Looking to take advantage of opportunities when the economy improves, El Dorado County officials have commissioned two studies to aid in retaining, attracting and expanding businesses.
The Board of Supervisors this week approved a $90,000 contract with Buxton, a Texas-based firm that specializes in identifying customers and customer needs.
Ron Grassi, the county's assistant chief administrative officer, said the study will look at what people are buying and whether they are buying it locally or at businesses outside the county.
"It will identify retail trade areas and evaluate current and future retail potential," he said.
The city of Placerville and Marshall Medical Center will share in the cost of the study, which will be conducted over a two-year period.
The board also approved a $32,500 contract with the Sacramento-based Center for Strategic Economic Research for an economic base analysis and six quarterly reports focusing on specific industry sectors such as wineries and health care.
"It will identify high-value businesses," Grassi said.
The study's cost, he said, will be offset with $10,000 from the El Dorado Hills Community Foundation.
El Dorado Hills resident Noah Briel said he welcomed the studies, saying they would provide data critical to economic development and land-use decisions. Recent discussions about the potential for mixed-use development, he said, were based on anecdotal information, not research.
Camino resident Sue Taylor, however, had misgivings about the Buxton study, saying it appeared "the main focus is marketing us for corporate retail." Taylor said she fears the study will ignore the quality of life El Dorado County residents have fought to maintain.
She supported the Center for Strategic Economic Research study because, she said, "It looks at who we are."
The contracts were approved on a 4-1 vote, with Supervisor Ray Nutting dissenting. Nutting said he would rather see efforts focused on improving planning and permitting processes to aid businesses seeking to expand or locate in the county.
Call The Bee's Cathy Locke, (916) 773-6866.
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