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                                                                                                        Keene
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   m Greater Tehachapi  Valley                                                                        Bear                  Canyon
                                                                                                                            Sand
                                                                                                      Valley
                                                                                                     Springs
                                                                                                               Golden
                                                                                                               Hills  Tehachapi
   o
                                                                                                        Cummings
                                                                                                         Valley
   g    Tehachapi: City of Tehachapi, 115 S. Robinson St., Tehachapi, CA 93561  (661) 822-2200      Stallion
                                                                                                    Springs
                                                                                                          Alpine
                                                                                                          Forest
   r
   a      Elected City council        COMMUNITY TRENDS                                                 ToP 2022
   p      Tehachapi City Mayor:       The greater Tehachapi area continues to draw shoppers from      milesTones
                                      surrounding communities – creating the environment for
   h      Michael Davies              new business opportunities. In 2022, the city’s first extended-
          Tehachapi City Mayor
                                      stay hotel, TownePlace Suites by Marriott, opened along with
   i      Pro Tem:                    completed construction of a second drive-thru Starbucks.    No. 1 Two large
   c      Susan Wiggins               Other projects continue to be centered around Walmart       construction projects
   s      Tehachapi City              (opened 2018) with the construction of Valley Strong Credit   completed (Towneplace
          Councilmembers:             Union and Chipotle Mexican Grill. Re-use continues to be    Suites by Marriott/
          Joan Pogon-Cord             successful with Alta One Federal Credit Union purchasing a   Starbucks Capital Hills).
          Phil Smith                  former competitor’s building to develop a new branch. The   These projects affirm an
          Vacancy                     Village Collective, a downtown executive office/co-working   interest in developing the
          City Manager:               space, renovated a former thrift store into a downtown jewel   Capital Hills section of
          Greg Garrett                for working professionals and entrepreneurs.                Tehachapi, now home to
                                                                                                  a pair of hotels and the
          Economic Development:       These investments are attractive to other investors, as four   Adventist Health Tehachapi
          Corey Costelloe, Assistant   large commercial properties were purchased in 2022 – with   Valley Hospital.
          City Manager                new use yet to be revealed.
                                      Tehachapi’s place as a retail leader in Eastern Kern County,   No. 2      The City of
                                      and a supportive player for all area companies, continues to   Tehachapi has advanced
                                      be affirmed with new and expanding businesses.              economic development
                                                                                                  efforts in both the
                                                                                                  recruitment and expansion
                                                                                                  areas by partnering with
                                                                                                  Placer A.I. for location
                                                                                                  based data that helps
                                                                                                  frame an accurate picture
                                                                                                  of the Tehachapi trade
                                                                                                  area and customer
                                                                                                  demographics. This
                                                                                                  information has been vital
                                                                                                  in confirming decision
                                                                                                  makers’ desire to develop
                                                                                                  in Tehachapi.
                                                                                                      Tehachapi is also
                                                                                                  partnering with CoStar
                                                                                                  real estate services
                                                                                                  to capture all retail
        The Towneplace Suites by Marriott opened in September of 2022 and is the City’s first extended-stay hotel. It joins five other   avails, market reports
        national chain hotels now operating in the city.                                          and comps to assist
                                                                                                  with location of new
                                      Retail update                                               businesses and fill retail
                                      Retail sales in the City of Tehachapi account for more than   vacancies even quicker.
                                      $400 million annually as the city continues to draw customers   Our dedication to data
                Business/             from the greater Tehachapi area and East Kern to shop at retail   and the movement of
           Community Quote            destinations located in the city including Walmart, Home Depot,   customers puts real
                                                                                                  evidence in front     of
           “Tehachapi isn’t the       and Tractor Supply. Additionally, the Love’s and Flying J travel   those making important
           sleep town that it was     centers are popular stops for travelers on busy State Highway 58.   business decisions in our
           30 years ago…it is not     Further out, in County unincorporated areas, additional     community.
           fancy, but it is fantastic.   businesses are attracting new patrons – including a new bowling
           The opportunities that     alley/video game/brew pub/restaurant in Golden Hills. The
           have developed here        newly developed P Dubs Brew Pub/Mountain Bowling has hit
           are incredible. We are     the ground running. This multi-million-dollar investment draws   Mission / Vision
           privileged and excited to   people from a hundred-mile radius to spend time with family    Showcase the value of
           be part of the community   and friends.                                             economic development to
           and provide an extended-   Area wineries continue to host customers with a palate for great   our community stakeholders
           stay.”                     wine and a warm environment. In addition to wine-tasting, local   by developing partnerships,
           — Dr. Brijesh Bhambi,      wineries are hosting weekend special events that are a welcome   quantifying effort with new
           Tehachapi Lodging LLC, Owner,   addition to the region. The Tehachapi area has proven to be   data and using digital media to
           Towneplace Suites by Marriott  fertile ground for this growing retail sector.       communicate the impact while
                                                                                               serving a business community
                                      Despite an incorporated city population of just 13,000, the City   rooted in small business
                                      of Tehachapi’s true trade area accounts for over 200,000 people
                                      as is evident in the millions of sales conducted in a small city   tradition with respect to
                                      punching well above its weight in retail sales.          expanded corporate investment

                   |    28    |    2023 Economic Report    |    AVEDGECA.ORG                            LiveUpTehachapi.com
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