"Why Not Do It Ourselves?"
Community-Based Economic Development Workshops Spark Dialogue
 Fruitvale Village in Oakland is a successful national model of community-driven econonic development. |
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Foro tocante el desarrollo económico causa diálogo significativo
By Valicia Saucedo
Leadership Institute East Palo Alto (LIEP)
Community Development Institute
The Leadership Institute East Palo Alto (LIEP) held its first forum on Community-Based Economic Development on Saturday, August 12, sparking excitement as residents discussed their vision for the City.
The discussion drew a broad cross-section of the community, including city officials, businesspeople, representatives from local non-profit agencies, and private citizens. This eager and inquisitive group jumped at the chance to interact with guest presenters Carlos Martinez, Director of Development and Redevelopment for the City of East Palo Alto, and Julia Baker Jones, Program Manager for Start Up.
Mr. Martinez presented on the Redevelopment Agency’s activities, including the ways in which the agency obtains the funds it uses to invest in development. He also covered the projects currently under consideration. Several participants expressed an interest in reviewing the financial impact of the new developments in town, including IKEA, the Ravenswood 101 shopping center, the Four Seasons, and University Circle. The role of community input was also a priority among participants, who asked Mr. Martinez about avenues for meaningful interface between the agency and the City residents.
Ms. Baker Jones of Start Up, a nonprofit that helps individuals develop their own small businesses, presented on the impact of homegrown businesses on community development. Her presentation fostered discussions about the benefits and risks of having a small business in the community, the assets of the community, and the types of customers in East Palo Alto. The group discussed the needs that small businesses could meet and potential ways to collaborate with other entrepreneurs to find the capital to start homegrown businesses in East Palo Alto.
Valicia Saucedo, Director of LIEP, presented briefly on community-based and community-owned development based on the models used by Fruitvale Village in Oakland and Market Creek Plaza in San Diego. Community-owned developments have the advantage of giving residents more direct control over the decisions as to which businesses locate in the development. This gives the community more freedom to choose large anchor businesses, such as a grocery store, but also provide space for local entrepreneurs.
 Carlos Martinez, Director of Development and Redevelopment for the City of East Palo Alto, presents to the group. |
For more information, contact Valicia Saucedo at (650) 327-5846 ext. 314 (valicia@cdi-usa.org) or Kaara Baptiste at (650) 327-5846 ext. 313 (kaara@cdi-usa.org).
