Frequently Asked Questions

Every five years, the City of Escondido Economic Development team updates the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). The CEDS is a document that uses data and community feedback to create policy and activity priorities for a five-year timeframe. The document must be adopted by the City Council and then filed with the federal government bureau, the Economic Development Administration (EDA). Learn more about the federal EDA CEDS.

The CEDS is a way to set a plan to attract and retain high-wage and critical businesses. Businesses play an important role in our community, providing jobs, goods and services to our residents. Many businesses also provide sales tax revenue and serve as a catalyst to attract investment into the City to fund infrastructure improvements.

This document serves as a way to unite the City with the private sector, nonprofits, and other government entities on the economic development priorities of the City that will create a healthy economy. One in which people can find the jobs they want to grow their careers, and that provides the financial backbone of the community.

In this process, in addition to analyzing the data and learning from economic trends, and historical policies, the City heard feedback from residents, nonprofit leaders, and business owners. Participants attended in-person meetings or completed an online survey that was available in both English and Spanish. Altogether, the City presented at 7 community meetings with 105 meeting participants and received 128 survey responses. If you have additional feedback, comments, questions, or if your business is looking for support, please contact our team.

• June 2022: Economic Development subcommittee meeting to begin the process of updating the CEDS
• July 2022: The planning process begins to create a new CEDS; community information meetings at the Greater Escondido Chamber of Commerce, to gather initial community feedback
• August: City staff drafts RFP for CEDS consultant
• September: City attorney and finance department approve RFP
• October 2022: Release the RFP for a CEDS consultant
• November 2022: Potential consultant interviews
• December 2022: Consultant selected
• January 2023: Consultant work commences, literature review
• February 2023: Data gathering and collection
• March 2023: City staff presentation of literature and data, community survey design, community meetings commence
• April 2023: Community meetings continue, Economic Development subcommittee presentation and feedback
• May 2023: Community meetings continue, preparation of final report
• June 2023: Presentation of CEDS to City Council for adoption and submission to the EDA