ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: May 11, 2026 AGENDA CATEGORY: NEW BUSINESS
TO: Finance, Economic Development and Jobs Committee
FROM: Christian Clegg, City Manager
DATE: May 6, 2026
SUBJECT: Economic Development Division Strategic Plan Update
Update on the major deliverables from the Economic Development Division Strategic Plan and Implementation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the committee receive and file.
BACKGROUND:
The Economic Development Strategic Plan (EDSP), adopted by the City Council on September 15, 2021, established a long-term framework focused on strengthening Bakersfield’s economic competitiveness, supporting business growth, improving quality of life, and diversifying the local economy. Since adoption of the EDSP, the Economic Development Division has continued advancing strategic initiatives that support the City’s economic development priorities and implementation goals.
The Economic Development Division is currently advancing several agreements and Requests for Proposals (RFPs) intended to support business attraction, retention, workforce alignment, entrepreneurship, and industrial development readiness throughout the City.
Technology Park (RFP)
The City recently completed the RFP process for the Technology Park initiative and has identified Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), based in Los Angeles, as the tentative selected consultant. The proposed $316,710 agreement will support planning and feasibility efforts focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, and long-term economic diversification opportunities.
Business and Industrial Recruitment Strategy
City staff completed the RFP process for business and industrial recruitment services and selected ResearchFDI, an international economic development consulting firm, for a pending $205,000 agreement. The project is intended to strengthen Bakersfield’s business attraction efforts through targeted industry recruitment, enhanced market positioning, and strategic outreach to site selectors and businesses.
Marketing Services for Business Retention, Expansion, and Attraction City staff is currently soliciting proposals for marketing and graphic design services focused on business retention, expansion, and attraction efforts, with proposals due on May 21, 2026. The project is intended to enhance Bakersfield’s economic development branding, marketing materials, and outreach tools to better support business engagement and investment attraction efforts.
KernGRIT – Land Asset and Workforce Strategy
The City of Bakersfield is participating as a subrecipient under Project Development Solutions (PDS) through the KernGRIT California Jobs First (CJF) Catalyst Funding initiative. City staff is currently soliciting proposals for consulting services related to land asset analysis and workforce strategies, with proposals due on May 11, 2026. The project is intended to evaluate site readiness, workforce alignment, and economic development opportunities that support the clean economy.
B3K Contribution and Partnership Efforts
The Economic Development Division continues partnering with Bakersfield-Kern Regional Economic Development Corporation (B3K) through financial contributions and regional collaboration efforts that support industry cluster development, entrepreneurship, workforce coordination, and targeted sectors identified within the EDSP, including energy, logistics, advanced manufacturing, and ag-tech.
Collectively, these initiatives support implementation of several EDSP strategies related to business attraction, economic diversification, workforce development, entrepreneurship, infrastructure readiness, and regional collaboration. The initiatives are intended to create a more proactive and coordinated economic development framework that strengthens Bakersfield’s long-term economic competitiveness and investment readiness.
To support implementation efforts, the Economic Development Division utilizes the EDSP Matrix as an organizational and tracking tool that helps align projects, partnerships, and initiatives with adopted City priorities and strategic objectives. The EDSP Matrix assists staff in identifying implementation progress, coordinating initiatives across departments and partners, prioritizing economic development efforts, and tracking how projects support broader City goals and measurable outcomes.
These initiatives directly support several City Council priorities, including Economic Opportunity for All, Community Character and Quality of Life, and Safety and Resilience through continued investment in economic growth, workforce opportunity, infrastructure planning, and business development efforts.
FISCAL IMPACT:
These Contracted services and items will come before City Council after receiving feedback from this committee. All of the proposed contracts and projects are built within the Economic Development Budget.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Community Character & Quality of Life
Economic Opportunity for All
Safety and Resilience
ATTACHMENT:
None