Hollister
–
”
Economic development
”
is a phrase that frequently gets tossed around. Representatives
from the San Francisco-based Business Alliance for Local Living
Economies say they want to offer a new vision of growth Thursday at
their conference,
”
Redefining Economic Development in California.
”
Hollister – “Economic development” is a phrase that frequently gets tossed around. Representatives from the San Francisco-based Business Alliance for Local Living Economies say they want to offer a new vision of growth Thursday at their conference, “Redefining Economic Development in California.”
“The standard model for economic development is to try to lure large corporations into a town and throw subsidies, tax incentives and rebates at them,” said BALLE Program Director Ann Bartz. “Corporations can take all that and come in and then not stay. Or they can come in and ship their profits somewhere else.”
BALLE focuses on a different kind of economic development, Bartz said, one centered on creating and fostering local businesses. The theme of Thursday’s conference will be “San Benito County: A New Model for Success.”
“We want business, government and community leaders in San Benito County and California to get together and discuss hard issues,” Bartz said.
Chief among those issues will be balancing the need for economic and housing development with the desire to protect open space and family farms. BALLE also wants to use the conference as an opportunity to discuss the possibilities provided by growth in sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, zero-waste manufacturing and green building. Finally, Bartz said, she hopes to encourage cooperation between different government, business and agricultural groups.
“We want to kick off more collaboration among all sectors,” she said. “People think best in groups, when they can bounce ideas off each other.”
Scheduled speakers include BALLE Director Don Shaffer, Sustainable Connection Executive Director Michelle Long and U.S. Congressman Sam Farr, who represents California District 17, including San Benito County.
BALLE has already been working for a year and a half in the county to encourage local development. During that time, Bartz said, the group has identified downtown retail opportunities such as a tapas bar serving local food and wine, worked with local businesses on green architecture, helped family farms with community-supported agriculture – a system that allows consumers to support local farms – and encouraged Paicines Ranch to build its local slaughterhouse, which in turn led to creation of a dog biscuit company.
According to Hollister’s Economic Development Manager Jeff Pyle, BALLE is also working with the city on a “Local First” campaign that will encourage residents to do their Christmas shopping at local businesses.
“More people are starting to realize that making their purchases with local independent businesses will pay off in terms of bigger investment in local businesses and the local economy,” said Pyle, who will be speaking at the conference. “It’s common sense, really.”
So what’s all the fuss about local businesses? Bartz said that local companies do a lot more good for their communities than bigger corporations.
“Local businesses tend to be more committed and responsive to the community,” she said. She added that since these businesses will hire other local companies for services like advertising and accounting, “The profits tend to circulate in the local economy … and they create more jobs.”
Pyle said that most of Hollister’s future economic growth will be based in attracting Bay Area companies, rather than looking outside of the region.
“Redefining Economic Development in California” is scheduled for 9am to 4:30pm on Thursday at the Veteran’s Memorial Building. It will be co-hosted by BALLE and the California Integrated Waste Management Board. Attendees can also register at the door.
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566, ext. 330.
