How Business Attraction Works

Economic development is defined as activities that encourage investments in a local economy and enhance the quality of life for a community. In addition to handling business attraction activities, the City’s Economic Development Team focuses on creating jobs, supporting local businesses, building the local workforce, generating tourism, and addressing emerging issues that may impact the local quality of life.

Most shopping centers in California are owned by private companies, not the City. In Eastvale, all shopping centers are privately owned. This means the City cannot choose which stores or businesses open there. It is up to the property owners to decide, as long as the businesses follow the law. It’s like owning a house—the City cannot tell homeowners who they must rent to, just like they cannot require shopping center owners which businesses to bring in. With this in mind, the City’s proactive Economic Development Team works to partner with local shopping center owners and influence, incentivize, and inspire businesses to choose Eastvale. The City also has the ability to adjust zoning policies to designate specific areas for commercial use, ensuring businesses have the space to thrive without conflicting with residential areas.

Businesses look for what is working in a retail market and try to replicate that success elsewhere. They consider the retail demographics, traffic accessibility, expansion costs, local competition, and available sites when looking at potential expansions. It is important to note that company financials, as well as financial market conditions, also lead to companies’ decisions to either expand or close stores. Even though the City does not control individual businesses that are brought into each shopping center, the City’s Economic Development Team partners with each property owner and developer to attract businesses that residents desire.

Eastvale’s Business Attraction Activities

The City’s Economic Development Team manages various business attraction strategies to encourage desirable businesses to choose Eastvale. Activities include strategically networking with brokers, business owners, and developers to market Eastvale’s retail opportunities, using innovative strategies to create additional retail space when the City’s available land is limited, developing and providing incentives for desirable businesses (with the City Council’s feedback and approval) when appropriate, streamlining permitting and licensing processes to reduce bureaucratic hurdles for businesses, and implementing strong marketing strategies to promote the advantages of Eastvale’s community.

Additionally, the City periodically attends trade shows and conferences to connect with desirable businesses, utilizes data analytics to present the latest trends and information to generate interest in Eastvale’s market, promotes business-friendly policies, and encourages public infrastructure investments.

Common Questions