Business View Civil and Municipal | Volume 2, Issue 12

77 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 2, ISSUE 11 gradual transition into a bedroom community and now more industry is coming in. We’re rare because we have a major Interstate, the I-80, running through our city. We’re perfectly positioned between Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area to have upwards of 130,000 vehicles driving through daily. Equally significant are the people commuting to work in other areas. They choose to live here.” Dixon’s Community Development Director, Raffi Boloyan, adds that this recent population growth doesn’t affect the “small-town feel.” The lush fruit orchards and vegetable farms surrounding Dixon enhance its atmosphere, while also acting as “buffers” between the more densely populated neighboring areas. Dixon’s Economic Development/Grants Manager, Larry Burkhardt, agrees, elaborating, “We have festivals here that have become traditions. They exemplify what our community has built over time. On the first Saturday in May, for the past 145 years, we’ve celebrated the Dixon May Fair. It’s the state’s oldest continuous agricultural fair and includes a two-hour parade showcasing our town. In the summer there’s the Grillin’ & Chillin’ Car & Truck Show & Rib Chili Cook Off. During Halloween, our downtown hosts trick-or-treaters and the sidewalks are overflowing. At Christmas, the Dixon Fire Department hands out hot chocolate during our Annual Tree Lighting Festival.” Recently, there’s been a substantial migration out of the Bay Area. Residents are realizing they can sell their property for a premium, purchase a home in Dixon for a third of that cost, and lose the congestion by working remotely. It’s an advantageous situation from all sides. City Manager, Jim Lindley, observed a decade ago that Dixon was poised for growth in all areas – business, residential, and commercial. His first assignment was preparing the community for these opportunities. He notes, “After looking at infrastructure, the Dixon Wastewater Treatment Facility was built. This state-of-the- C I TY OF DI XON, CAL I FORNI A Courtesy of Gary Erwin Courtesy of Gary Erwin