The City of Hawthorne is excited to provide an update on the progress of its four-year economic development strategic plan, which went into effect on April 25, 2023. It was launched to drive revenue-producing developments, enhance community services, and modernize city operations. The plan includes five primary goals and has seen significant advancements since its implementation.
“The plan is designed to be a living document that evolves with community needs,” said Planning Director Gregg McClain. “Our progress reflects the City’s commitment to both immediate improvements and long-term success.”
During the first year following its implementation, the City of Hawthorne has made significant strides toward achieving its key goals. The first goal is to boost the local economy by developing new revenue streams, improving zoning regulations and planning major developments. Another priority is enhancing customer service to the Hawthorne community, with efforts aimed at improving City efficiency and community responsiveness. Increasing City revenue is also a major focus; to pursue this goal, the City is working to refine and maximize fee structures. Modernizing zoning regulations is being addressed to ensure they align with current needs and future growth. Fostering community connections is the fifth and final goal of the strategic plan.
Thus far, Hawthorne has celebrated several key achievements, including a successful rebranding initiative that spurred the creation of a new City logo. The City has also enhanced their use of social media across platforms, adding over 3000 followers across Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn, publishing posts more frequently, and significantly increasing impressions and engagements since the implementation of the strategic plan in April of 2023.
Notable economic developments include the creation of the Business Connect program, which facilitates connections between local businesses and the community, and plans for additional Hawthorne job fairs to connect community members with local businesses.
“Thus far, we’ve successfully pursued our strategic plan,” said City Manager Vontray Norris. “We have faced some challenges in modernizing our zoning laws, but the City has proactively refocused objectives to ensure that we stay on track.”
Community engagement has been a cornerstone of the strategic plan. Public workshops provided valuable input, helping the City prioritize key areas of focus. The City aims to continue these workshops to keep the public informed and involved in the process as the strategic plan evolves.
Looking ahead, the City of Hawthorne will continue to disseminate information about the strategic plan and seek public input to refine and adjust goals as needed. Throughout the remaining three years of this strategic plan, the City looks forward to continuing to improve its service to the Hawthorne community.
For more information, please reach out to Planning Director McClain at gmcclain@cityofhawthorne.org or (310) 349-2970, or review the plan on the City of Hawthorne’s website.