Community Development – Economic Development
Economic Development Corporation of Oxnard (“EDCO”) is now in its fifteenth year, consistently maintaining its original focus on building the commercial/industrial job base in Oxnard for the benefit of Oxnard residents. Every year since its founding, EDCO has assisted businesses in their relocation or expansion in Oxnard, resulting in a cumulative gain of more than 19,205 primary-wage jobs into the community. In terms of supporting the City’s interest in retail expansion, EDCO’s contribution has been to stimulate creation of the jobs which have brought substantial disposable income into the households of Oxnard, making the city in turn a desirable target market for retailers and restaurateurs.
EDCO’s calling card to the business community is its “concierge-level” service, acting as a single-source reference point for information and assistance to businesses of all sizes. In recent years, EDCO staff has specialized in facilitating development-related permits through the City for businesses, helping companies occupy their facilities as quickly as possible while also assisting in the more efficient operation of the City’s permit counters. EDCO’s Permit Assistance Program consists of preparing permit applications and assembling plans and other supplementary information required by the City. EDCO processes all end-user permits, minor and major building permits and minor and major entitlements.
EDCO’s workforce assistance program consists of assisting companies in identifying qualified candidates to fill existing positions, and workforce training reimbursement assistance. Companies submit existing job openings directly to EDCO. EDCO staff distributes the listing to educational institutions, job and career centers, and posts the opening directly to our website. EDCO screens all applicants to insure they are qualified for the existing position, and forwards the applications onto the employer. EDCO assists companies in preparing training programs eligible for workforce training cost reimbursement through the State of California Employment Training Panel.
EDCO continues to offer site selection assistance to relocating and existing companies. Our service includes identifying appropriate sites based on size, zoning, parking, specifications. EDCO works directly with the Planning and Building Division to insure that occupancy and use issues are in accordance with City Building and Zoning Codes.
EDCO provides up-to-date economic data for the Oxnard and Ventura County regions. The database includes information on employment, wages, housing costs, Gross Domestic Product, and population characteristics. Customized reports are available for relocation prospects and existing businesses.
EDCO has taken a proactive role in fostering small business and startup companies. EDCO offers assistance in identifying strategic locations to locate the business, sources of financing and training seminars.
Ancillary activities managed by EDCO include: the administration of the City’s film permit system and marketing the City’s filming attractions; the administration of the City’s Industrial Development Financing Authority (for the issuance of industrial development bonds); and the management of the Topa Business Resource Center (a small-business assistance center).
EDCO recently completed a State Enterprise Zone application on behalf of the City of Oxnard. If the City is awarded an Enterprise Zone designation, EDCO will assist the City in marketing the Zone to existing businesses and potential relocation targets. In addition, EDCO will administer the Zone’s five-year attraction, expansion and retention programs identified in the application.
During the upcoming two-year City budget cycle, EDCO will maintain its core focus of primary-wage job creation assistance, and will likely intensify its activities in three areas:
- 1) assume responsibility for managing Oxnard Downtown Management District (ODMD), and implementing new targeted attraction and retention activities for downtown
- 2) target marketing to wineries and bio-tech and related companies as the Sakioka property becomes approved for development as a new high-end master-planned business center
- 3) searching with City assistance for infill and redevelopment opportunities in the older industrial sections of Oxnard, in order to upgrade those areas and simultaneously create new options for business relocation.