gilroy economic development
An Economic SnapShot
Written By Larry J . Mickartz
The recent recession hurt everyone . Gilroy and the local construction industry took an especially hard hit . However , things are looking up according to Tammy Brownlow , President / CEO of the Gilroy Economic Development Corporation ( EDC ). At the annual EDC luncheon , she noted that several economic indicators are favorable ( see chart above ).
The Gilroy Economic Development Corporation ( EDC ) is a 501 ( c )( 3 ) established in 1996 . The City of Gilroy , the Gilroy Chamber and multiple business partners fund the EDC . The EDC is in the middle of a three-year plan with these priorities :
• Business Attraction – Target Industries
• Business Retention & Expansion – Outreach
• Partner Development – Goal to double in FY 2013 / 14
Along this line , the EDC is experiencing success with the expansion of food-related industries to Gilroy , specifically :
• Epic Wines & Spirits ( distribution center , based in Capitola , CA )
• Monterey Gourmet Foods ( Production and distribution , based in Fullerton , CA
• United Natural Foods , Inc . ( 400,000 square foot to open in summer 2015 , with about 400 jobs ; eventually 800,000 square foot facility ).
In 2014 , the EDC and the Silicon Valley Business Journal hosted a workshop on the “ Business of Food and Beverage .” Plans are underway to host a 2015 repeat .
New businesses are coming in ; there are multiple inquiries regarding space and business prospects ; the downtown is about to relaunch ; the economy is doing better . Tammy Brownlow paints an optimistic picture for the near future of Gilroy .
Parallel to the efforts of the EDC , the City of Gilroy has multiple activities ongoing that will enhance the economy of Gilroy . Lee Butler , Development Center Manager , City of Gilroy , notes that there are a number of new business permits in progress , including a 105-room hotel , a new music venue , a new restaurant , and a yoga studio . Also , 16 of the 18 URM ( unreinforced masonry ) buildings downtown are on the way to being available for lease . On the east side of Gilroy , a new self-storage facility , several food related businesses opening on 152 , and numerous residential construction permits are in the works . And on the west side , parallel to Hecker Pass , on Santa Teresa Boulevard , a cluster of new homes are being built — the beginning of the large Glen Loma housing project .
In February of 2014 the City of Gilroy completed Gilroy Economic Development Strategic Plan . This plan analyses economic date and lays out ideas for economic growth . More importantly it is an integral part of the planning background for the Gilroy General Plan Advisory Committee . The City is in the process of revising its General Plan , which among other things will determine future direction for the City .
In the next few months , a major decision in the General Plan will be made relative to future land use . This issue will have a major impact on future economic development . Public review of the General Pan , Draft should begin in the spring of 2015 . Final adoption will happen in the Spring / Summer of 2016 .
Some related economic issues are the location , makeup and schedule of the High Speed Train . There is no new information on the proposed train to the Monterey area .
One of the issues identified by EDC and City studies is that there is a largely untapped pool of qualified residents who commute out of Gilroy . An estimated 14,000 vehicles leave the area every day heading north . Imagine if an employer or startup could attract some of this local talent … more employment in town , less commuting and more time with family … a great combination with an economic , environmental and societal win-win-win .
In Gilroy the economic present is good and the future is looking better . Gilroy will have a new General Plan . The City is solvent . The downtown is on the verge of a revival . Over all , the economic mood is very optimistic .
Report available at gilroy2040 . com .
30
G M H T O D A Y M A G A Z I N E MARCH / APRIL 2015 gmhtoday . com
gilroy economic development
An Economic SnapShot
Written By Larry J. Mickartz
T
he recent recession hurt everyone.
Gilroy and the local construction
industry took an especially hard hit.
However, things are looking up according
to Tammy Brownlow, President/CEO
of the Gilroy Economic Development
Corporation (EDC). At the annual EDC
luncheon, she noted that several economic
indicators are favorable (see chart above).
