Delano Community Development Corporation DCDC

    The DCDC was a group of entrepreneurs and businessmen who worked to bring jobs to Delano and a better quality of life to Delano.  It was formed in 1967 by Gordy Wetter and Don Gilmer, and organized as a regular business corporation. The leadership team included Virgil Amundsen, Phil Carlberg, Lloyd Griep, Jim Herzog, Jim Iten, Gary Janish, Jean Johnson, Jim Lundsten, Dave Robinson, Mary Robinson, and Lloyd Sell.  100 shares were sold for $100 each.  If you bought a share, you had to either pass it on to your family, or sell it back to the DCDC, which would then sell it.
   The success of the DCDC was made possible with tax increment financing (TIF), a public financing method that is used as a subsidy for redevelopment, infrastructure, and other community-improvement projects. Delano was early to participate in TIF, thus allowing it to avoid the competition from other cities that came later on.  Because the City of Delano was willing to sponsor TIF, the DCDC was able to accomplish many of its goals.
   The Delano Manor was the original reason why DCDC was founded. Currently, in 2021, known as The Estates at Delano, its success served as the basis for other projects.  The creation of the Industrial Park brought several businesses to Delano.  Industrial Louvers came in 1970, with Landscape Structures and Aaron soon after.  The DCDC disbanded and sold out in the late 1980’s/early 1990’s after accomplishing their original mission.