MOORPARK : Group Forming to Attract Industry

Moorpark business leaders concerned about the lagging local economy are forming a nonprofit corporation to attract and keep industry in the city.

The Moorpark Chamber of Commerce expects to receive final approval from board members on Feb. 13, chamber Director Carol Hunt said. The corporation will be funded entirely from business donations, she said.

“The purpose is to retain existing business and industry, provide or hopefully create new employment opportunities, and also attract businesses that will help generate new sales tax revenue for the city,” Hunt said.

Business leaders had requested that city officials hire an economic development director, but realized that the city can’t afford to create the new position, she said.

The economic development corporation will have at least two full-time staff members and will be funded by large corporations already located in Moorpark or planning to open offices there, Hunt said.

One job of the corporation will be to act as an intermediary between government and business officials in the city, she said. In addition, the corporation’s staff will recruit new businesses to move to Moorpark, to increase both the number of jobs and local sales tax revenues.

A report two years ago from the state controller showed that Moorpark generates less than a third of the sales tax revenue of other cities of comparable size, Hunt said. Many Moorpark residents shop and pay sales taxes in Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley, according to city officials and business owners.