The Aftermath of Redevelopment Agencies: A Case Study on the Abolishment of Redevelopment Agencies and the Impact It Has Had on Economic Development in the County of Riverside, California

Purpose. On February 1, 2012, the state of California abolished all redevelopment agencies (RDAs). The purpose of this study was to provide an analysis of the aftermath of the abolishment of RDAs and the impacts it has had within communities in Riverside County, California. This study examined and analyzed the outcomes caused by the dissolution of RDAs and determined if there were any impacts on economic development growth and policy.;Theoretical Framework. This study examined 4 crucial research foundations---(a) systems theory, (b) organizational culture theory, (c) complexity theory, and (d) decision theory---and how they apply to the development and implementation of tools, resources, and policy for local government agencies to conduct economic development and redevelopment activities.;Methodology. This mixed-methods study provided a balance of qualitative and quantitative research. The quantitative research was the analysis of secondary data collected from various databases, such as the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis, which measure economic growth and community development. The qualitative research was collected by conducting anonymous in-person interviews with various public administrators with expertise and experience in the field of redevelopment and economic development.;Findings. The findings of this study indicated a definite correlation between the activities of RDAs and outcomes of economic growth within Riverside County. Secondly, that collaborative network was a vital component to the success of RDAs in developing partnerships and implementing programs and projects. Finally, the state of California did not provide the proper management or compliance monitoring of the redevelopment program, nor did it handle the dissolution process effectively.;Conclusions and Recommendations. The results of the study indicate that RDAs should not have been abolished but reformed in order to optimize their activities, achieve their economic development goals, and reduce any mismanagement of funds. Future research should include a microeconomic and/or macroeconomic analysis of each RDA project area in California or a program performance evaluation study that can create precise measurement outcomes and monitor changes and impacts to the local economy.