BIRMINGHAM, AL (March 12, 2026) – The City of Watsonville has selected Retail Strategies, a national economic development consulting firm, to provide comprehensive retail recruitment and business retention services following a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process.
Through this partnership, Retail Strategies will deliver business retention services via its Small Business Support platform while simultaneously executing targeted retail recruitment efforts through its Retail Recruitment team. The dual-focus approach addresses Watsonville’s goals of supporting existing businesses while attracting new retail investment to the community.
“Retail Strategies’ response to the RFP indicated they had the experience in both retail recruitment and business retention that the city was seeking,” said Raunel Zavala, Principal Management Analyst for the City of Watsonville. “They have seen a lot of success with communities throughout California and we’re excited to be underway with the partnership.”
Retail Strategies has already begun work on the engagement, having recently completed its first in-market, boots-on-the-ground visit to Watsonville. The firm will next deliver a comprehensive retail recruitment strategy tailored to the city’s unique market opportunities and economic development goals.
“We’re excited to partner with Watsonville to strengthen its retail environment and support its local business community,” said Jessica Bohlen, Director of Community Partnerships for Retail Strategies. “Our integrated approach to recruitment and retention will help the city achieve sustainable economic growth while preserving the unique character that makes Watsonville special. We’re confident our team will be able to step in and make an impact in the city.”
The scope of work includes conducting detailed economic and demographic analysis, developing a targeted marketing and outreach strategy to attract new businesses, implementing business retention and support programs, and providing ongoing broker and developer engagement for site selection and retail attraction. Retail Strategies will also assist in identifying underutilized opportunity sites throughout the city and create a Community Economic Profile for marketing purposes.
This engagement marks Retail Strategies’ continued expansion throughout California, where the firm has built a strong track record of delivering results for communities seeking to enhance their retail landscapes and business climates.
About Retail Strategies
Retail Strategies is the national expert in community development and retail economic development. Our mission is to provide the real estate expertise, tools, and human effort that position deserving towns as alluring locations for national businesses and destinations for tourism and quality-of-life amenities. We confidently pursue this mission by delivering unparalleled customer service as a unified team with unmatched real estate and community development expertise. Our activities pay a return in sales taxes, added jobs, and businesses that enhance and add to the unique qualities of your community.
