Will Starbuck Deliver More Than
Just Auto Dealer Incentives?
Can he bring the jobs? Yesterday the City of Elk Grove announced that a new economic development director has been hired. The new directo...
https://www.elkgrovenews.net/2011/09/will-starbuck-deliver-more-than-just.html
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| Can he bring the jobs? |
Can he deliver that here?
One of the biggest challenges facing Starbuck will obviously be bringing jobs to the city. The city recently announced the relocation of 1,500 state jobs to the city.
That success was done by the work of council members Gary Davis and Steve Detrick and city staff. And, oh yes, a $3+ million inducement. Money does indeed talk.
Aside from this success, the city's other major economic development "achievements" have been awarding over $800,000 to three car dealers at the Elk Grove Auto Mall. It really does make you wonder if these incentives had not been awarded, would these dealers have not expanded or even relocated?
Probably not. Where would they have gone? Florin Road - the very place the auto mall destroyed?
In actuality, that existing incentive program really should be called the Elk Grove Auto Mall subsidy fund. But those give-aways are like spilled milk and it is no use crying over it.
Now that Starbuck has taken reigns over the city's economic development, we certainly hope he aims much higher than awarding taxpayer money to well-heeled auto dealers. Furthermore, as has already by demonstrated by the relocation of the 1,500 state jobs, that can be done by the work of a few dedicated council members, city staff and most importantly, cold hard cash.
We certainly hope that Starbuck can deliver and attract economic development to Elk Grove in ways that have yet to be been seen in our fair city. If Starbuck is the next great coming, perhaps Elk Grove will be home to the next Google or hey, even a decent sized call center.
We wish Starbuck great success in his quest to bring tens of thousands of jobs, not rooftops, to Elk Grove. We will be watching his results.
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From information I have it seems Mr. Starbuck is coming to Elk Grove from Pittsburg Power Co. where he served as New Business Development Mgr. Prior to that he was the Redevelopment Director for Pittsburg, However, from news reports, the state shut down the Pittsburg redevelopment agency in 2010 because the ailing city refused to hand over $21 million in "tax increment money." Seems they didn't have the money to pay the state, so they had to shut down. That was when he was transferred over to the power company. The Pittsburg redevelopment agency went from a list of 120 potential projects down to three.
Redevelopment, in my book anyway, is different from Economic Development. Perhaps Ms. Gill thinks he can redevelop the Mall.
That being said, I do hope that Mr. Starbuck can be successful in bringing new businesses and jobs to Elk Grove.
Thanks for the research, Josie. Helps to have the rest of the story as we begin this relationship.
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