Four corners.

The area known as the "Four Corners" (Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado) in the Southwestern United States continues to experience positive growth.

Utah

Mayor Rey Lloyd Hatt of Green River, reports that Book Cliff Energy Corporation has selected the Green River Industrial Park in southeastern Utah as the site for its new plant. The facility will be structured to process and recycle petroleum products. Book Cliff Energy was initially attracted to southeastern Utah because of the increase in oil activity there. The Green River Industrial Park proved to be an excellent location for the operation due to its proximity to the oil fields, as well as the Denver and Rio Grand Railroad and Interstate 70. Plant construction will be completed by spring of 1994; the plant is expected to employ 30 to 40 people.

New Mexico

Independent Mobility Systems has relocated to Farmington and purchased a 54,000 square-foot building in the Industrial Park. IMS converts new mini-vans into vehicles accessible to those confined to a wheelchair. The facility will employ about 100 and will produce about 60 vans per month. Lower labor costs and a strong local work ethic played a key role in the relocation decision.

Colorado

Dolores, Colorado has attracted a former manager of a trailer manufacturing firm in El Cajon, California, who has relocated to Dolores to start his own company known as J & L Trailers. The company manufactures utility trailers and does RV repair and other welding. The company is located in a 1,000 square-foot shop on a rural ranch setting in southwestern Colorado. The quality of life in southwestern Colorado was the primary reason behind the relocation decision.

COLORADO

Denver

During the last three years as the west coast economy has suffered, the rate of business expansions and relocations has accelerated in Jefferson County, Colorado. Jefferson County is the western edge of the Denver Metropolitan area. It offers businesses prime locations and gives executives a wide range of housing options, from the mountainous communities of Evergreen, Genesee and Conifer to the more traditional lower elevation neighborhoods.

These assets contribute to an outstanding quality of life which, combined with the low cost of living, low taxes and low housing costs, have resulted in the acquisition of numerous firms from Southern California.

NORTH CAROLINA 

Piedmont Triad

An 11-county area anchored by the cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem and High Point, appears poised to repeat as one of the top-ranked areas in the country for new business development. Last year, it ranked second among the nation's top ten metro areas in attracting new manufacturing plants with twenty-two announced in 1992. In 1991, the Piedmont Triad placed ninth in the same development survey.

Several major projects announced in the past few months are already under construction or ready to begin. Siecor Corporation will build a $30 million fiber optics cable plant that will employ 200. Schlegel Corporation is already building a $37 million automotive rubber moldings plant that will employ 800 people. VF Corporation is building a $6 million expansion of its national distribution center which will bring employment up to 650, nearly six times what the company expected just three years ago. AMP is building a 200,000 square-foot plant to manufacture electronic and electric control boards.

The Piedmont Triad's service industry is growing as well. Pepsico will hire up to 1,000 people for its national customer service center. NationsBank is building a $30 million facility to house 1,940 employees who handle loan processing. Bankers & Shippers Insurance Company is building a corporate headquarters addition that will allow it to increase its staff to 800 employees.

California companies continue to check out the attractions of the Piedmont Triad. Capitol Records' Sema Distribution Division, Cluett Corporation and Gullwing Screen-printing have either relocated or opened additional facilities here over the past several months. Many of the respondents to a national advertising campaign promoting the Piedmont Triad come from California. One of the region's economic developers says he is currently working with three different California companies to explore relocation alternatives.

All the attention on this area pleases the leaders of the Piedmont. Triad Partnership, the 11-county business recruitment organization which handles marketing, advertising and promotion of the region.

"Our high ranking in this development survey supports the fact that the Piedmont Triad, North Carolina, is a highly desirable area for corporate relocation and expansion," says J. Walter McDowell, chairman of the Piedmont Triad Partnership.

For more information on the area: Piedmont Triad Partnership, 6415 Airport Parkway, Greensboro, NC 27409; 800-328-2025.

SOUTH DAKOTA 

Sioux Falls 

Graco Inc. has announced its plans to open a small manufacturing facility in Sioux Falls. The plant will produce paint spray-guns and other accessories. Initially, about 30 new jobs will be created. The operation will occupy approximately 30,000 square feet and is scheduled to be fully operational late this year.

