Winter 2013 - Camarillo Chamber of Commerce

Economic Development
Richard Wagner
Edward Jones Investments
The Economic Development Committee
is comprised of an active group
of community leaders. Our monthly
committee meetings act as a forum with
speakers such as Bruce Stenslie, CEO
of the EDC/VC, Dan LaBrado , General
Manager of the Pleasant Valley Recreation
and Park District, Dennis Hargrave
from Conejo Creek Development, and
Bruce Feng, Camarillo City Manager.
Our goal is to keep our members
informed on various economic
projects that are happening now
or planned for the future, as well
as the efforts of the different agencies
that are working to better the
economy in Camarillo.
In November we hosted our
annual Camarillo Chamber Economic
Development Luncheon with keynote
speaker Assemblyman Jeff Gorell, who
spoke about the California GOLD Team,
and EDC/VC CEO Bruce Stenslie, who
gave an update on the state of the economy
in Ventura County. The results of
our Annual Business Survey were also
presented.
Economic Development
Committee reviews last
six months, looks to future plans
The Chamber has continued to
work with the City of Camarillo on their
Business Visit Program, and we were
able to connect with various businesses
to hear about their businesses, and to offer
any assistance we can to their needs.
In 2012 the State terminated local
redevelopment agencies and took possession
of agency funds. This stopped
many local projects including a hotel
It is critical to support the
ongoing City activities in the
promotion of job growth.
conference center, Old Town improvements,
the Springville area development
and a number of other planned
programs. This is an ongoing challenge
for cities across the State and the City is
continuing to address the need for local
improvements. The Chamber supports
the City in their efforts to navigate the
new regulations resulting from the termination
of the RDAs and moves forward
on possible projects.
We recently formed a task force
to look at Chamber Economic Development
activities for 2013. While we
intend to continue with our monthly
EDC forum on the first Tuesday of every
month at 8:00 a.m., we are assessing
and prioritizing other activities as well.
Our focus is on job creation and retention
in the Camarillo area. We plan
to work with the California GOLD
Team, headed by Assemblyman
Jeff Gorell. It is critical to support
the ongoing City activities in
the promotion of job growth. We
plan to revisit the Chamber vision,
created in 2006, and update the
Chamber Strategic Plan created in 2008.
There will also be improvements in the
Chamber Business Survey process.
It is our intent to have optimal development
plans that are positive, not
only for our business members, but for
the Camarillo community in general.
You are invited to join the committee
and participate in our activities in 2013.
Jobs, economic growth subjects of annual event
The Journal Winter 2013
28
Assemblyman Jeff Gorell
and Bruce Stenslie, Director
for the Economic Development
Collaborative of Ventura
County addressed the growing
concerns of job creation
and economic growth at the
annual Economic Outlook
Luncheon in November.
Gorell detailed the plans
of the California GOLD
Team, a joint venture with
him, Lieutenant Governor
Gavin Newsom and other parties
at the State Capitol.
“Quality of life begins
with a job,” said Gorell when
discussing how plans to bring
business back to California’s
central coast region will benefit
residents.
Unemployment rates
have been high in California
since the recession began in
2008, but economic growth
has been steadily getting better
for the past 18 months or
so. The GOLD Team plans
to make the central coast and
Ventura County a technology
hub will help bring all of California
back up even faster.
Above from left: Speakers Bruce Stenslie (EDC/VC),
Chamber CEO Jennifer Wells, Assemblyman Jeff Gorell,
and Richard Wagner (Edward Jones Investments). pause
after the luncheon for a picture.