An Open House has been scheduled for July 28, 2011, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., to celebrate the 20-Year Anniversary of the Economic Development Corporation of Southwest California. The business community is invited to join current EDC members in commemorating significant achievements over the years and reminisce.
In 1990, the economy was in a deep downturn, construction was slowing rapidly, and unemployment in the region was rising. It was in this environment that Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee proposed the formation of a local Economic Development Corporation. The Chamber Board of Directors wholeheartedly endorsed the creation of the Temecula Valley EDC, a non-profit, public/private partnership committed to economic growth in the valley and, in 1991, the first meeting of the newly incorporated organization met to organize its strategic plan.
The concept of economic development and the prerequisites of a successful economic development strategy were understood by the founders of the corporation. “A Big Picture” approach was laid out because there was no “silver bullet” in economic development – just hard work, planning, and a cohesive community action plan. The EDC would be a bridge, a necessary ingredient of community development, created in partnership between the private and the public sectors.
Concentrating on a combination of attraction, retention, and small business assistance, typical activities would include data collection, marketing/advertising the community, prospect response follow-up, business information events, financial information assistance, infrastructure development, promotion of tourism, and business lobbying.
Twenty years has flown by since those fledgling days, and the Economic Development Corporation of Southwest California has seen eight different office locations, three name changes, six executive directors, and eight Board presidents. Still dedicated to business attraction, business retention, business expansion, and workforce development, the EDC has expanded its geographic oversight to all of Southwest Riverside County.
Through the slump of the 1990s, the boom of the early 2000s, and the recent “Great Recession,” the EDC has maintained that critical link between the private and public sectors by developing professional relationships, supplying diverse information resources to business, providing accessibility to key decision makers, being a connection for legislative advocacy on issues of concern, and linking education partners for workforce development.
Professional Hospital Supply (who is observing 30 years in the Valley), Law Offices of Reid & Hellyer, Paulson Manufacturing, Prudhomme Associates CPAs, RBF Consulting, Southwest Traders, Granite Construction, CSU San Marcos at Temecula, and Stifel Nicolaus are event sponsors. The Jon Laskin Band (also celebrating 20 years in the region) will be providing music. Raviolis, Lucilles Smokehouse Bar-B-Que, E.A.T. (Extraordinary Artisan Table), and Lazy Dog Café will supply refreshments.
Other sponsors include: The Branding Hive, JDS Video & Media Productions, The Valley Business Journal, All Events Party Rental, Embassy Suites, Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District, and Potamus Press.
Reservations are requested for this free event. Join the EDC in an evening of fun, food, and entertainment observing this momentous milestone.
For more information, visit our website at www.edcsouthwestcalifornia.com or call (951) 694-9800.