Graco Inc. supplies technology and expertise for the management of fluids in both industrial and commercial applications. It designs, manufactures and markets systems and equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and apply fluid materials.

Nordic Track has announced plans to open a distribution center and employ 100 people in Sioux Falls. Nordic Track, a manufacturer of exercise equipment, had sales of $266.8 million in 1992 and has had an average annual increase of nearly 65 percent since 1988.

According to Jim Bostic, president and CEO of NordicTrack, the new facility will serve as a distribution center for NordicTrack's purchased goods to its 37 national retail stores and to consumers who order products from the company's catalog operations. In addition, it will serve as a distribution outlet for NordicTrack's ever-expanding line of fitness products.

MISSOURI

Joplin

A Detroit-based company that makes paper sacks and paper plates, Roblaw Industries is expanding to Joplin, Missouri, in a 108,000-square-foot shell building they recently purchased.

The company has seven other plants. Roblaw is a family-owned business started seven years ago. It has plants in Michigan, Iowa and Georgia. The company is affiliated with AJM Packing, a Michigan company founded 41 years ago. Roblaw is a medium-size private label paper plate manufacturer. The company expects to employ 100 persons.

Cliffstar Corporation is a New York-headquartered company that is the nation's largest private label fruit juice manufacturer. They will build a five-million-dollar, 75,000-square-foot plant on 10 acres in the Joplin Industrial Park, Joplin, Missouri. Cliffstar is based at Dunkirk, New York. The firm manufactures juices for most major grocery chains, including Fleming Foods Co., Kroger, and through retailers such as Wal-Mart, K-Mart and Target Stores. Employment is estimated to grow to 110 within three years.

Jasper Foods just completed construction of a six-million-dollar, 60,000-square-foot building for the manufacture of various breakfast cereals for the private label market. First-year employment is expected to reach 40 persons. Jasper Foods is a sister company to Jasper popcorn, which is a private label microwave popcorn processor. The new plant is located in the Joplin Southern Industrial Park, Joplin, Missouri.

TEXAS

Corpus Christi 

Corpus Christi, Texas, located on the Texas Gulf Coast is experiencing strong growth in its retail and commercial markets, its housing market and new business development sectors.

One of the key factors contributing to this growth is an expanding U.S. Navy military presence in the area. While other areas of the United States have seen reductions in military personnel and base closures, Corpus Christi is seeing growth. Corpus Christi was selected in 1985 for construction of major new U.S. Naval facilities. Those facilities are now fully operational and provide the U.S. Navy one of the most modern naval bases in the world. The U.S. Navy has selected this base (Naval Station Ingleside) as the new home for U.S. Navy Mine Warfare and Counter-measures activities. The Navy is consolidating all active duty operations and training for mine welfare into Ingleside. This will bring into Corpus Christi Bay over twenty-five surface ships, associated helicopter squadrons, amphibious explosive-ordinance diving detachments and the Commander, Mine Warfare Command, a flag officer.

All of this will eventually add nearly 5,000 civilian and military payrolls to the Corpus Christi economy. All of these additions are important to Texas and U.S. Naval operations. Corpus Christi now has the only naval surface ship operations in Texas and the western Gulf of Mexico which will be an important strategic theater in the coming years for quick response to Western Hemisphere situations and drug enforcement interdiction. Many new support services are eyeing the Corpus Christi Bay Area. Firms such as Peterson Builders Inc. of Sturgeon Bay, WI, which in 1992 opened up a support facility to service the Navy ships, are moving to the area. Many more are expected to follow

NEVADA

Recycling businesses

Gov. Bob Miller gave recycling companies two new incentives to move to Nevada when he recently signed S.B. 231 into law. The bill was a major step for the state to encourage new industries to locate to Nevada.

The bill gives the Nevada Public Service Commission the ability to approve retail purchases of additional electricity for specific recycling businesses. These manufacturers will then be able to buy cheaper power from outside the utilities services area through the process, known as "wheeling." The bill also offers these companies an exemption from certain franchise fees and from 75 percent of personal property taxes.

