DBA redevelopment chairman Bob Bell said they got some inspiration at a recent state association meeting.
"We learned that they've formulated some new vehicles, and the DBA is going to take that vehicle and move forward, and hopefully build an association unlike what Bakersfield has ever seen," he said Monday. It's a two-prong plan, with both a nonprofit and a holding company.
"The DBA will become a holding company," Bell explained. He said the organization will also set up nonprofit status under the 501(c)(3) provisions, and the holding company.
"We'll be able to invite in our public entities, service individuals, businesses," Bell said. "And collectively start going out and aggressively going after grants and other types of money and support, that otherwise we couldn't do."
This has started with the DBA committee on redevelopment.
"The DBA had already been working to fill the gap through the development of a new nonprofit, Downtown Business Association Corporation (DBDC,)" an association statement reads. "With the (Downtown Redevelopment Committee's) approval, the DBA plans to establish DBDC with the ultimate goal of starting a fully-functioning Downtown Business Association Holding Company (DBHD)."
The state shut down redevelopment agencies across California last year, in a budget-cutting move. That left cities like Bakersfield looking for alternatives.
"We're going to have to be getting a lot more creative and a lot more ingenious about how to improve downtown," Bakersfield Community Development Director Doug McIsaac said. He said the city no longer has funds to work on fix-up projects. "We're basically having to reinvent the way we do economic development in California," he said.
Bell said the new idea of holding companies and non-profits has worked well in other cities. They've heard of success stories in places like Denver, where hundreds of millions of dollars have been raised, he said.
Asked what kind of projects the new funding sources could be used for, the DBA spokesmen pointed to areas where the previous redevelopment agency had started improvements.
Incoming DBA chair Jeff Hayward points to the Mill Creek area. The redevelopment agency started the project, and hoped to eventually bring in restaurants and shops to a large lot at Q Street and California Avenue. "It's the type of idea that we want to come to fruition with this new -- with our -- new agency," Hayward said.
Bell said the new effort could work on projects like additional parking, more signs, and future plans for high speed rail. Some downtown areas have been plagued by big buildings that are vacant or under-used. Bell said the new group can work on that, too.
"They can take that, and find out who the owners are, and what their plans are with these properties," Bell said. "We can talk with the city about, is anybody interested in picking this up?"
Eyewitness News contacted several downtown business owners. One said he needs to know more about the DBA plan, the other said he?s for anything that will stimulate the core area.
The DBA spokesmen say they want to facilitate new development, build partnerships, and encourage "districts" in the downtown area -- like the arts and entertainment area.
"Now we're going to be catapulted into a downtown -- a living, breathing, historical, cultural area of Bakersfield," Hayward said.
The first subcommittee meeting of the new Development Corporation is now set for Jan. 3, and the group plans to hold regular DBA Redevelopment meetings on the second Tuesday of the month.
McIsaacs said a vibrant downtown can help bring in more business and development to an entire community. He said good amenities help draw in more companies.
"The central business district of the downtown is vital," McIsaacs said. "It's core to the health and vitality of any community."
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