fresno elections 2008

The use of grants for economic development and the cities try to involve the business to settle in the community. The cities will have to use enticements for business wanting to settle. You might give up so money in the begriming but you will make it up later in taxes and wages for the employees.

To attract jobs, and just as importantly, to retain jobs, we need to cultivate conditions that are favorable for business and to capitalize on our strengths. Past efforts to obtain the Kings Enterprise Zone Designation and its recent renewal are important components of any strategy to generate new jobs. We need to keep in mind that new jobs go hand in hand with commercial development. No significant number of new jobs will be generated without new commercial development. We must keep in mind the strengths we have in the county. We have a very significant agricultural base and recent years have produced many new agricultural or agricultural related developments such as dairies, and food processing facilities such as tomato processing and packing plants and cheese processors. These developments make sense in our county, and our zoning and infrastructure decisions should keep that in mind. Other strengths that we have are relatively inexpensive land for development and easy access to major metropolitan markets by Freeways I-5 and 99 via Highways 198 and 43. These conditions helped attract a precast concrete plant to Corcoran and could be significant issues in attracting other businesses to the county. The county has three California state correctional facilities and a Department of Corrections regional accounting office, all located within the boundaries of District 2. I believe that significant opportunities exist to capitalize on the Department of Corrections presence. We should pursue other opportunities to locate ancillary services such as the regional accounting office within the county and especially within District 2. Discussions have circulated about the possibility of the department establishing a new correctional officer training facility. We need to maintain a good relationship with the Department of Corrections and pursue location of such ancillary services here in Kings County. AB 900 passed last year and the Federal Court order regarding prisoner health care reform both may offer opportunities for job development in Kings County.

I think that economic growth and jobs often come from growth from within. I would like to spend time making sure that the current existing businesses are getting what they need in order to grow and be healthy.

Small business is the key to creating new jobs in our county. We need to make our county friendlier to entrepreneurs wanting to start their own businesses. The answer to job creation is twofold. First we need to streamline the process required for any needed permits and business licenses. Second we need to help ensure new business success through guidance and advocacy.

Often people may have a great idea for a business but not know where to start. Our county should embrace the concept of business development as espoused by the Central Valley Business Incubator (CVBI). Using this concept, start-up businesses are given guidance and support for up to their first two years in areas such as business planning, governmental regulations and reporting and securing sources of finance. Sometimes these start-ups share subsidized office facilities to keep their overhead expenses down. The latter is critical in any businesses first few years.

The vast majority of all new jobs are created by small business in our country. Their successful development in Kings County is critical to improving our employment outlook.

It is difficult to generate more jobs in California. We are the #l worst state in the country to do business in, the cost of labor is one of the highest, the rules and regulations are the most onerous. In the Valley, you have to add the air quality restrictions and fees that are discouraging new business. Our best bet has always been to build on what we have. Agriculture and ag related business and expansion of the Lemoore Naval Air Station are key job creators. We have very good people running our Economic Development organization in Kings that have been successful, despite the handicaps, in bringing new jobs We intend to keep them at it.