Economic Development

Overview

Economic Development

Article Features by Karalee Browne

Community Choice Aggregation Drives Economic Development

This option reduces electricity costs, provides cleaner energy options, and offers economic opportunity and increased transparency.

Article Executive Director's Message by Carolyn Coleman

Cities Adapt as Tools for Economic Development Evolve

City leaders are pursuing new and innovative ways to enhance their community’s economic well-being.

Article Features by Jason Rhine

Housing Supply and Affordability: Challenges for 2019

The Legislature remains focused on housing policy, with keen interest in local government land-use authority and new state involvement in helping to finance affordable housing and related infrastructure.

Article Features by Shaun M. Anderson

Creating a Collaborative Community Development Initiative

Using sports for community development initiatives holds promise for cities.

Article Features by Jim Lewis

Getting the Most Value From Your City’s Technology Investment

On average, cities spend 2.5 to 3 percent of their overall budgets on technology.

Article Features by Steve Sanders and Karalee Browne

Collaboration Helps Cities Become More Prosperous and Sustainable

Partnerships can help local communities attract investments that advance sustainability and boost local economies.

Temecula’s Arts and Culture Support a Thriving Economy

The City of Temecula won the Award for Excellence in the Economic Development Through the Arts category of the 2017 Helen Putnam Award for Excellence program. For more about the awards program, visit www.helenputnam.org

Article Features by Dan Carrigg

Redevelopment’s Elimination: Remembering the Local Experience

As new tools emerge, expect local officials to exercise caution.

Article Features by Dan Carrigg

Reassembling Redevelopment

The new tax-increment tools lack the concentrated financial impact provided by the former redevelopment tool. Left unaddressed, this financing gap presents significant challenges for the future use of these tools.

Article Features Dan Carrigg

How SB 89 Harmed City Annexations — and Why Fixing It Makes Sense

Fixing annexations would restore previous incentives that support state policies advocating for compact growth and the related benefits of consolidating services for an increasing population.

Palm Desert Capitalizes on Arts and Culture

First Weekend Palm Desert helps increase the city’s tax revenues and makes it a regional center for the arts by drawing crowds to lively events from November through May.

Article Features Sarah RubinMahvash Hassan

Immigrants, the Economy and Civic Engagement

Immigrants contribute significantly to California’s economy, both as employers and workers. The cities of Brawley, Oakley and Mountain View offer examples of how engaging immigrant communities…

Article Features Ignacio Dayrit

Fight Blight in Your City With Brownfields Tools

An underused set of funding resources offers tools that cities can use for virtually any site.

Article Executive Director's Message Carolyn Coleman

Changing How We Think About Economic Development

Economic development is both a strategy and a process involving a web of interdependent factors.

Article City Forum

New Website Matches Businesses With Government Incentives

The California Business Incentives Gateway gives local governments a cost-free way to expand outreach to businesses.

Summer Night Lights Program Keeps LA Parks Safe After Dark

The City of Los Angeles launched a program in which parks are kept open until 11:00 p.m., and volunteers and staff facilitate safe, healthy activities.

Article Legal Notes Bruce Galloway

Maximizing Revenue From City Property With Municipal Leases

A municipal lease transaction should be evaluated for various legal issues.

Article California Cities Helen Putnam Award for Excellence Christina Vincent

Carlsbad Focuses on Economic Opportunities in High-Tech Sectors

A city biotech incubator, a talent attraction campaign and a higher education initiative for workforce development help foster economic growth.

Article Features Steve Sanders

Sustainability Offers a Path to Prosperity

Sustainable communities are often better able to thrive and become more prosperous; sustainability is not just about the environment.