Housing to Jobs Housing Balance

In 2000, the City received a grant from the California Department of Housing and Community Development to assist in balancing job creation with housing starts. The City has used these funds in the following manner:

• To draft a marketing strategic plan to pinpoint areas that can create or attract new jobs to the community.
• To assist the Oldtown Soledad Beautification Association to organize and begin planning specific objectives to revitalize the downtown, including marketing training and workshops for the business owners, improvements to the streets, medians, sidewalks, landscaping and furniture, a facelift beautification program, annual events to attract residents and visitors, a newsletter and a website.
• To contract with a local firm to act as the City's marketing department and act in conjunction with the Economic Development Director to seek avenues that will advertise and promote the City.
• To develop a promotional packet that can be given to potential businesses to the community. The packet includes a brochure promoting the City and a Business Resource Guide to assist existing and new businesses is successful.

Since this grant has expired, and these programs have been very successful, the Economic Development Department will continue to fund these activities in the future through the use of additional grants and redevelopment funds.