Newberry Springs Chamber Launches Community Visioning Sessions to Shape Economic Future

NEWBERRY SPRINGS — The Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce is inviting residents to participate in a series of community visioning sessions next week, designed to help shape the community’s economic future and identify what support the community needs from San Bernardino County.

The six sessions, scheduled for October 19–23, 2026, are part of the County’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) update process. Newberry Springs will be included as a specific community within the broader Greater Barstow regional CEDS.

What Is a CEDS?

A Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy provides a regional framework for identifying economic-development priorities, projects, investment opportunities, workforce needs, and strategies that can support job creation and business growth. San Bernardino County’s economic-development framework emphasizes job creation, private investment, business growth, workforce development, site-selection assistance, infrastructure, and tourism.

Rather than creating a separate planning document, Newberry Springs will build upon planning work that has already been completed, including the County’s Newberry Springs Community Action Guide and Cal Poly Pomona planning work. The County will review these plans, update demographic and economic data, and help identify and package projects that have the potential to create jobs, support existing businesses, attract private investment, expand tourism, strengthen agriculture, and improve infrastructure.

Visioning Session Schedule

Each session will be approximately two hours and will use the same questions and format. Community members are encouraged to attend the session with which they most identify or that best fits their schedule.

Seniors & Veterans
Monday, October 19, 2026
9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
American Legion
30196 Newberry Rd.

Religious Groups / Education / Youth
Monday, October 19, 2026
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Newberry Family Center
33383 Newberry Rd.

CSD Board Special Meeting
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
CSD Building
30884 Newberry Rd.

Lakes
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Newberry Family Center
33383 Newberry Rd.

Business Community
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Newberry Family Center
33383 Newberry Rd.

Agriculture
Thursday, October 22, 2026
9:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Newberry Family Center
33383 Newberry Rd.

What the County Can Provide

The visioning sessions are designed to gather input on how Newberry Springs wants to grow, what types of economic development are appropriate for the community, opportunities for job creation and entrepreneurship, and what assistance the community would like from San Bernardino County.

The County will help identify and package projects that have the potential to create jobs and increase local employment opportunities, support existing businesses and entrepreneurs, attract private investment, expand tourism and visitor spending, strengthen agriculture and agritourism, improve infrastructure needed for economic growth, and connect local businesses and residents with larger regional investments.

Existing Economic-Development Vision

Newberry Springs’ community planning has already identified several priorities, including:

• Route 66 & Heritage Tourism — Developing the community’s Route 66 assets, historic resources, events, visitor experiences, and tourism businesses.
• Agriculture & Agritourism — Supporting small-scale agriculture, farm-based businesses, farmers markets, and new agritourism opportunities.
• Small Business & Entrepreneurship — Encouraging home-based businesses, small enterprises, hospitality, retail, and services.
• Outdoor Recreation & Hospitality — Developing camping, lodging, recreation, and visitor-serving businesses that complement the community’s rural character.
• Infrastructure & Community Investment — Identifying broadband, roads, water, and emergency services necessary to support responsible economic growth.

Why This Matters

The goal is to create a common economic-development framework that Newberry Springs can use when working with San Bernardino County, private investors, developers, businesses, grant programs, and regional partners. The process moves from community vision to economic priorities to specific projects to investment and funding opportunities, ultimately leading to jobs and business growth.

An important goal is to include people who do not typically participate in community meetings, so that the process captures a broad range of perspectives. Approximately 10–15 participants per session is recommended, though participation numbers are flexible.

The Chamber’s volunteer community planner, Jeanette Hayhurst, will be in Newberry Springs October 17–24, 2026, to conduct the sessions. A summary of each visioning session will be prepared and shared with the community, and the resulting input will help the Chamber identify and prioritize projects for consideration in the County’s CEDS update.

The objective is not simply to attract development, but to plan for investment in a way that creates lasting economic opportunity while preserving the rural character and community values of Newberry Springs.

Questions?

For more information, please contact Rose Beardshear at rosebeardshear@gmail.com.