Poway’s new economic development manager on the job

By Steve Dreyer

Poway’s new economic development manager brings over 20 years of related government experience to a job that he started this week.

For W. Jay Virata, the position also represents an opportunity to return to San Diego County, where he was raised and still has family and friends

Virata, 49, comes to Poway after spending 11 years with the City of Los Angeles Redevelopment Agency. From 2006 until June 2012 he was a regional administrator, overseeing redevelopment and economic development efforts in the city’s downtown and Eastside regions. His job was eliminated when Gov. Jerry Brown eliminated hundreds of local redevelopment agencies across the state, including Poway’s. Prior to being a regional administrator Virata was the Los Angeles agency’s director of budgets, asset management and capital finance.

From 1994 to 2001 Virata was a project manager for the City of Monterey Park Economic Development Department.

He holds a master’s degree in real estate development from the University of Southern California and a master’s in public administration from Cal State, Long Beach.

Virata said his new job will initially focus on helping existing Poway businesses prosper and grow and serving as a go-between them and City Hall. New business development will also be a part of his job, he said.

“It’s about building relationships with businesses and creating win-win-win situations,” he said. “I can help businesses get in touch with resources.”

Virata said he’s happy to be back in San Diego since he was raised in Paradise Hills.

Poway has been without an economic development person since its RDA was dismantled. Virata will be working for City Manager Penny Riley. His salary range is $93,564 to $113,736.