‘Blueprint’ is guide to economic development priorities in Morgan Hill for the next five to ten years
Published in the February 3-16, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
John Lang
The city of Morgan Hill is ramping up its activities to enhance economic development in the community through industry, tourism and retail sales. It recently hired John Lang, the former chief economist for San Jose, to serve as Morgan Hill’s economic coordinator and work on “efforts to enhance the city’s economic vitality and sustainability,” according to a press release from the city.
Lang played a role in conducting cost benefit analysis of development projects, assisting with data analytics, lead researcher for San Jose’s two economic strategies and helping with revenue forecasts. He also managed San Jose’s State of California Enterprise Zone Program; State of California Innovation Hub Program; the city’s Business Cooperation Program and a $1.2 million clean-tech career fund. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics as well as Master’s degrees in Economics and Public Administration from San Jose State University.
Morgan Hill Life asked Lang about his career in city government and what he envisions with his work in Morgan Hill.
You served in the city of San Jose for 16 years as its chief economist. How does that experience help you in your new role as Morgan Hill’s economic coordinator?
My whole tenure with the city of San Jose was in the office of Economic Development working on a wide range of economic development projects, policy analysis and development, management of business assistance programs and working with small and large businesses relocating or expanding in the city. I am excited to bring that knowledge and experience to the resident and business community of Morgan Hill and build on the great body of work that has preceded my arrival.
What aspects of Morgan Hill might have attracted you to come to this city in the next stage of your career?
Two things attracted me to the Morgan Hill team. One was Morgan Hill’s diverse industry base. Morgan Hill has a unique mix of agriculture, tourism, recreation, manufacturing and retail/service sector that is not duplicated anywhere in Silicon Valley. The area is rich with economic development opportunities from a growing destination downtown to future opportunities for commercial development.
The second factor was the city team in Morgan Hill. I knew several Morgan Hill city employees and residents from my time in San Jose and the stories about the work culture and activities going on in Morgan Hill were very appealing.
One of your job duties is to work with the economic development team to develop an economic blueprint for Morgan Hill. What will that entail in terms of placemaking and being a business agent for Morgan Hill?
Morgan Hill’s Economic Blueprint is intended to guide key economic development priorities for the city during the next five to 10 years. The blueprint will develop a vision and clear strategies for the city to implement. The Economic Blueprint will compliment the already large community effort to update the General Plan.
The Economic Blueprint will also engage residents, businesses, non-governmental entities, real estate developers on Morgan Hill’s future jobs and industry base. Placemaking’s role in the blueprint is a core theme that supports the resident community and attracts future talent and additional high tech employers.
Morgan Hill is in a unique position as a Silicon Valley community because, compared to cities in the northern part of the county, it has a strong agri-business tradition mixed with a balanced base of manufacturing, tourism and recreation. How might these elements play a part in differentiating the community and building the local economy?
Having a diverse industry base is important for many different reasons. A diverse business base supports a more fiscally stable tax revenue stream to the city of Morgan Hill.
A range of differing industries plays an important element in developing a sense of place and identity for Morgan Hill. From an economic development perspective, having many different industries bolsters Morgan Hill’s value proposition to site businesses in Morgan Hill.
For instance, discussing the many proximate retail and recreational amenities that abound and how that is an important consideration for attracting a future tech tenant.
It is important to remind decisions makers that South Silicon Valley benefits greatly from the intersection of differing occupations and industries.
How might you work closely with groups and agencies such as the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Association, and Morgan Hill Unified School District in promoting the economic development of Morgan Hill and the South Valley region?
Economic development is truly a citywide business. It is very important to engage a range of public and private sector partners in order to create a shared Economic Blueprint.
The city will work closely with the Chamber, Downtown Association, school district and other partners to identify a vision for economic development for Morgan Hill. We currently envision a range of focus groups, individual meetings/interviews and community meetings to collect input. Additional engagement and partnership with our stakeholders will continue through the implementation of the blueprint.
