Rebecca Carrillo, marketing technician for Victorville’s Economic Development Department, told the city’s "What’s the TVB?" program that several new retailers, a large logistics facility and neighborhood shopping development have opened or are planned, bringing what she described as “over 600 jobs” to the city.

Carrillo said the city recently welcomed its first Raising Cane’s, a Fairfield Inn & Suites, and a 1,300,000‑square‑foot Goodyear Tire distribution center at SCLA (Southern California Logistics Airport). She also said a Target shopping center is planned off Roy Rogers Road and Civic Drive next to the Home Depot shopping center and that an industrial building on Hesperia Road will house American Jerky, a human‑grade dog‑treat facility. “Goodyear Tire just opened back in August, and they brought 175 new jobs,” Carrillo said. “American Jerky is looking to… bring in 450 jobs.”

Why it matters: Carrillo framed the projects as part of a broader push to attract businesses by demonstrating Victorville’s workforce and capacity. She said a strong local labor pool keeps residents from commuting out of town and makes the city more attractive to retailers and industrial employers.

The department’s outreach and retention work includes attending retail trade shows, meeting with developers and guiding businesses through site selection and permitting. Carrillo described the department’s approach as hands‑on: staff identify suitable properties, troubleshoot permitting issues and maintain ongoing relationships to help projects move forward.

Carrillo also described two local promotional efforts aimed at keeping dollars in town and raising visibility for small businesses. MyBizMVV, launched in October 2023, runs a monthly online prompt; participating firms use a hashtag and enter a raffle, and winners receive a free promotional video and city publicity. She said the program has highlighted 18 businesses so far and named winners including Hanger 18 (a rock‑climbing gym), Neil’s Donuts and Turn VV (a golf‑simulator lounge).

Keep It Local — Shop Victorville, started last year, asks residents to nominate and vote for favorites (best pizza, best wings, best ice cream). Winners receive a plaque and the program is intended to drive local spending and foster friendly competition among businesses.

On municipal revenue, Carrillo addressed a common misconception about sales tax. “Especially with an 8.7% sales tax… a lot of times, people think we’re getting that full 8.75%,” she said. “That’s actually not the truth. We only get 2% of the 8.75%.” Carrillo said those local receipts support the general fund and Measure P priorities, including public safety and code enforcement.

The department urged residents to provide input through social media, city events, email or phone. Carrillo noted a 2023 community survey that asked what amenities residents wanted and said responses helped prioritize outreach to target retailers. The segment closed with Carrillo encouraging listeners to shop locally during the holidays to help reinvest revenue into Victorville services.

The program is produced by the city of Victorville. For more information on business resources and the city’s promotional programs, Carrillo said residents can find links and contact information on city social channels and official events listings.