LAKEPORT, Calif. – As part of its effort to encourage business, the city of Lakeport held a roundtable discussion on economic development earlier this month.
Representatives from the California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) – a leading organization for economic development in California – moderated the discussion, held at city hall on Dec. 14.
Lakeport Economic Development Manager Dan Buffalo said the discussion was a culmination of a professional advisory services performed at the request of the city.
He said more than 30 individuals attended representing local agencies, including the Lakeport City Council, the newly formed Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee, city management staff, Lake County Economic Development program staff, community and business leaders, Mendocino College, the Lake County Office of Education, the Lake County Association of Realtors, the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, Lakeport Main Street Association and Lake One-Stop.
The roundtable discussion lasted more than two hours and was prefaced with an introduction to the concept and definition of economic development by CALED moderator, Bill Davis, Buffalo said.
Buffalo said topics for the roundtable discussion included notable findings from interviewing prominent Lakeport business and community leaders, education professionals, elected officials, city staff and many others, as well as fostering an open dialogue on the economic strengths and weaknesses of the community and potential strategies for economic development that the city, local businesses and business-oriented organizations, and the community may employ moving forward.
The discussion was part of a two-day program that was an information gathering, training and discussion forum on economic development for participants, including community members, business leaders, and city officials, he said.
Buffalo said the first day consisted of interviews of participants to gauge their perspectives and insights of the economic strengths, needs, and desires of the community.
Day two consisted of a continuation of interviews in the morning followed by the roundtable discussion in the afternoon, he said.
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