BAKERSFIELD CITY COUNCIL
POST-MEETING AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING
September 10, 2025, 3:30 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Avenue
1. ROLL CALL
2. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
a. Non-Agenda Item Public Statements
b. Agenda Item Public Statements
3. REPORTS
a. Economic Development Strategic Plan Update
Staff recommends Council receive and file the update.
*1. 2025-09-10 Council Update of EDSP
4. CLOSED SESSION
5. CLOSED SESSION ACTION
6. ADJOURNMENT
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 10, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: REPORTS TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Jennifer M. Byers, Economic and Community Development Director DATE: September 2, 2025
SUBJECT: Economic Development Strategic Plan Update
[Document Description]
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends Council receive and file the update.
BACKGROUND:
On September 15, 2021, the Bakersfield City Council adopted an Economic Development Strategic Plan (EDSP) to guide the City’s efforts to foster business growth and increase job opportunities within the City of Bakersfield.
The EDSP identifies four target industry clusters and 17 key strategies as areas of opportunity and focus to grow the local economy. Staff will provide an overview and update of the efforts to implement the strategies.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The action to receive the update on the EDSP, thus no impact to the General Fund is anticipated with this update.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Innovative and Efficient City Government
Economic Opportunity for All
Community Character & Quality of Life
ATTACHMENTS:
None
Economic Development
Strategic Plan Update
Economic Development Strategic Plan
In 2021 Council adopted the EDSP. Based on comprehensive research and stakeholder input, the EDSP reflects the most promising opportunities and the most pressing challenges facing Bakersfield’s economy.
The EDSP includes 17 strategies under three major categories, many that require community and regional collaboration:
• Industry Targeting
Business Development/Job Creation
• Umbrella Programs
Creating an Environment for Economic Progress
• Land Use/Placemaking Programs
Physical Changes to Accommodate Quality Growth
Category 1: Industry Targeting – Business
Development/Job Creation
1. Focus City’s business retention/expansion/attraction efforts around high- priority industry clusters
2. Collaborate with regional partners to greatly expand availability of entrepreneurial development resources in Bakersfield
3. Expand small business support/assistance resources
4. Evaluate and refine City’s economic development incentives
5. Launch “awareness building” economic development marketing program, consistent with City’s broader (existing) branding initiatives and independent firm-specific outreach
1. Executed business expansion agreement with BIOS Health, has since partnered with CSUB and Dignity Health for a Precision Medicine Initiative;
2. Worked with California Dairies to open a state-of-the art bottling facility in Bakersfield; currently working with three large industrial users on site selection services;
3. RFP for a business and industrial recruiter to be complete this Fall;
4. Tech Park RFP drafted and prepared for submission.
1. Capital Access: Provided $1,845,000 of ARPA funds for grants to 209 entrepreneurs, creating 506 jobs in collaboration with KCCD, SBA, CSUB
2. Entrepreneurship 2.0 provided technical support to 1,425 small businesses/aspiring entrepreneurs - “They’re proof of what’s possible when capital is combined with capacity-building.” – Natesha Johnson, Launchpad
3. Participated in Valley Strong Credit Union Financial Summit – Building Bridges for Financial Resources.
1. Business retention/expansion/attraction efforts
2. Entrepreneurial development
1. Executed over 100 grant agreements with businesses through the Economic Opportunity Areas incentive program;
2. Business Incentive/resources guidebook under development;
3. Three ARPA large façade grants to redevelop properties in downtown.
5. Economic development marketing program
3. Small business support/assistance
In-development: Marketing RFP to develop materials covering the following items:
strategic benefits of doing business in Bakersfield, incentives brochure, opportunity zones prospectus, and awareness building for Bakersfield’s Quality of Life.
4. Evaluate and Refine City economic development incentives
1. Opportunity Zones 2.0 – evaluate and recertify existing 15 OZs to capitalize on capital gain deferral incentives;
2. Tech Park design concept RFP in development;
3. Since EDSP adoption, two CDFI’s formed, one with expanded footprint, and another local institution pursuing certification;
4. Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District evaluation to commence this Fall;
5. Economic development scorecard in development (slides to be presented later).
Category 2: Build implementation capacity through
strong partnerships, advocacy, and program monitoring
6. Enhance City’s interface with education/workforce development partners
7. Elevate City’s excellent reputation for business/development friendliness via a branded program (e.g., “Bakersfield Works”)
8. Coordinate with regional partners on legislative advocacy, county-level infrastructure planning, and other shared approaches to addressing internal and external threats to Bakersfield’s economic progress
9. Systematically pursue external funding sources (e.g., state and federal grants) to support City’s economic development programming
10. Investigate and implement financing mechanisms to support real estate investments in underserved/underdeveloped neighborhoods
6. Education/workforce development
1. ARPA Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Technical Assistance Program (1.0 & 2.0);
2. ARPA Workforce Development under contract;
3. Youth Jobs Program (122 student participants);
4. Partnering with Kern Builder's Exchange and local institution to expand contractor knowledge and small business contracting opportunities.