The governor believes these companies using new environmental technologies will be the successful businesses of the 21st century. "Our task will be to make sure that the companies are truly deserving of the incentives we offer," stated Miller.

The Commission on Economic Development (CED) will certify companies for the program. The businesses must be manufacturers who make a capital investment of at least $50 million to qualify for the "wheeling" incentive, and must invest at least $15 million for the property tax incentive.

In order to determine the business' eligibility, the CED will perform an economic impact analysis to show that the gains brought to the state will outweigh the incentives given. In return for the package, the business must agree to operate in Nevada for 30 years.

Lt. Gov. Sue Wagner, chair of the CED, was a major proponent of the bill. "This sends a clear message to business that Nevada is aggressively pursuing high wage and technology companies," Wagner said.

The bill will help the Commission in its negotiations with North Star Steel, a major recycling company that has expressed interest in building a facility in Wabuska, Nev. Under the new law. North Star would qualify for the incentives.

NEW MEXICO

Albuquerque

When the Santa Clara, California-based Intel Corporation announced earlier this year that it will spend $1-billion to expand its computer ship manufacturing plant in Rio Rancho, a city of 40,000 adjacent to Albuquerque, front-page headlines were made not only in New Mexico but around the globe.

Other companies, curious as to why the world's largest semiconductor manufacturer world choose a metro-Albuquerque site, are now taking a closer look at the area as a business expansion or relocation site.

Meanwhile, in New Mexico, a responsive team of economic development groups, local businesses, city and state government agencies, and city planners have been working together to lure firms from California and around the world to the centrally located cities of Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Rio Rancho, Belen, and Los Lunas with incentive packages, development training funds, investment credits and tax advantages, plus a full-range of relocation services. Their efforts are obviously working and drawing businesses to the area like a magnet.

In Rio Rancho, a score of out-of-state companies have been enticed to establish facilities in the community. The area has drawn a number of California-based companies looking to leave behind California's high costs and declining quality of life. In the last three years alone, at least seven California firms have established operation in or just outside of Rio Rancho, including Intel Corporation, U.S. Cotton, AeroParts Manufacturing and Repair, TopForm Data, Great American Stock, Olympus Corporation, and Bergen Brunswig.

In Belen, a rural community within an easy 30-minute commute from Albuquerque, both Solo Cup and Avonite have added major manufacturing facilities to serve the California market and take advantage of Belen's convenient rail access, quality labor force, low land costs, and easygoing lifestyle.

So why are all of these companies heading to New Mexico, America's Land of Enchantment? Is it the magnificent desert landscape and wonderful climate? According to executives who have moved to the area, it's the stable, qualified and highly productive workforce; affordable housing for their employees; and a cooperative and responsive economic development team who are able and willing to provide "one-stop-shopping" relocation services. Another reason cited is the area's reliable and long-term supply of power provided by the Public Service Company of New Mexico.

John Boyd, president of the Boyd Company, a Princeton, N.J.-based corporate site selection firm says that New Mexico stands to gain from the desire of many California companies to relocate to less expensive locations. According to Boyd, the Albuquerque area is "one of the most cost efficient places to relocate."

Trend Plastics, an injection molding company in San Jose, California, plans of opening a facility in Albuquerque which will employ 30 people initially and expects to hire up to 200 people over the next five years. Gino Cavallini, president of Trend Plastics, says his company choose Albuquerque because they were impressed with the central location and availability of labor.

Douglas Moody, owner of Western Bedding Supply Company, moved his company from West Covina, California to Albuquerque in 1991. Moody's positive relocation experience included being given a state training assistance program, home telephone numbers of public utility officials, and even coffee and sweet rolls while waiting to see the property tax assessor. Affordable housing costs were attractive to Moody and his 23 employees. Typically, a 2,000 square-foot home in a nice neighborhood costs less than $100,000.

Prudential Overall Supply is another California-based company expanding in to the Albuquerque area. The uniform laundry company has expanded its services accommodate companies that require clean room attire. Prudential bought a 12,000 square-foot facility in the area which it is remodeling into a clean room laundry. Intel Corporation will be Prudential's major customer in Albuquerque.

