High Desert Cities Collaborate For Economic Development

摘要

Proposals with mysterious code names, clandestine meetings with real estate developers looking to relocate businesses, and fierce competition for every retail outlet, restaurant, office building, industrial facility and warehouse characterized the dynamic among five neighboring municipalities - until recently. "That was the typical description of economic development efforts in the High Desert region in Southern California prior to the dissolution of redevelopment," says Adelanto City Manager Jim Hart. "But no more." With the loss of redevelopment, the city and town managers of the High Desert region - the Town of Apple Valley and the cities of Adelanto, Barstow, Hesperia and Victorville - realized the future of development for the entire area depended on letting go of deeply entrenched habits, forging stronger relationships and cooperating at the staff level. The result was the creation of a new entity for economic development marketing, known as Opportunity High Desert.