Update 3:00pm | The Press-Telegram‘s Paul Eakins has written about Swayze’s departure and points out the department downsizing that occurred when Economic Development was realigned into Arts and Culture last year. Swayze says that isn’t why he is leaving, but it does paint a clearer picture of the department’s current standing with a small staff and an outgoing manager. The article is worth a read, click here to check it out.
Update 1:00pm | Upon the announcement of his departure, Robert Swayze caught up with the lbpost.com to discuss his decision and reflect on his time in Long Beach.
“The LAEDC really presented a great opportunity for me,” Swayze said. “I’ve worked with them closely for 19 years, so I’m very familiar with the organization. You know, Long Beach is a fantastic city. I’ve enjoyed working here with so many fantastic people.”
Swayze said that his most proud accomplishment was securing new enterprise zones that will save local businesses millions of dollars in taxes, which encouraged them to stay in Long Beach and attracted new companies as well. A close second, he said, was his work on the C-17 Red Team that helped keep operations in Long Beach and saved thousands of jobs.
“Economic development is incredibly important for Long Beach and for the ongoing prosperity of the city,” he said. “Particularly now when we’re in such a rough patch, regionally and locally in our economy. Pat [West] will make a great choice [in the search for a replacement] and I know he will make a great choice for the deptartment and the city.”
11:00am | Robert Swayze, the manager of the Long Beach Economic Development and Cultural Affairs Bureau, will leave his position for a new job, according to City Manager Pat West. Swayze has long been credited with leading Long Beach’s efforts to attract new businesses and was instrumental in organizing the presentation that earned Long Beach the status as the Most Business Friendly City In Los Angeles County.
Swayze will leave his position at the end of August to join the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), the same organization that recognized Long Beach with the business friendly award last November. Swayze will become the Executive Vice President of the LAEDC.
“He is the department,” said West, in a phone interview today. “Robert has been a key figure in the city since 2005, a lead in the C-17 Red Team program, he’s been able to expand our enterprise zone and keep it alive in California, attract new sales producers to our city and tie economic development to arts and culture.”
The Economic Development department was combined into Arts and Culture last year as a restructuring measure. West said that he and Swayze are working together to transition the department, and is unsure who will replace Swayze.
“I am delighted to be joining the LAEDC team,” Swayze said in a press release from the LAEDC. “I have worked closely with the LAEDC for almost 20 years, and I have the highest respect for their achievements and efforts to ensure Los Angeles County continues as a center of prosperity, innovation and business leadership.”
More to come…
Follow the lbpost.com on our Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages.