The City of Turlock is in the process of updating its Economic Development Strategic Plan and is asking the public to weigh-in at an upcoming community meeting.

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Yosemite Room at City Hall 156 S. Broadway. Those who are unable to attend can email their economic development suggestions/comments to the City’s assistant to the city manager for economic development housing, Maryn Pitt, at mpitt@turlock.ca.us.

The City of Turlock first adopted an Economic Development Plan in 2003, and then updated it in 2014 to include the development of a marketing strategy to promote increased patronage of Turlock businesses and attract new businesses as well. In January, the City Council contracted with Applied Development Economics of Walnut Creek to provide another update to the Economic Development Strategic Plan.

In its project proposal, ADE stated it will use input from community outreach (like the upcoming public meeting), along with data tools to establish strategic initiatives and an action plan to guide the City in its economic development efforts.

The consulting firm plans to do a comprehensive analysis of the existing business base and labor force in Turlock and the Stanislaus County area and use that as a starting point for evaluating business expansion and diversification strategies.

ADE will also take a regional perspective to identify how Turlock would potentially benefit from broader economic trends in Northern California and the Central Valley region. According to ADE, this regional perspective can also identify how Turlock might have missed out on past growth opportunities, and what needs to happen to ensure that the community benefits from future opportunities.