City of Banning Economic Development Strategy

Banning is a significantly disadvantaged community in need of employment opportunities for current and future residents. With a demographic of 50% of the population with an education level of a high school diploma or less, the current workforce will make it difficult to attract many employers. However, many unskilled and skilled labor jobs can be attracted. Bringing businesses to Banning will eventually create a need for services to support businesses and the people who work in Banning.

The City of Banning understands the desire for more grocery stores, high paying jobs, entertainment and jobs that will allow young people to stay in Banning or return to Banning after college. The lack of growth during the past 20 years has left Banning with a difficult hill to climb, but the opportunities to make positive changes are rapidly approaching.

In addition to employment and services, new businesses and new homes create tax dollars and impact fees that help build new streets, parks, and other needed facilities. Of course, growth also brings impacts - most notably traffic congestion. The City has initiated the process of extending Sun Lakes Boulevard, which will connect Highland Home Road to Sunset Avenue, creating an east/west travel option south of I-10 that will allow traffic to travel from Highland Springs to Hathaway. Design will be completed in 2022 and construction is anticipated to start in 2023.

In 2021, the City conducted a series of workshops to inform the development of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS). In addition to a strategic focus on creating a resilient local economy, the CEDS identifies 11 major strategies to accomplish the City's economic goals and strategies:

1. Establish a Community Revitalization and Investment Authority (CRIA);
2. Create quality gathering places on Ramsey Street and within Downtown;
3. Ramsey Street as I-10 business route;
4. Expand and diversify industrial uses;
5. Expand workforce development programs;
6. Provide critical grocery store to east end/Farmer's Market;
7. Marketing strategies with Beaumont and Morongo;
8. Develop hotel/tourism district;
9. Underground Hargrave Railroad crossing;
10. Support/leverage Grandave Studio Project;
11. Attract quality retail developer for Atwell and San Gorgonio Master Planned Communities.