Eight Enterprise Zone Programs Cited for Excellence; United Parcel Service, Antelope Valley EDD Also Honored.

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 1, 1998--

Awards Call Attention to Innovation, Creativity in

Economic Development Arena

Eight California Enterprise Zones, United Parcel Service, and the Antelope Valley Employment Development Department were cited for their creative marketing campaigns and innovative partnership approaches as recipients of the second annual California Enterprise Zone Excellence Awards, state Enterprise Zone Program Manager Patrick Nevis today announced.

"The two goals of the Enterprise Zone program are to revitalize economically distressed areas and provide employment opportunities for low-income people. These communities did an outstanding job in developing effective partnerships and campaigns to promote the fulfillment of these goals," said Nevis.

The awards were made in connection with the recently-held California Association of Enterprise Zones (CAEZ) Conference at the Holiday Inn, Palmdale.

Following are the winners in two general award areas, Marketing and Partnership:

Marketing

Best Overall Marketing Campaign: Yuba-Sutter Enterprise Zone for their multifaceted You Are Now In the Zone campaign which includes brochures, billboards, postcards, personal sales calls and radio public service announcements. The campaign represents a revitalized marketing effort which has produced dramatic results, including over 800 individuals hired from targeted low-income groups (job training partnership act, welfare to work, etc.) in the past year.

Best Collateral Marketing Piece (print): Santa Ana Enterprise Zone, a 1997 award recipient in this category, was a repeat winner for a pair of print advertisements highlighting the lack of "red tape" created in their zone and the convenience and quality of business life in their Orange County location.

Best Collateral Marketing Piece (other media): Balloting in this first-time category resulted in a tie between conference host, the Antelope Valley (Lancaster/Palmdale) Enterprise Zone, for its high-impact web site which provides employers with quick access to EZ incentive information, and the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs Area) Enterprise Zone for a seven minute "infommercial" designed to entice business owners with vacation homes in the area to move their businesses there as well.

Success Story of the Year (a) -- Small City: Watsonville Enterprise Zone for the timely use of zone incentives to retain of the area's lone remaining food processing company along with 1,000 jobs and the success of Alfaro's Micro Bakery during its first year in the Watsonville Zone.

Success Story of the Year (b) -- Large City: Bakersfield/Kern Enterprise Zone, a winner in this category in 1997, tied with Stockton for 1998 Zone Award honors. Bakersfield/Kern's recognition was due to its success in luring AFSA Data Corporation, the nation's largest student loan processor and 400 jobs to the Bakersfield Zone, a move which required expansion of the existing zone. Stockton Enterprise Zone earned kudos for its fast-track location of Lever Brothers and the public/private partnership that resulted in the establishment of the Airport Gateway Center.

Partnership

Innovative Vouchering System -- Santa Ana Enterprise Zone successfully defended last year's title for a system which has vouchered over 6,200 individuals over the past four years. The system integrates the participation of the local Private Industry Council and other entities to provide zone businesses with qualified employees who are prescreened to meet local job recruitment needs.

Job Development/Workforce Preparation -- Bakersfield/Kern took top honors for its innovative Customer Service Academy. The program, which was designed to meet the recruitment needs of AFSA, was created by the Center for Professional Development at Bakersfield College and linked the zone, the college, Employers Training Resource and the economic development community to provide work-ready individuals to AFSA and other local employers.

Innovative Financing/Incentive Program -- Watsonville Enterprise Zone snagged its second 1998 award for its Business Booster Loan program which is designed to aid small companies who are unable to secure conventional bank financing. By providing small ($50,000 or less), low-interest loans for area companies who are expanding or hiring new workers, the program has been successful in creating new jobs and in retaining key employers in the area.

Zone Advocate of the Year (private sector) -- United Parcel Service (UPS) was cited for its work as a private sector ambassador for the Enterprise Zone program. Since the program's inception in 1986, UPS has hired hundreds of individuals through its welfare to work program at its West Sacramento, Oakland and Los Angeles Enterprise Zone locations.

Zone Advocate of the Year (public sector) -- Antelope Valley Employment Development and its Assistant Manager, Shirley Kemp, were recognized for playing a critical lead role in vouchering area residents for EZ employment opportunities, promoting zone education to area companies, including counseling businesses about using the program effectively, and prescreening potential workers for job vacancies.

California's Enterprise Zone program works to revitalize economically distressed communities in 39 designated areas throughout the state. The program uses tax incentives to spur business growth and create job opportunities for low income individuals. The program has been in existence since 1986 and has created nearly 90,000 new jobs statewide. The awards recognized outstanding performance, innovation, and creativity in the promotion of the Enterprise Zone program.

For more information on the California Trade and Commerce Agency, please visit our site on the World Wide Web at: www.commerce.ca.gov.