CITIES ON HOME STRETCH TOWARD ENTERPRISE ZONE.

Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer

Palmdale and Lancaster officials are working through a list of conditions imposed by the state before the Antelope Valley will receive final designations as an enterprise zone.

The 15 conditions include providing a map of streets in the zone on computer disk; submitting a final environmental impact report and marketing materials for state review; updating World Wide Web pages to include enterprise zone information; and scheduling workshops and forums for manufacturers and property brokers.

The conditions have to be met by mid-May or the Antelope Valley will lose the enterprise zone designation.

``There's nothing we look at as an impediment,'' said Palmdale Assistant City Manager Ron Creagh. ``We can do all of them by the end of the year.''

In October, the state Trade and Commerce Agency conditionally selected the Antelope Valley as an enterprise zone, providing the region with a powerful tool to attract businesses and to encourage existing businesses to expand.

Once the Antelope Valley meets the state's conditions, the region will be able to offer such incentives as tax credits for sales or use taxes paid on the first $20 million of equipment or machinery purchased, deductions for interest income earned on investments, and income-tax credits for employees.

Companies will also be eligible for a hiring credit for wages paid to employees hired through specific programs during the first five years on the job - a potential credit of up to $19,000 a worker.

Since the conditional enterprise zone designation was announced Oct. 28, the city has received more than 50 inquiries from businesses, Creagh said.

The Antelope Valley enterprise zone covers more than 40 square miles and includes nearly all commercial and industrial property in Palmdale, Lancaster and unincorporated Los Angeles County territory bordering the two cities.

Palmdale tried unsuccessfully to become an enterprise zone in the early 1990s. One of the shortcomings cited by state officials was Palmdale's lack of a track record in offering incentives to attract businesses.

Since then, the cities of Palmdale and Lancaster created their $2,000-a-job incentive program and - along with Los Angeles County, private business and Antelope Valley College - created an economic advisory board called the Antelope Valley Regional Partnership.

When legislation was passed in 1994 to create two new zones, Palmdale officials decided to make a second attempt, this time joining with Lancaster to make it a regional application.