Thursday, June 6, 2013

Your Help is Needed to Save Calif. Enterprize Zones

biz_scv-chamber-sealWhen the legislature and Governor moved forward on plans to do away with redevelopment agencies, they removed one of the few tools California had for promoting economic development. Now Enterprise Zones (EZ) are on the chopping block and we need your help to save them.





I joined Chamber Board President Fred Arnold, Aerospace Dynamics Inc.’s (ADI) Bill Barritt, and others in Sacramento to push our lawmakers to retain the state Enterprise Zone program. It has been extremely beneficial to approximately 420 businesses here in the valley, enabling them to add and retain jobs as well as expand their business in an uncertain economy.




Enterprise Zone - Clovis 1

Credit: City of Clovis

There is a coalition forming to keep Enterprise Zones. Please go to www.EnterpriseCA.org to learn how they are helping create jobs, expand existing businesses and reinvest in local communities. You can also click here for a thoughtful Stockton Record editorial on the issue. Following is an excerpt from my note to elected officials in Sacramento:



“While we recognize that it may be appropriate to institute reforms for some areas of the program to ensure that the Enterprise Zone program meets its intended goals of stimulating business investment in California and reaching people with barriers to employment, the overall program has been clearly beneficial to local businesses, their employees and the state of California. The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce urges your continuing support for the Enterprise Zone program to ensure that our state can be competitive in creating and retaining jobs, as well as securing future business investment in California.”




 


Terri Crain 

President/CEO, SCV Chamber of Commerce


Your Help is Needed to Save Calif. Enterprize Zones