Written By Larry J . Mickartz

The Gilroy Economic Development Corporation ( EDC ) is a 501 ( c )( 3 ) established in 1996 . The City of Gilroy , the Gilroy Chamber and multiple business partners fund the EDC . The EDC is in the middle of a three-year plan with these priorities :

• Business Attraction – Target Industries

• Business Retention & Expansion – Outreach

• Partner Development – Goal to double in FY 2013 / 14

Along this line , the EDC is experiencing success with the expansion of food-related industries to Gilroy , specifically :

• Epic Wines & Spirits ( distribution center , based in Capitola , CA )

• Monterey Gourmet Foods ( Production and distribution , based in Fullerton , CA

• United Natural Foods , Inc . ( 400,000 square foot to open in summer 2015 , with about 400 jobs ; eventually 800,000 square foot facility ).

In 2014 , the EDC and the Silicon Valley Business Journal hosted a workshop on the “ Business of Food and Beverage .” Plans are underway to host a 2015 repeat .

New businesses are coming in ; there are multiple inquiries regarding space and business prospects ; the downtown is about to relaunch ; the economy is doing better . Tammy Brownlow paints an optimistic picture for the near future of Gilroy .

Parallel to the efforts of the EDC , the City of Gilroy has multiple activities ongoing that will enhance the economy of Gilroy . Lee Butler , Development Center Manager , City of Gilroy , notes that there are a number of new business permits in progress , including a 105-room hotel , a new music venue , a new restaurant , and a yoga studio . Also , 16 of the 18 URM ( unreinforced masonry ) buildings downtown are on the way to being available for lease . On the east side of Gilroy , a new self-storage facility , several food related businesses opening on 152 , and numerous residential construction permits are in the works . And on the west side , parallel to Hecker Pass , on Santa Teresa Boulevard , a cluster of new homes are being built — the beginning of the large Glen Loma housing project .

In February of 2014 the City of Gilroy completed Gilroy Economic Development Strategic Plan . This plan analyses economic date and lays out ideas for economic growth . More importantly it is an integral part of the planning background for the Gilroy General Plan Advisory Committee . The City is in the process of revising its General Plan , which among other things will determine future direction for the City .

In the next few months , a major decision in the General Plan will be made relative to future land use . This issue will have a major impact on future economic development . Public review of the General Pan , Draft should begin in the spring of 2015 . Final adoption will happen in the Spring / Summer of 2016 .

Some related economic issues are the location , makeup and schedule of the High Speed Train . There is no new information on the proposed train to the Monterey area .

One of the issues identified by EDC and City studies is that there is a largely untapped pool of qualified residents who commute out of Gilroy . An estimated 14,000 vehicles leave the area every day heading north . Imagine if an employer or startup could attract some of this local talent … more employment in town , less commuting and more time with family … a great combination with an economic , environmental and societal win-win-win .

In Gilroy the economic present is good and the future is looking better . Gilroy will have a new General Plan . The City is solvent . The downtown is on the verge of a revival . Over all , the economic mood is very optimistic .

Report available at gilroy2040 . com .

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G M H T O D A Y M A G A Z I N E MARCH / APRIL 2015 gmhtoday . com