BIRMINGHAM, AL (June 29, 2026) – The City of Simi Valley has completed Retail Academy training through Retail Strategies, the nation’s leading retail recruitment and economic development consulting firm. The training equips the city with the market data, marketing materials, and strategic framework needed to actively pursue retail attraction and reinvigorate its commercial development efforts.
Retail Academy is a signature program of Retail Strategies that provides municipal leaders with a comprehensive understanding of the retail landscape, consumer demographics, and recruitment strategy and plan for their community. For Simi Valley, the training represents a pivotal moment — giving city staff and council members a shared foundation from which to build a more proactive, coordinated retail strategy.
“I know what a strong retail recruitment strategy can do for a community,” said Luis Garibay, Assistant City Manager for the City of Simi Valley. “In my previous role, I worked closely with Retail Strategies on retail attraction strategy and implementation, and the results were real and measurable. I’m thrilled to bring that same energy and expertise to Simi Valley. Starting with Retail Academy was the right move — it gives our team and our council members a common language and a clear picture of what’s possible.”
Beyond training city staff, Retail Academy served as an educational resource for participating city council members, ensuring that elected officials are aligned with the city’s retail recruitment direction and equipped to advocate for strategic commercial growth. This alignment between staff and elected leadership is critical as Simi Valley prepares to take its retail story to a national stage.
After a several-year hiatus, Simi Valley attended ICSC Las Vegas, the largest conference in the retail real estate industry, and was positioned to make a strong impression on retailers, brokers, and developers attending from across the country. The Retail Academy process ensures the city enters those conversations armed with compelling market data, a polished pitch, and a clear narrative about why Simi Valley is an attractive location for retail investment. The conference represents a significant opportunity to put the city in front of decision-makers who are actively evaluating new markets, and Retail Strategies will support the city’s presence and outreach throughout the event.
Jessica Bohlen, Director of Community Partnerships at Retail Strategies, noted that Simi Valley’s timing is well-suited for a recruitment push. “There is a lot of movement and opportunity happening in Simi Valley right now,” said Bohlen. “Between city-owned land and several upcoming developments in the pipeline, there’s a compelling story to tell retailers and developers. Retail Academy gives the city the tools to tell that story effectively — and we’re excited to help Simi Valley capitalize on the momentum.”
Simi Valley joins a growing list of communities across the country that have completed Retail Academy training as a first step toward building a sustainable, data-driven retail recruitment program.
About Retail Academy
Retail Academy is a program developed by a leading national retail advisory firm, Retail Strategies. The program assists communities in strengthening their retail landscape. Communities will be trained and equipped with the tools and education needed to attract new retailers to their markets while supporting their existing local businesses. To learn more, visit https://www.retailstrategies.com/retailacademy/.
