The City of Lompoc has a clear economic development strategy that has delivered results. As a consequence, Lompoc enjoys one of the healthiest and most diversified economies on the Central Coast, based on defense and commercial space, mining, agriculture, manufacturing, government, tourism and entrepreneurship. To assure a sustainable economy in the Lompoc Valley, the city will continue to spawn new entrepreneurs, grow existing businesses, and attract new industry.

As stated in the 2007/2009 City Budget, the Economic Development Mission is to design, implement, and monitor economic development programs in the city. This includes improving the quality of life for Lompoc/s residents through: 1) the provision of timely technical and financial assistance to business-owners, investors, brokers, developers and others necessary to retain and create employment opportunities in the city; 2) the retention and expansion of the local tourism trade; 3) the recruitment of new business to the community; 4) marketing of the community; 5) creation of small-business opportunities; and 6) enhancement of local workforce.

The budget defines the city/s Economic Development Program goals: 1) reduce the number of Lompoc residents commuting to work outside of the Lompoc Valley; 2) increase property tax, sales tax, use tax, and transient-occupancy tax revenues; 3) increase small-business opportunities in Lompoc through the Self Employment Training and Micro-Enterprise Loan Program;

4) launch broadband as an economic development tool and overall quality of life enhancement for citizens.

The budget outlines specific Economic Development Program performance areas: administration, economic development advertising, financial programs, training programs, strategic partnerships, Chamber of Commerce, tourism advertising, and community events. These areas are described below.

The City of Lompoc Economic Development Program collects, compiles, analyzes and presents economic and demographic data about the community; recommends the establishment of economic development goals and priorities; develops and prepares informational brochures and other materials describing the community; initiates contact with businesses interested in investing in the community, initiates recruitment efforts to attract businesses which meet the city/s job creation goals, makes visits to business and industry; maintains current information about tools for financing business and industrial investments; coordinates economic development activities between city departments; and prepares applications for grants or loans for economic development activities.

The one-person Economic Development office creates and funds economic development marketing programs targeted to business owners, investors, brokers and developers. The ED office defines and promotes financial tools available for local businesses, e.g. Lompoc Economic Development Revolving Loan and Redevelopment Agency funds, USDA Business & Industry Guaranteed Loan, etc. The ED office also organizes, administers, and promotes the Self-Employment Training (SET) and Micro-Enterprise Loan Program. This includes marketing and underwriting analysis.

The Economic Development office also coordinates with other economic development programs and organizations such as the City of Lompoc/s Redevelopment Agency and Community Development Block Grant Program; California Space Authority; U.S. Department of Labor Workforce Innovation for Regional Economic Development; California Association for Local Economic Development; International Economic Development Council; U.S. Economic Development Administration; U.S. Small Business Administration; Coastal Business Finance; Workforce Investment Board; Private Industry Council; etc.

It is the Economic Development office that manages the contract for financial support to the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor/s Bureau for material and staff expenses related to the fulfillment of literature and information requests, small-business assistance services, tourism marketing, and business attraction marketing support material. The ED office also manages payment for the tourism-marketing program administered under contract by the Chamber of Commerce. The ED program provides for limited support of the Lompoc Flower Festival and expenses related to dignitary hospitality.

The city/s Specific Economic Development objectives are

1) to create a minimum of 100 new jobs during the budget cycle, by either assisting in the expansion of local businesses, or by attracting new businesses into the community; and

2) to continue to update and implement an Economic Development Marketing Campaign to attract new businesses.

To attain these objectives, the city budgeted almost ,11 million for economic development programs and projects in fiscal year 2007/2008. The Lompoc Redevelopment Agency and Lompoc Community Development Block Grant Program, which are mandated to contribute to the economic vitality of the community, provide 97 percent of this commitment and the city General Fund and Electric Fund provide less than 3 percent.

From the city General Fund, Economic Development and Tourism comprises ,191,541, over 88 percent of which goes to the Chamber of Commerce for services (,120,000) and ad placement (,50,000). The General Fund also contributes for partial salary and benefits for Economic Development Manager. The Electric Fund contributes ,28,000 for community promotion.

The Lompoc Redevelopment Agency budget for fiscal year 2007/2008 is over ,8.3 million, which includes: salary and benefits for Redevelopment staff; partial salary and benefits for two administrative assistants, city Planning Manager, and Economic Development manager; office expenses; professional services for legal work; property maintenance; legal and accounting expenses; economic development marketing (,40,000); training and meeting expenses; pass through amounts to other local and county agencies; and debt service for loans and the Aquatic Center bond.

The ,8.3 million Redevelopment Agency budget includes over ,3.2 million that is allocated to commercial and city projects and programs. More than ,2.5 million is allocated to housing programs and projects. The agency is currently funding several projects in Old Town: Art Alley and a pocket park, as well as renovation of Lompoc Theater and Lompoc Museum. The agency also partially funds the Police Activities League Program and Athletic Center and programs to assist commercial property owners renovate their property in the project area.

The Community Development Block Grant budget for fiscal year 2007/2008 is ,2.3 million, which includes salaries and benefits for CDBG staff, partial salary and benefits for code enforcement and planning staff, and grant, loan, and scholarship programs. The budget includes an Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund. CDBG resources have recently funded Americans with Disability Act upgrades at the Lompoc Library and affordable housing projects. Lompoc Theater renovation, Police Activities League Athletic Center, and a replacement Community Center are currently earmarked for future funding.

With comparable resources, the city outlined similar objectives in the previous budget cycle and attained them by creating over 100 new jobs and launching new marketing campaigns to attract new business.

Be sure to read the next article to learn how the city met the objective of job creation. My final article will discuss the city/s marketing campaigns to attract new business.

Editor/s note: This is the first of three columns by Lompoc Economic Development Manager Kate Griffith about the state of economic development in Lompoc, which has come under recent criticism. Today, Griffith details the basic plan. The next column, Oct. 23, will focus on job creation. The final column, Oct. 23, will

discuss marketing campaigns.

Lompoc Economic Development Manager Kate Griffith can be reached at 875-8232, or at k_griffith@ci.lompoc.ca.us.

October 16, 2007