Jobs and Economic Development for Fresno

Fresno County, CA

March 7, 2000 Election

Jobs and Economic Development for Fresno

By Randy Reed

Candidate for Member of City Council; City of Fresno; District 4

This information is provided by the candidate

Fresno needs effective leadership to eliminate double-digit unemployment and create greater employment opportunities for our residents.

With Fresno County's workforce growing faster than our rate of job creation, jobs must be our first priority. The fact that Fresno offers a large and available workforce should work as an advantage for our community, given the challenges employers are having locating workers in much of the rest of the state and across the nation. However, without business infrastructure, a trained/trainable workforce and a political environment which is stable and united in its efforts to attract business to our community, Fresno will have little opportunity to create the synergy that is so essential to long-term, sustainable employment growth. The Economic Development Corporation is the appropriate agency for administering our efforts, with effective participation from the City of Fresno. As Fresno identifies its business development strategies, it must work to ensure the full participation of the EDC in promoting the city's vision, preparing its workforce for the jobs being targeted, and measuring its success in achieving established goals. Equally important is the city's role in supporting and challenging our local schools to reduce drop-out rates, increase student achievement at all levels and encouraging active parental and community participation in academic based and extra-curricular activities to reward students for their accomplishments in and outside of the classroom.

A clear companion to job creation is overall economic development in our city. Economic Development speaks to the need to create available business infrastructure and inventory, streamline the permitting and approval process and provide the quality of life enhancements, which are attractive to businesses considering locating in our community. Key components to our economic development strategy include a commitment to completing Roeding Business Park and identifying other properties which could be attractive for manufacturing, light industrial and warehouse/distribution uses. In addition, Fresno must continue to instill customer service values and empower Development Department employees to reduce bureaucracy and shepherd projects through the permitting process. Fresno must also focus on enhancing community image and quality of life, which weigh heavily in business location decisions.

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