A medley of private businesses, trade groups, public entities and educational institutions is coming together in an effort spearheaded by the Santa Clarita Chamber of Commerce, hoping to give a boost to the area? economic development. Plans are already underway to create and implement a commercial real estate outreach program to help attract and retain new businesses to the area. The group is studying the feasibility of implementing a micro-lending program to offer new lines of credit to small businesses and has already filed articles of incorporation to start an Economic Development Corporation, which, if approved by the IRS, would operate as a non-profit 501C3 in Santa Clarita, and would become the umbrella organization leading these efforts. (Four board nembers have already been selected to serve on the future corporation.) These projects are happening under the direction of the new Economic Development Committee in the Santa Clarita Chamber of Commerce, officially formed in January as a response to the economic dowturn. The Committee will support and complement the efforts already in place by the City? Economic Development Division, which recently launched a 21-Point Business Plan for Progress that invests more than $5.1 million in new programs and incentives. ?e started this committee because we think there? a lot more than can be done, and the project [revitalizing the economy] is so big that the city alone can? handle it,?said Bill Kennedy, Chairman of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce. ?e want to jump on board and assist with economic development, which is fully consistent with the Chamber? mission to ensure that we have successful, robust businesses in the Santa Clarita Valley.? The Committee, he said, has gathered over 40 volunteers from throughout the community including representatives from the City of Santa Clarita, Los Angeles County, members of the Chamber of Commerce, the Valley Industrial Association (VIA) the Los Angeles Economic Development Center (LAEDC), College of the Canyons, and members of Santa Clarita? commercial real estate community. ?e all recognized the economic hardships and slowdowns and we, as the board of the Chamber, are hoping to do something that will help not only our members but the business community as a whole,?said John Shaffery, a partner in the law firm Poole & Shaffery, and Chair of the Economic Development Committee at the Chamber of Commerce. Although less adversely impacted by the economic recession than other areas in Los Angeles County, Santa Clarita? fourth quarter 2008 sales tax numbers were 15 percent below same quarter comparisons for 2007 and among the lowest in the City? 21-year history. Santa Clarita? office, retail and industrial vacancy rate was 6.8 percent in January. The entire Valley continues to be challenged by the slowdown in housing construction and the reduced prices of housing. The new committee seeks to re-invigorate the region? economy. Although the Committee has no operating budget, volunteers have been divided into six subcommittees, and are pooling efforts and resources to advance their projects. ?t? really amazing what this community is doing,?said Jill Mellady, CEO of Mellady Direct Marketing in Santa Clarita, who is leading the Promotion and Marketing subcommittee. ?e?e all feeling the effects of the economy and it? so important to help the local business community strive for success so we can stay in business, retain jobs, create jobs, and create community wealth.? Marlee Lauffer, Vice President, Marketing & Communications for the Newhall Land and Farming Co. is helping coordinate the commercial real estate outreach efforts through another subcommittee. ?his is an example of how the Santa Clarita Valley is extremely proactive in developing private public partnerships,?she said. Her sub-committee will focus on attracting employers to the area and helping existing employers grow their business. Lauffer? group will work with the local real estate community to compile and analyze information that can help streamline the process for companies thinking about relocating to the SCV and will also perform an analysis of business clusters in the Santa Clarita Valley, especially in the technology and entertainment sectors, to explore the potential for expansion. Another sub-committee is looking into the possibility of bringing soccer tournaments to the Santa Clarita Valley, and they are helping events already here, such as the AT & T; Golf Classic, find additional sponsorship money so they can remain in the valley, according to Lauffer. Still another subcommittee is working on finding additional funding or services to increase the breadth and scope of a ?hop Santa Clarita Valley?campaign, which will receive funding of $250,000 from the City as part of its 21-Point Plan, ?e?e pretty clear that once the economy begins to turn, this will be one of the hot development markets in Southern California,?said Larry Mankin, President and CEO of the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce. Mankin is chairing a subcommittee that is leading the efforts to form the Economic Development Corporation. ?his will be another group that will work hand in hand with all of the partners in economic development in Santa Clarita,?he said. Additionally, the Valley Industrial Association will help complement the economic development activities at the Chamber of Commerce through its current efforts to form a Housing Trust that will develop affordable workforce housing, Kennedy said.
