FOUNTAIN VALLEY : City Gets Economic Development Award

The California Assn. for Local Economic Development has given its annual award of merit to the city for its public-private development project “Civic Center Transformation.”

The project involved converting a vacant former Police Department building into a satellite campus for Coastline Community College and leasing a former public library building for a child-care center, operated by FHP International Corp.

“It’s tremendous recognition for the innovativeness the city has had with the partnerships we have formed with other entities,” said Councilwoman Laurann Cook.

The award will be presented to the city Wednesday at the association’s 14th annual conference in Palm Springs.

In announcing the award to the city, the association noted that the partnership shows “bold leadership and the spirit of local resourcefulness.”

The association also said the city’s project exemplifies the best in development partnerships and has significantly contributed to job creation and local revenue enhancement.

“It just shows that the city is progressive and we tend to be entrepreneurial in our approach,” said City Manager Ray Kromer. “We’re not only getting income, but we’ve received complete renovation of the buildings--and they serve a public purpose.”

The city will receive about $110,000 annually from the leases for both buildings, Kromer said.

Kromer said that as a result of the partnership, about $700,000 in renovations to the two buildings were performed at no cost to the city or its residents. The upgrades included air conditioning, roof repairs and remodeled interiors, he said.