Q&A: CED director talks local businesses, Cannon changes

Editor's note: This is one in a continuing series of state-of-the-entity interviews with local officials. Tina Dziuk is the executive director for Clovis Economic Development (CED).

Q: How exactly is Clovis Economic Development funded? How is it governed? Who decides how the money is spent?

A: Our organization is primarily funded through memberships, grants, and our contract with the city of Clovis. CED is governed by a board of directors who is responsible for approving the budget.

Q: What are some of the basic parameters for deciding which businesses qualify for economic-development dollars?

A: We consider a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the financial health of the business, or a business plan if it's a startup, their investment, and how many jobs they will be creating.

Q: What percentage of applications are accepted in some form?

A: I have not been in my position long enough to determine a reliable percentage.

Q: What is the most-requested business you hear from Clovis-area residents? Do they want Target? Sam's Club? Buc-ee's?

A: Most requests are for more retail, especially women's clothing, as well as a Sam's Club.

Q: What do you think will be the impact of Cannon's recent force reduction?

A: The force reduction is not expected to take place until around 2027. While nobody wants to see any reduction at Cannon, I believe the number is small enough that we'll be able to make it up through other jobs added throughout the county.

Q: Has the Local Economic Development Act's allowing retail businesses to receive LEDA assistance been as promising as you hoped?

A: Clovis is leading the charge on this and we're just getting started. I do believe we are going to see more businesses taking advantage of this incentive.

Q: Is there any notable impact you've seen from the cannabis business?

A: Cannabis sales in Clovis have exceeded $19 million, medical and recreational combined, making the additional gross receipts tax the first thing that comes to my mind.

Q: What looks encouraging in businesses that have contacted you?

A: Even with inflation, increasing interest rates, and supply chain issues, businesses are still starting up, and established businesses are still expanding. I find that very encouraging.

Q: What do you say to critics who argue that taxpayer-funded economic development is a politically correct term for socialism? Not all taxpayers are happy to contribute to the concept.

A: Most economic development incentives today are post-performance, meaning the business doesn't see the money up front. They receive money after they've opened their business and created jobs. In the case of the new LEDA for retail incentive, it's an annual reimbursement of tax dollars the business has already paid. Being able to offer these types of incentives helps to even the playing field when we are competing with states that have assets or other business friendly policies that would normally remove us from consideration.

- Compiled by Landry Sena, the Staff of the News