The Gilroy Economic Development
Corporation (EDC) is a 501(c)(3)
established in 1996. The City of Gilroy,
the Gilroy Chamber and multiple business
partners fund the EDC. The EDC is in
the middle of a three-year plan with these
priorities:
• Business Attraction – Target Industries
• Business Retention & Expansion –
Outreach
• Partner Development – Goal to
double in FY 2013/14
Along this line, the EDC is experiencing
success with the expansion of food-related
industries to Gilroy, specifically:
• Epic Wines & Spirits (distribution
center, based in Capitola, CA)
• Monterey Gourmet Foods
(Production and distribution,
based in Fullerton, CA
• United Natural Foods, Inc. (400,000
square foot to open in summer 2015,
with about 400 jobs; eventually
800,000 square foot facility).
In 2014, the EDC and the Silicon Valley
Business Journal hosted a workshop on the
“Business of Food and Beverage.” Plans are
underway to host a 2015 repeat.
New businesses are coming in; there
are multiple inquiries regarding space and
30
business prospects; the downtown is about
to relaunch; the economy is doing better.
Tammy Brownlow paints an optimistic
picture for the near future of Gilroy.
Parallel to the efforts of the EDC,
the City of Gilroy has multiple activities
ongoing that will enhance the economy of
Gilroy. Lee Butler, Development Center
Manager, City of Gilroy, notes that there
are a number of new business permits in
progress, including a 105-room hotel, a new
music venue, a new restaurant, and a yoga
studio. Also, 16 of the 18 URM (unrein-
forced masonry) buildings downtown are
on the way to being available for lease. On
the east side of Gilroy, a new self-storage
facility, several food related businesses
opening on 152, and numerous residential
construction permits are in the works. And
on the west side, parallel to Hecker Pass,
on Santa Teresa Boulevard, a cluster of new
homes are being built — the beginning of
the large Glen Loma housing project.
In February of 2014 the City of Gilroy
completed Gilroy Economic Development
Strategic Plan. This plan analyses economic
date and ^\��]YX\��܈X�ۛ�ZXܛ���[ܙH[\ܝ[�H]\�[�[�Yܘ[�\�وH[��[���X��ܛ�[��܈B��[��H�[�\�[[�Y�\�ܞH��[Z]YK��H�]H\�[�H���\��و�]�\�[��]�[�\�[[��X�[[ۙ��\�[���[]\�Z[�H�]\�H\�X�[ۈ�܈H�]K��[�H�^�]�[�HXZ�܈X�\�[ۂ�[�H�[�\�[[��[�HXYH�[]]�B���]\�H[�\�K�\�\��YH�[]�HB�XZ�܈[\X�ۈ�]\�HX�ۛ�ZX�]�[�B�Y[��X�X��]�Y]�وH�[�\�[[���Y���[�Y�[�[�H��[��و�MK���[�[Y�[ۈ�[\[�[�H��[���[[Y\�و�M����H�HHHH�H�H�B�PT���T�S�MB���YH�[]YX�ۛ�ZX�\��Y\�\�HB���][ۋXZ�]\[���Y[HوHY���YY�Z[��\�H\����]�[��ܛX][ۂ�ۈH����Y�Z[��H[\�^H\�XK��ۙHوH\��Y\�Y[�Y�YY�HQ[��]H�YY\�\�]\�H\�H\��[B�[�\Y��و]X[Y�YY�\�Y[�����[]]H�]و�[��K�[�\�[X]Y�M�ZX�\�X]�HH\�XH]�\�H^B�XY[���ܝ�[XY�[�HY�[�[\�Y\��܈�\�\��[]�X���YHو\���[�[[�8�)�[ܙH[\�[Y[�[��ۋ\���[]][��[�[ܙH[YH�]�[Z[x�)��HܙX]��X�[�][ۈ�][�X�ۛ�ZX��[��\�ۛY[�[[����Y][�[�]�[�]�[���[��[��HHX�ۛ�ZX��\�[�\�����[�H�]\�H\����[���]\���[��B��[]�HH�]��[�\�[[��H�]H\���[��H��ۈ\�ۈH�\��Hق�H�]�]�[�ݙ\�[HX�ۛ�ZX�[��\�\�H�[Z\�X˂��\ܝ]�Z[X�H]�[��L�
���K���Z�^K���