Residents urge Atwater to get aggressive on business recruitment and downtown beautification

Multiple residents used the budget workshop to press Atwater leaders for a more active economic-development strategy and to prioritize outward-facing improvements that would affect business attraction.

Speakers recounted missed opportunities and suggested the city adopt a marketing and brokerage outreach plan. One attendee recalled prior unsuccessful recruitment efforts and urged the city to convene local business leaders in a roundtable to surface contacts and ideas. Residents pointed to specific losses (mentions of Amazon, Costco and hotel recruitment in nearby places) and argued that Atwater needs more coordinated promotion to win large employers and generate tax revenue.

Staff said retail brokers and organizations such as Opportunity Stanislaus are channels to attract retailers and employers, and that cities often send staff to conferences such as the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) to build broker relationships. Staff acknowledged the city currently does not have a dedicated economic-development manager and that the work often falls to other staff; the moderator encouraged residents to pass along broker or developer contacts.

Public comments also covered visual impressions for visitors and businesses. Several residents urged beautification and signage improvements along Atwater Boulevard to create a better first impression for potential investors; one resident offered to help lead volunteer efforts and donate funds for initial work.

Staff said they have added the business roundtable idea to their list of community outreach actions and will return with more details and data at future meetings.