Improve Economic Development

By Michael Maciel

Tracy is loosing business and investment opportunities to other area communities.

Tracy has an unenviable reputation with the business community as a city that is difficult to deal with. If Tracy is to take advantage of market opportunities as the economy improves, we must change that negative perception. We must review our organizational culture when it comes to dealing with our business customers. It should be the job of city government to facilitate, not regulate, new investment in our town.

We need to review our fee schedules to ensure they are appropriate, fair and competitive. Tracy needs to look to neighboring communities to see what strategies have made them successful with economic development, including identifying appropriate incentives. And finally, Tracy needs to reach out to the business community to seek their input on how to improve service.

As a community, we need to take advantage of Tracy's many assets when it comes to attracting investment and jobs, and stop being our own worst enemy.