HOLLISTER
Economic Development Corp. of San Benito County head Nancy Martin told a crowd of local businesspeople today the area has “a lot of assets” to help tout new industry and she noted how she had been in recruitment talks with seven businesses “right now.”
Martin, the EDC’s executive director who started in October, spoke at this morning’s Hollister Downtown Association quarterly breakfast at Paine’s Restaurant.
Martin told the group how she is working on a broad strategy and marketing plan for the area and said that despite the poor economy – while underscoring the flood of foreclosures, declined sales and high unemployment – San Benito County can tout such signs of progress as the moratorium’s lifting, the bypass’ completion, major projects being in the pipeline and the airport plan having been approved already by the Transportation Security Administration.
“We have a lot of assets here – this is a wonderful area,” she said.
While stressing her primary jobs are to “be the cheerleader” for San Benito County and “create wealth,” Martin noted how she had been “working with seven companies right now.”
“Some have 200 employees,” said Martin, who had playfully teased the crowd about having to keep their identities anonymous. “Some have one and a half employees.”
She did say the area should recruit such industries as those dealing with clean technology, biotechnology, green businesses and bio-agriculture. She also pointed out how there has been an increase in seed money for upstart businesses.
“Sometimes in recessions, that’s when the best companies are created,” she said.
