-September 18,2021-
The City Council of Porterville voted this month to rejoin the Tulare County Economic Development Corp with an annual membership fee of $25,000.
Porterville was a founding member of the TCEDC in 1983, and remained actively and consistently involved in its operation and funding since the organization’s inception until the past fiscal year in the height of the pandemic. The TCEDC was formed in 1983 by the County of Tulare and the county’s eight incorporated cities for the express purpose of recruitment of new industry locating to Tulare County.
Given current financial challenges and consideration of economic development priorities during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Cities of Exeter, Farmersville and Lindsay acted to discontinue its membership in the TCEDC last fiscal year, and and its meeting on July 21, 2020, the Porterville City Council took the same action. Recently, the Cities of Farmersville and Lindsay have acted to rejoin the TCEDC this fiscal year, and the City of Exeter is also likely to rejoin with a decision expected at an upcoming meeting. That would put the group membership back at 8 public member- full strength for the first time in a while.
Just this summer the EDC helped bring in a hydrogen production company to Porterville, who is looking to make renewable fuel. They are studying a possible site in the city corporation yard, according to a report.
Asked about the likelihood that all 8 of the original members would once again join the organization, new CEO Nathan Ahle suggested it “is a vote of confidence in the direction we are taking.” Ahle was appointed to the leadership position this Spring.