Nancy Martin, executive director of the Economic Development
Corp. of San Benito County since Oct. 1, talked about capitalizing
on the area’s quality of life and other views she brings to an
expanded role that local leaders hope can boost recruitment of new
industry to the area.
HOLLISTER
As San Benito County attempts to attract interest from outside businesses, the new economic development chief expects to sell the area’s quality of life as a “primary tool” in getting their attention.
Nancy Martin, executive director of the Economic Development Corp. of San Benito County since Oct. 1, talked about capitalizing on the area’s quality of life and other views she brings to an expanded role that local leaders hope can boost recruitment of new industry. Martin has a wide array of experience from both the private and public sides of economic development, owning consulting businesses along her path and also working for cities and counties in the same vein.
Martin succeeds longtime EDC Executive Director Al Martinez, who has stayed aboard this month to help ease the transition before he retires.
“This county has a lot of assets,” said Martin, who most recently owned a private consulting business in Rancho Capistrano. “It has a lot of things going for it that are not available in other areas. Quality of life – that’s one of the things that will become a primary tool we can use.”
Martin sat down with the Free Lance recently and also focused on a need for “prudent” growth, promoting partnerships among local organizations and government agencies, and refining a message so all the vested parties can get on the same page.
“Nothing is worse than going out there and trying to communicate to a business why you want them, and then having 12 different messages out there so that you’re confusing people.”
Martin said she has been busy – and she’s enjoyed – getting to know the different players and organizations here. More people working together, Martin believes, would create a “stronger voice” for economic development.
“Everything,” Martin said, “is about communication and partnerships to me. There’s nobody that can do anything alone. You can’t do it in a cave somewhere.”
Martin doesn’t, however, shy away from the challenges ahead such as the poor economy and a need for infrastructure improvements in San Benito County.
For an expanded version of this story, see Tuesday’s Free Lance.
