started with a tour of the Tri-state area, to help orient the consultants and give them an idea of the economic growth happening in other areas of the region.

Bill Davis, a consultant for the California Association for Local Economic Development, said that the tour was well thought out and gave members of his team a lot of information on the area.

After the tour, the economic development team sat down with residents, business owners and city staff to evaluate the city's assets and liabilities to try to provide recommendations on how to facilitate economic growth.

“These guys can't tell you what you want your town to become,” said Davis. Residents will have to decide what recommendations can work for Needles, to help bring growth to the area without changing the flavor of the city.

The consultants recommended several ways to help the city, starting with business retention, ways to bring jobs to Needles, ways of leveling the playing field with Arizona and Nevada, and helping the city access programs from the state and federal governments.

Davis said that other cities in California are facing the same issues as Needles. “There are a lot of rural communities in California,” he said. “Every community has similar problems.”

The consultant went on to say that he felt enthusiasm from city staff and residents will help make the community better.

Simone McFarland, economic development manager with SBC, said that the county can offer a range of services to cities in the county to help aid in economic development.

“Everybody needs a little different type of help,” said McFarland of the 24 cities in the county. The county hopes to match services to the needs of different communities.

Economic development consultant Ed Graves said that the meetings were outstanding.

Graves said that he is glad to see the city and county cooperating in economic development, and that he was very impressed with the economic vitality of the region.

“The unique part now is that you have a core group of leaders committed to making things happen,” said Graves. “And they recognize the need to get input from the community.”

http://www.thedesertstar.com/articles/2007/12/10/news/local/news993.txt