then I try to see if we can develop incentives that would help them to actually open here.” Small business grants during COVID, extended hours at City Hall, and flexibility towards developers are all part of the business-friendly initiatives in Coalinga. “Our city council is very pro-growth, and so if there are any fees the developer is requesting to waive, I can’t guarantee that the council will approve it, but we always take it to them and let them decide if that’s something they want to do or not. We really do have great customer service in the city, and that’s everybody here. I think that makes us stand out as being a very business-friendly city,” Trejo says. In terms of workforce development, the community relies on a partnership with West Hills Community College, which has both a campus and a district office in Coalinga. “West Hills College is so easy to work with,” says Trejo. “If we have a new industry coming to town, they will develop a curriculum to teach those employees.” 172 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 08
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