Two Escalon City Council members and three Escalon business people have been seated on the Economic Development Committee for the city and will work in an advisory capacity to the full council. The committee had its first scheduled meeting on Aug. 26.

“With the adoption of the 2025-2026 Strategic Plan and the City Council’s focus on economic development – increasing the City’s tax base as well as business offerings and vitality – the Committee is intended to connect government and the business community, and to act as an advisory body to the City Council on matters pertaining to economic development,” explained City Manager Jaylen French.

Committee members include Shawn Strohman and Jeff Kay from the council, along with Jessica Wylie, Zach Hogan and Rita Long from the business community.

“The charge of the Committee is to help develop and advocate for an economic development strategy that improves the overall quality of the City’s economy. We believe that vibrant communities do not just happen, but that they are built,” noted French.

The committee is expected to meet once a month and it is a subcommittee of the Escalon City Council, so it will serve as a recommending body to the council.

Among the areas they will pursue are to create “a structure or framework for efficient and nimble” decision-making and allocation of resources to top priorities, as well as support and foster existing businesses seeking to expand or remain in Escalon, according to the committee policy. The committee members will also work to identify and attract new businesses for the city as well as advocating for outside funds including grants, to move the city’s economic development strategy forward.

Also seen as a key role of the committee is to “recommend economic development programs that identify, recruit, build and retain” attractive commercial developments and development that enhance availability of services and diversify the City’s tax base.

One of the first actions of the Committee is likely to be initiation of an Economic Development Strategic Plan, French said.

“They will further participate in the consultant selection process and plan development process. The intent of the plan is to outline concrete steps and actions to build a robust and diversified economy,” the city manager noted. “We understand that this will not happen overnight, but the plan seeks to provide a vision of a healthy Escalon economy, and detail steps to begin implementing that vision. We intend the residents to participate along the way as well.”