AGENDA TITLE:
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Receive Presentation of the Lodi Economic Development Strategic Plan and Consider Resolution Adopting the Plan (ED)
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MEETING DATE:
February 18, 2026
PREPARED BY:
Luis Aguilar, Economic Development Director
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RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive presentation of the Lodi Economic Development Strategic Plan and Consider Resolution Adopting the Plan.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
During the 2023 Strategic Vision session, City Council identified Economic Development as a key initiative and the need to develop a long-term economic development strategy. On February 5, 2024, the City hired an Economic Development Director to lead Lodi’s economic development efforts.
On February 7, 2024, the City Council established an Economic Development Ad Hoc Committee to provide advice on the scope and implementation of the economic development strategic plan, among other objectives.
Through a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) process, the Natelson Dale Group, Inc. was selected to develop the City’s economic development strategic plan and a contract was awarded on March 19, 2025.
The Natelson Dale Group, Inc. developed the Lodi Economic Development Strategic Plan (EDSP) through a community-driven process that engaged a variety of stakeholders including businesses, developers, partner organizations and the Economic Development Ad Hoc Committee.
The EDSP provides a strategic framework to guide the City of Lodi’s economic development policies and programs over the next 5 years.
The EDSP Action Plan is designed to achieve the following major goals:
• Expand economic opportunities for Lodi’s resident workforce
• Leverage the economic development potentials of Lodi’s historic downtown
• Create development/redevelopment capacity in Lodi’s other commercial and industrial areas (including revitalization of the Cherokee Lane corridor and potential new development in annexation areas)
• Strengthen the City’s fiscal position
While these goals largely revolve around attracting and retaining targeted business investment, the EDSP Action Plan recognizes that the strength of the local business/development environment will ultimately depend on Lodi’s strategic attention to a range of “foundational” conditions such as:
• The City’s reputation for business/development friendliness
• Land, zoning, and infrastructure capacity (especially in anticipated annexation areas)
• Entrepreneurial development resources
• Education/workforce development systems
• Placemaking initiatives that leverage Lodi’s unique locational advantages and sense of community
• Overall image and quality of life
The EDSP Action Plan is organized around eight major strategy categories, as outlined below in two primary divisions: 1) those focused on Business Development/Job Creation, and 2) those focused on Creating an Environment for Economic Progress.
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Business Development / Job Creation |
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Strategy Category 1: |
Focus City’s business retention/expansion efforts around high-priority industry clusters |
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Strategy Category 2: |
Implement economic development target industry attraction program focusing on high-priority industry clusters |
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Strategy Category 3: |
Collaborate with regional partners to expand availability of entrepreneurial development resources in Lodi |
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Strategy Category 4: |
Integrate City branding/marketing program throughout EDSP strategies |
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Creating an Environment for Economic Progress |
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Strategy Category 5: |
Systematically review and strengthen City’s business/development friendliness |
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Strategy Category 6: |
Undertake efforts to ensure development site readiness |
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Strategy Category 7: |
Expand development capacity and pursue placemaking projects |
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Strategy Category 8: |
Enhance City’s interface with education/workforce development partners |
The EDSP Action Plan details a series of steps for implementing these strategies over the next five years. It also specifies the City’s roles and positioning in process, the partnership resources available, and establishes milestones for each strategy.
The EDSP also incorporates an evaluation framework that offers a structured method for measuring the effectiveness of programs and initiatives.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Not applicable.
FUNDING AVAILABLE:
Not applicable.