The Gilroy Economic Development Corporation formally adopted a new Action Plan at its board meeting Wednesday. The plan will focus on three core objectives for Gilroy: Business attraction, business expansion/retention and partner development.
“The Action Plan will be a living document that will be continuously reviewed and updated as opportunities arise,” said Kurt Michielssen, GEDC board chairman.
Two months in the making, the new Action Plan marks a major shift in the philosophy of the GEDC, according to President and CEO Tammy Brownlow.
“The organization will allocate more time and resources to business attraction,” she explained.
The GEDC is a nonprofit started in 1996 to spearhead economic development in Gilroy. The board consists of business leaders from the community along with City Council and Chamber of Commerce members. Chico-based Chabin Concepts was hired by the GEDC to facilitate the board retreat in April and to develop the action plan.
Key business targets in the Action Plan include: food and agriculture sector; distribution; fulfillment; retail destination attraction; and the convergence of the sports/recreation and health-related business markets. In addition, Brownlow explained, the plan calls for geographic targeting of entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies in Silicon Valley.
The plan is designed to mesh with the economic development strategy component of the City’s upcoming General Plan revision, Michielssen said.
City Administrator Tom Haglund serves as an ex-officio director on the GEDC board.
“The Action plan sets forth bold, but achievable goals for the GEDC that will help build and strengthen our local economy,” he said.
