Defense Dept. studying East Kern economic challenges

Under a grant from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Economic Adjustment, representatives of two economic development consulting firms have begun researching East Kern County. Their job is to discover the economic strengths and weaknesses of the communities in East Kern and to help structure plans for the future.

County Supervisors Zack Scrivner and Mick Gleason, who together represent all of East Kern, won the grant, which is being administered by the county. Vicki Doll and Fawn McLaughlin of Chabin Concepts of Chico, Calif., met with 14 community leaders on April 19, 2016, at the Tehachapi Police Department community room to get a picture of the local situation. Other representatives of TIP Strategies of Austin, Texas met with local officials and business leaders.

The attendees shared their views on business opportunities and constraints.

The web site for the DoD Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) says "Since 1961, we have helped local communities adapt to DoD program changes, expansions and cutbacks, as well as incompatibilities between military operations and local development."

The OEA the programs include Defense Industry Adjustment (A defense contractor or manufacturer is making cuts or closing), Base Realignment and Closure (A military installation is expanding, realigning or closing), Community investment (Supporting the public schools that are on a military base and the roads surrounding them) and Compatible Use (Development needs of a community impact the local military installation).

The purpose of the grant, Doll told Forde Files, is to develop an economic diversification strategy for East Kern.

"There is no indication that anything is being closed."