We are Listening
- Interviews with city officials, businesses and residents
- Survey of household shopping patterns
- Focus groups
- Community forum
- Four or more bi-monthly progress reports submitted to City Council.
Process
The City of Atascadero has hired Applied Development Economics (ADE), a Walnut Creek, CA based firm to develop its economic-development strategy and implementation plan. The purpose is to help the City identify key economic issues and prioritize economic-development activities and investments over the next five years.
The planning process began with a needs assessment to define the City’s current economic position, and to identify opportunities to enrich and strengthen its economic base.
Needs assessment focus:
- Reviewing existing economic conditions
- Evaluating existing retail spending patterns
- Evaluating city revenues and costs for services
Information to gain an understanding of the economic issues facing the city was obtained from interviews with:
- The business community
- Atascadero residents
- Stakeholders groups
A public meeting was held on the evening of June 26 at Atascadero Junior High School. Present at that meeting were members of agencies that provide vital services to the public and members of the public. Approximately 50 people were in attendance.
On June 27 three focus groups were held with participants who had been invited from the following sectors:
- Tourism
- New Media
- Business
All input from interviews and public meetings with the public, business community and city staff and City Council will be used to develop an economic development vision and set of goals.