Local economic development efforts are ongoing, Chamber of Commerce says

In a presentation to the Tehama County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Commerce CEO Dave Gowan said local economic development is labor-intensive and that efforts are ongoing, though progress can sometimes be slow.

"Economic development is wide, deep, and high - there's so much to it," Gowan told the board, though he said he'd go through as much of it as possible to provide updates on activity in the community.

The chamber has assisted a number of businesses that are doing well, Gowan said, including one that has grown out of their space twice in two years. Gowan described himself as a "glass half full guy," but said, even so, that things are "stuck" currently.

Gowan didn't limit the "stuck" conditions to the county, but said they extend to broader government systems.

"What I'm finding out more and more as I get into economic development is a weak tax base creates us being stuck, because there's only so much you can get out of the turnip, so to speak," Gowan told the board. To address this issue, Gowan said the community needs to attract more workers and businesses to get the economy moving and expand the tax base.

He said economic development in general is a benefit to law enforcement, infrastructure, fire, water and the broader budget.

The chamber has been engaged in economic development activities for about 2.5 years, Gowan said, and through experience and conversations with others in the field, he has learned it is a slow process.

Gowan said the local chamber offers regular meetings with people and information on economic development issues.

They also host a broad range of special events, such as the recent "National Small Business Week" in the first week of May. Over 500 people nominated 120 different businesses across the county, and the chamber highlighted a portion of them throughout the week.

Last year, Gowan said the chamber inventoried empty and vacant storefronts around town and contacted the people connected to each one. He said that has brought some "wins," at the Raley's shopping center and in downtown Red Bluff. Gowan said the chamber hopes to do something similar for Corning next.

The chamber has also invested in the community's younger generations through the NextGen Youth Entrepreneur Program. This is an opportunity to train students in business and give them opportunities. The young entrepreneurs will be a part of the chamber's upcoming summer farmers market, starting June 3.

The youth program has had a good response from kids from the local high schools, and their parents, Gowan said.

"Everybody's excited about it," Gowan said. "We're going to train them up young, and they're going to get a great taste about business and they're going to get a great taste about Tehama County. They might go off to school, but they're going to come back."

The Chamber of Commerce is also looking to help businesses move, expand or grow, and draw them to the county.

Gowan said he has met with stakeholders and investors from as far as Sacramento and San Francisco who identify a "treasure" running through the community - 63 miles of the I-5 corridor. He said the community needs to capitalize on this "gold," and he would like to see some further manufacturing come to the area. Gowan also said the potential Cottonwood Travel Center could be a boon to the I-5 corridor, potentially providing many jobs.

For local businesses, the chamber offers a variety of networking events and training opportunities, and outreach and promotion.

Those who want to learn more about local economic development efforts and the chamber's resources can visit tehamacounty.biz or redbluffchamber.com. The Red Bluff – Tehama County Chamber of Commerce office is located at 100 Main St, Red Bluff, and their phone number is 530-527-6220.

Gowan encouraged anyone who wants to keep up with local events or chamber news to sign up for the newsletter at the link on the chamber website.

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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 3:53 AM.