China Opportunity in Ontario

As a microcosm of California, the City of Ontario isn't such a good match – things have been going way too well for that. But the activity there may point the way for the state, and the perspective of Mary Jane Olhasso, economic development director and a former corporate financial officer, offers some value for all players.

See the SITES California Business Roundtable www.cbrt.org University of Southern California Lusk Center for Real Estate www.usc.edu/lusk The Milken Institute www.milkeninstitute.org State of California Employment Training Panel www.etp.ca.gov Inland Empire Economic Partnership www.ieep.com San Diego Regional Econ. Dev. www.sandiegobusiness.org L.A. Regional Econ. Dev. www.laedc.org Southwest California www.southwestcalifornia.com

        Leading the agenda in Ontario lately has been a trade mission to China led by Olhasso and her colleague Brian McGowan. Ostensibly, the trip was looking for trade opportunities for Inland Empire companies seeking to emulate the Chinese success stories of locally based Apex Digital and Andus Group. But the upshot – amid diplomatic moves toward balancing trade – has been an increase in delegations from China looking into Southern California for operations of their own.
        Ontario's growth has been driven in large part by the growth of LA-Ontario International Airport. The terminals are only five years old, the facility already is the launch pad for UPS flights to China, and in 20 years it is projected to reach 30 million passengers and have one of the country's largest cargo volumes. The city's leaders are as pro-business as its flight paths, with the city council most recently approving in March 2004 the issuance of $1.6 million in bonds by the California Statewide Communities Development Authority on behalf of locally expanding Kaiser Permanente, which is expected to add as many as 1,000 jobs to its payroll.
        As for the state's fiscal troubles, Olhasso says, "Unfortunately, the bond issue had to be done. However, now that we've refinanced that debt, the legislature understands that this government has clout. We struggle when they take our revenue, but from a business standpoint, it's essential that all levels of government create a healthy and stable fiscal environment."
        For those fed-up corporations pledging to leave the state, she has another observation.
        "Those companies putting the blinders on to Southern California are really missing the boat."