When you are considering moving to a new city, you’ll want to do some research of the potential new city. Where will I shop for groceries? What great local dining options are there? Are there fun entertainment spots, as well as arts, culture, and outdoor recreation? These are some of the questions my wife and I asked before moving to Corona. Since we’ve made our home here, we have seen some businesses come and some go. Worst of all, there are companies our neighbors and we and would love to have in Corona, and they’re not showing up. Why is that?

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     In speaking with local business owners, I’ve heard some of the same things over and over. One new business owner was having so much trouble with permits and inspections that it delayed his opening by months; he found the process to be confusing and not user friendly. He said to me, “I’ve operated in other cities and counties and have never seen a city that seems to be actually working against me.” A statement like that would be shocking to most; sadly to me it was not. In 2018 my wife and I started a small home-based business. My application for a business license was almost a full-time job in itself. I was bounced around to multiple people in multiple departments so much it required a flow chart to understand it all. We can be better!

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     If we want to attract the businesses that the people in the city want, I believe that we need to work on two things. First, we need to be attractive to these companies.  That includes community engagement to see what the pulse of our community is and define what will enhance our quality of life. Really great Economic Development will address what assets we have in the city, and how businesses can thrive. Second, we have got to streamline the business startup process. The way to do that is to take a look at our current practices and compare them to what other successful municipalities are doing. We have to ask for feedback from our local businesses and humbly listen to their responses.

 

     In District 2 we are fortunate to have a robust business community already, with a lot of folks that live and work in our city. I have found so many local businesses that perform such a wide array of services that my need to leave Corona city limits diminishes daily. The city does not do enough to spotlight and support these businesses that are open to the public.  I intend to change this.

As a small business owner in Corona, I have been through the process and know firsthand the challenges business owners face, and have seen how the city treats businesses. As a resident of Corona for 11 years, I have joined my neighbors in frustration for having to leave our city to shop because we lack choices. As a councilman, I will work to provide leadership to affect positive changes for our economy, and grow our business community!