1. Physical one-stop shop under construction in Development Services;
2. Business and Industrial Recruiter to be procured this Fall;
3. Economic resource guidebook in development.
California Jobs First (CJF) program - submitted an eight-partner application for Catalyst funding, convening with partners to submit for implementation funds in target industries;
8. Addressing internal and external threats
7. Elevate City’s reputation for business/development friendliness
1. Transformative Climate Communities (TCC): Implementation of $22.1 million with 17 community partners for six projects and four community plans;
2. Implementation of EPA Brownfield Grant Funds;
3. EPA Community Change Grant (CCG): $20 million currently pending appeal for termination.
9. External funding sources
10. Investigate and implement financing mechanisms to support real estate development
1. RFP to procure a consultant to begin evaluation into EIFD formation completed, study to commence in the Fall;
2. PBID/CMD effort in downtown to re-launch in 2026;
3. Opportunity Zone overhaul will require recertification of existing 15 zones – staff to evaluate areas with community partners.
Category 3: Land Use/Place-making Programs: Physical
Changes to Accommodate Quality Growth
11. Launch citywide “quality of place” initiative
12. Position Downtown Bakersfield as a regional center for urban housing, employment and arts/entertainment
13. Launch across-the-board revitalization/reinvestment initiative in Southeast Bakersfield
14. Launch across-the-board revitalization/reinvestment initiative in Old Town Kern
15. Facilitate repurposing of high-vacancy retail commercial centers based on potential market demand for other land uses (including industrial, office, residential and mixed-use)
16. Conduct comprehensive evaluation of City’s zoning and related land use policies (through upcoming General Plan Update process), to ensure capacity for anticipated development demand
17. Align City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) with EDSP based on a comprehensive assessment of infrastructure needs in high-priority development areas
11. “Quality of place” initiative
1. Prosperity Neighborhood Initiative in full implementation;
2. In coordination with Visit Bakersfield, create Quality of place initiative.
1. Downtown Vision Plan in coordination with GP Update in development;
2. Public facility improvements in support of regional tourist attractions;
3. Marketing targeted sites: P/Q (Entertainment Retail/Housing).
1. Prosperity Neighborhoods (MLK/Lakeview) plan complete. RFP for community revitalization funds to be released in September;
2. Transformative Climates Communities (TCC) Program (Southeast Strong) implementation underway;
3. Southeast Vision Plan to begin this Fall.
12. Downtown Bakersfield
13. Southeast Bakersfield
15. Repurposing of high-vacancy retail commercial centers
1. Procured Placer.Ai to support analytics work;
2. Evaluate EOA areas to target specific areas.
Under-development: Comprehensive General Plan update, includes economic development and downtown element as additional elements; Draft Housing Element for Council review in September
1. Prosperity Neighborhoods: implementation underway;
2. Old Town Kern Vision Plan completed; implementation to commence
3. Renaissance at Baker completed;
4. Acquisition/maintenance of key properties for redevelopment.
16. Comprehensive evaluation of City’s zoning and related land use policies (through upcoming General Plan Update process)
14. Old Town Kern
1. 18th Street/19th Street Corridor Improvements to facilitate downtown placemaking strategy;
2. Rosedale Ranch Plan and evaluation of alignment of future west beltway in the circulation element;
3. MLK Corridor Revitalization, Baker Street improvements, and Kentucky urban greening funded and in alignment with Old Town Kern and Southeast Bakersfield redevelopment.
17. Align EDSP and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)
Economic Development
Scorecard Criteria
Strategy #4: Evaluate and refine the City’s
economic incentives
Create a standardized approach to industry recruitment; Track project engagement against key indicators and economic targets for City priorities, including job growth, new investments in key industries, alignment with strategic initiatives, etc.; Provide transparency in the early stages of staff’s focus, recommendation of resources, and use of time/energy towards City Council priorities.
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Recommended Criteria
Evaluate proposals based on a scoring system for various key metrics; Utilize a weighted metric system where projects are scored based on inputs and impact within the chosen criteria;
Based on score, recommend one or more of the following supports:
• Advocacy /ongoing support with site location services and community connections;
• Support from the business success team;
• Consider financial incentives to support project development (subject to Council approval)
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Recommended Criteria
City Council Economic Development Goals
• Consistency with EDSP (target industries, goals, objectives, etc.) • Target industry in regional initiatives (EDSP, California Jobs First Regional Plan, and B3K Market Assessment)
Job Creation and Tax Revenue Generation:
• Number of jobs (construction and permanent) and Quality Jobs • Tax Generation (property tax, sales tax, and other taxes) • Capital Invested
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Recommended Criteria
Placemaking:
• Redevelopment of vacant or blighted properties
• Alignment with General Plan and local redevelopment efforts (TCC, PNI)
• Investments above minimum development standards
• Investing in underinvested areas (Opportunity Zones, Disadvantaged Census Tracts per CalEnviroScreen, etc.)
Regional/Local Economic Alignment:
• Company relocating from outside the area
• Local hiring preference
• If not/but for argument
• Contribution to Bakersfield as a “destination for innovation” • Assessment of growth/scalability for startup/emerging companies
Next Steps
• Receive and file;
• Staff available for questions
on the EDSP and Incentives
criteria.
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