Hollister City Council members approved renewed funding to the Economic Development Corporation of San Benito County and took a big step toward a financial injection for the chamber of commerce as well.
Council members voted 3-2 on the EDC matter, which will allocate $25,000 this fiscal year and $100,000 next fiscal year, along with budgeting $100,000 the four following fiscal years after that to the nonprofit organization.
The council voted unanimously to support bringing back official language on a contract to allocate $50,000 annually to the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce over the same time period along with $2,500 per year to the Pinnacles Gateway Partnership organization that promotes Pinnacles National Park.
Mayor Ignacio Velazquez and Councilman Rolan Resendiz voted no on the EDC funding. Velazquez has pointed to the lack of results the last time taxpayers helped fund the EDC when it was headed by former President Nancy Martin, who arrived at the outset of the Great Recession.
The council will bring back a chamber contract for final approval.
That came after the county board in March OK’d boosting its $35,000 allocation to four economic development groups to $67,000 for this fiscal year along with a tentative commitment to issue $100,000 annually for the following five years to the EDC.
See a recent video interview with new Chamber President Michelle Leonard below:
