Third District Update_Feb 2020

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

General Updates

• Meeting for Innovation Month discussion and planning of activities in the Coachella Valley held on January 28, 2020 in Palm Desert with economic developers from Valley Cities, Conventions and Visitor’s Bureau, CVEP, and Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce. • ED Team provided technical assistance to Steve Solari, Hospitality Development Company who is working with investor group on potential boutique hotel in Vista Santa Rosa. Zoning information along with Fast Track program information was provided. • EDA Team provided technical assistance to Frank Goodyear, an out of town broker assisting a client with site selection for manufacturing company wanting to relocate from overseas. • Trammel Crow announced that Sam’s Club will be occupying an almost 800,000 sq. ft. industrial facility at their Knox II Industrial building in the Mead Valley Industrial area. EDA’s support of this attraction effort was “instrumental” in landing this project. Sam’s will employ approximately 500 people at the new facility. ED and Workforce teams will partner with Trammel Crow on a job fair(s) to assist with hiring and training. • EDA hosted two Opportunity Zone events on January 21, 2020 with speakers from Kosmont and Associates and Blake Christian, a Certified Public Accountant. Both firms have expertise in Opportunity Zone matters. The event provided updates on the final regulations which were issued at the end of December 2019 and in-depth information about potential investment deal structures, and how communities can take advantage of this tool to further economic development. Next steps include: o Developing a framework whereby certain projects in unincorporated Opportunity Zone communities will receive expedited entitlements and permitting. o Continue developing an inventory of projects throughout the county that will be matched with Qualified Opportunity Funds. • ED team is working with the region’s cities on future branding and economic development marketing. Several branding concepts have been proposed by the SWEDC and are being reviewed by cities and ED team. • Assisted Annika Knoppel of The Team at Highway 371 Business Association. They want to be connected to all the updates of events and or news that is taking place in the Anza area of the 3 rd district. • Met with Abel Sierra, Manager at MIMBO Technologies. Spoke on the OJT program and options to find viable candidates for interview. • Met with the new HR manager at Luxfur Superform. Spoke on Workforce Development and the OJT program. Looked at a few candidates and provided feedback. • Attended the Lake Elsinore Chamber of Commerce morning networking event, hosted by Lake Elsinore Casino in Lake Elsinore. Received updates on the City of Lake Elsinore and local business activities. • Attended the Southwest Regional Committee meeting hosted by the Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce in Murrieta. Received updates on Workforce Development activities, AJCC operation, local business events, and other miscellaneous activities. • Met with Savannah Santiago, HR representative for Pacific Barcode. Spoke about the possibility of using the OJT program for some additional open positions. • Met with Amanda Castillo of Castillo Heating and Air Conditioning – Discussed the OJT timelines, the documents required, and the responsibilities of the employee and employer. • Met with Sarah Hensley of Precision Material Handling. Spoke on additional services offered by Workforce Development and the company’s interest in the OJT program. Work on-going with possible candidates. • Met with the Temecula Sears representative Andrea Gomez on Workforce Services and how we can assist with Workforce’s Rapid Response program. Told that they might be interested but she would have to follow up with her manager.

French Valley Business Center