Escondido is one step closer to being the "starting line" of the country's biggest bicycle race after the city's council voted Wednesday to spend the required funds needed to host it.
Organizers of the Amgen Tour of California urged Escondido to be one of only a few host cities of the May race, according to our media partner the North County Times.
Hosting the beginning leg of the 2013 race would bring a much-needed economic boost to the city, but at cost of about $475,000.
The council voted to spend the needed money, confident that local businesses like Lexus Escondido and Stone Brewery Co. would step up to foot part of the bill.
In addition to the donations, 470 volunteers will be needed for the race.
A city spokesperson told the NC Times the council is fairly certain the race organizers will officially approve Escondido as the start of the race.
If approved, participants would spend about 36 hours in Escondido. Though it's not known how much of a monetary impact this stay would have on the city, other hosts have seen enormous benefits.
Local
Santa Rosa brought in an estimated $6.8 million economic boost from the event this year, Raissa de la Rosa, the city's economic development specialist, told the NC Times.
For more information on the race and its potential in Escondido, check it out on the NC Times' website.
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