SBC Economic Development Corp. recruits a new executive
director
A new executive director of the Economic Development Corporation
of San Benito County brings opportunity for closer cooperation with
Hollister staff and community organizations, according to its
outgoing director.
SBC Economic Development Corp. recruits a new executive director
A new executive director of the Economic Development Corporation of San Benito County brings opportunity for closer cooperation with Hollister staff and community organizations, according to its outgoing director.
“It’s changing now,” said Al Martinez, the organization’s leader for the last 20 years. “The director is going to change. The way it’s going to operate is going to change.”
The non-profit Economic Development Corporation (EDC), has a two-person staff that is responsible for recruitment of new businesses, retention of existing businesses and start-up of small businesses, Martinez said.
People want more jobs in town that pay good wages, Martinez said.
“The reality of life in small towns is that they rarely have what people call good wages,” Martinez said.
Martinez helped start the EDC in 1982.
“Way back then, we were addressing the community’s high unemployment rate,” Martinez said. Then, local unemployment was perpetually in the double digits.
The unemployment rate in April was 9.8 percent, according to the state Economic Development Department, ranking San Benito County 45th of California’s 58 counties.
California’s unemployment rate in April was 6.1.
Martinez is not an economic development coordinator by training. He worked in manufacturing for more than 30 years.
“I officially took this job over in January of 1989,” Martinez said. “Kind of on-the-job training.”
Despite his lack of formal training, Martinez claims success in recruiting businesses to the county.
Corbin Motorcycle Seats and Accessories moved to the county in 1998, said Mike Corbin, chief risk officer of Corbin.
“It was Al Martinez did the most amount of work,” Corbin said.
Corbin got to know Martinez after Corbin became involved in the motorcycle rally in the mid-’90s.
“At the same time, our building in Castroville was getting pretty small,” Corbin said. “We traded the building in Castroville for some land in San Benito County. Because the rally was coming up, we thought it would make a great address for us.”
To recruit businesses, the next economic development coordinator should develop informational materials and a presentation with endorsements from business owners in the county, Corbin suggested.
“You can’t do it unless you go out and sell people on the idea,” Corbin said “The one who does the best job gets the most business. There’s no magic to it. It’s good practical merchandising and marketing.”
With its history of the rally, Corbin would market the county to other companies in the motorcycle business, he said.
Marketing is one of the jobs of an economic development coordinator’s jobs, said Jeff Pyle, Hollister’s economic development manager.
“Do we have a big marketing package? Not really,” Pyle said, referring to Hollister. “I guess that’s the next thing to do.”
Due to the sewer moratorium, marketing the city to outside businesses was not a priority, Pyle said. With the end of the moratorium in sight, it will be.
Pyle expects that to happen within the next year.
“I’m sure we’ll get something up and running with the EDC,” Pyle said. “When they’re ready, I’m ready.”
Pyle will encourage businesses from specific industries to move to Hollister, he said.
“A big goal for us in the city of Hollister right now is we really want to encourage more retail development,” Pyle said. “Once you get past Target and Kmart, where do you go?”
Other target industries include green building and recycling, airplanes/autos/motorcycles, legal services, financial services and restaurants, according to a comprehensive economic development strategy and plan adopted in 2007.
“And I would like the EDC’s help on that,” Pyle said.
Pyle does not know when or how that might happen.
Pyle would like to put together a group of local business owners from target industries to discuss how to get more of them to move to the county, he said.
“It would be very good if myself and the EDC could facilitate people like Corbin and Greenwood [Chevrolet] to sit down together and figure out where do we go next,” Pyle said. “It could have happened a year ago.”
Pyle does not know when he will coordinate such an effort.
Owners of Marich Confectionary, a business that Martinez helped recruit, relocated from Watsonville for several reasons, said Troy van Dam, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Marich.
“One, the land prices were quite a bit cheaper, van Dam said. “I also lived out here at the time, so that was a reason too.”
Martinez has been a helpful resource, van Dam said.
“Actually, Al had quite a bit to do with it,” van Dam said. “Whenever we’ve had questions, like the permitting process, he was always there as kind of a go-to person. He’s been a great ally to have here.”
The next executive director of the EDC should serve a similar function, van Dam said.
“Anything like that is always a big benefit,” van Dam said.
Another priority should be letting the community know when there are good-paying jobs available in the county, van Dam said. Most of the employees who work on the floor of the factory are from outside the county, van Dam said.
Martinez does not negotiate with city or county officials to offer business owners incentives to relocate, he said. In the past, industrial business was exempt from impact fees in Hollister, excluding public safety and school impact fees, Martinez said.
“I don’t have anything to offer now,” Martinez said. “The only thing I have to offer is what every other EDC has to offer, state and federal incentives.”
Waiving impact fees made a big difference when Marich moved, van Dam said.
“The fee structure that was associated with Monterey County was just unbelievable,” van Dam said.
A professional economic development coordinator would help the EDC promote economic development in the county, Martinez said.
“I don’t even scratch the surface with computers,” Martinez said. “The industry is all computerized.”
The new executive director will be a professional economic development coordinator or have experience in a related field, Martinez said.
“We’re going to expect a lot from this person because they are going to pay them a very nice wage,” Martinez said. “Big difference between what I’m getting paid and what he’s going to get paid.”
Martinez declined to state his salary.
EDC staff is funded by grants and membership dues, Martinez said.
“Now, the big, big change is that the county of San Benito is going to become involved,” Martinez said.
San Benito County officials and Hollister officials will contribute $50,000 each to help pay the new executive director’s salary.
The San Benito County Small Business Council officials will contribute $50,000 over two years, Martinez said.
The salary of the new executive director has not been set, Martinez said.
The minimum qualifications are a bachelor’s degree in a related field and at least five years of experience in a related field, according to the job advertisement.
“There were just five applicants that we felt meet the requirements,” Martinez said. “It’s up to the applicant committee and the board to decide.”
The application review committee consists of Martinez, a professional and someone who works in government, Martinez said.
“I’m not going to tell you who,” Martinez said, referring to the two other people.
The position will remain open until it is filled, Martinez said.
“The community wants it to happen now,” Martinez said. “I want it to happen now. I don’t want to see it screwed up. Especially not by me.”
Martinez will help hire and train his replacement before he retires.
“I’m 76 going on 77,” Martinez said. “I inherited my mother’s genes. She was young forever and ever.”