According to Albuquerque economic Development (AED) officials, more and more firms are considering the greater Albuquerque area for their company's expansion or relocation. In 1992, AED set an all-time "prospect activity" record with 87 companies spending a total of 122 days in the Albuquerque area. Of the 87 companies that visited, 17 companies (representing 845 new jobs) announced plans to more or actually moved in 1992.

UTAH

Salt Lake

AT & T Universal Card has expanded its operations to Salt Lake City, occupying 265,000 square feet in the International Center. On April 26, 1993, nine associates from the Jacksonville operation and 51 Utahns began orientation and training at their new 3-story Customer Service Center. Employee numbers are anticipated to reach 150 by year end.

CALIFORNIA

City of Irvine

Allergan, Inc., the Irvine maker of eye and skin care products, dedicated its new, $40 million research and development center in Irvine in June. The three-story, 150,000 square foot facility roughly doubles the amount of space for research at Allergan's headquarters. With the construction of its new R & D center, Allergan has reinforced its intention to remain in Irvine and consider Orange County its home base. Allergan has three locations in the county, two in Irvine, employing 1,600 people and having an R & D payroll of $30 million per year. At the June dedication, University of California President Jack Pelatson, the former Chancellor of UC Irvine, cited the Allergan expansion as an excellent example of the type of partnership between private business, research institutes and universities that translates research and discovery into economic growth and jobs.

Wonderware Software has signed a 60-month lease for a 31,603 square-foot research and development building at Lakeview Business Park II in the Irvine Spectrum. Wonderware, a developer of software for industrial automation, is expanding its operations and decided to stay in Irvine at a larger facility just down the street from its former home.

Kwikset Corp., the world's largest residential lockset maker, has relocated its corporate offices to Irvine after surveying its prospects in other Orange County cities. Norman Judd, Kwikset's vice-president of finance, said the corporation moved its administrative offices from Anaheim in June to allow its 1,800-employees manufacturing facility there to expand. Kwikset chose its new Park Plaza location because of its proximity to John Wayne Airport and nearby hotels, said Judd. Kwikset's corporate offices employ approximately 45 people.

Wyle Labs has signed a 98-month lease for space at Lakeview Business Park II in the Irvine Spectrum in line with its plans to move its corporate offices to Irvine. Wyle markets high-tech electronic products and researches engineering, testing and support services for the aerospace, defense and energy industries. Its corporate offices are in El Segundo, but it has a group office in Irvine, where 180 Wyle employees are now located. The firm plans an incremental expansion of space in Irvine between now and 1995.

Corona

While the deadly recession goes on, economic development in Corona is alive and well, and producing positive results. Over 1,200 jobs have been created in Corona this calendar year and more are on the way with the opening of a number of new businesses and expansion of existing facilities.

The reason for this success if due in large part to Corona's aggressive marketing program. Credit also goes to key leadership who know how to best utilize the city's assets so that residents of Corona, as well as those who do business there, can benefit.

Taking a cue from the California Trade and Commerce Agency's Team California, the City of Corona has initiated a Team Corona approach to marketing and business retention. The program officially took effect July 1st and has been especially effective in working with such businesses as Fender Guitar, Curries Essex Door Company, Wal-Mart, Pacific Connections and a number of businesses soon to be announced.

The team which involves city officials help make a business relocation or plan expansion in Corona a smooth one, by working together to explore incentives, assist with site selection, offer one step review and various avenues of financial support. When necessary, Team Corona is expanded to include regional, state and special economic development organizations. Included in this team are representatives of the City of Corona, California Trade and Commerce, Private Industry Council and Southern California Edison.

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 

The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Class A baseball franchise moved into its new "Epicenter" stadium in April, just in time for the '93 season. Attendance, merchandise sales, and fan loyalty have all exceeded expectations and pro-formas. The Cal League attendance record was broken in July with an average of 4,804 fans per game. And, the gift shop was completely sold out after the team's first home stand!

Windsor cottage, and art gallery and Victorian gift shop tripled its business projections in 18 months, paving the way for a 1,200 square foot expansion. "The response from the community has been phenomenal," state Daphne and Sandi, co-owners. "We recently hosted an artist reception for 400, with sales of 235 pieces." Windsor Cottage is the owners' first retail venture, and believe their strong service attitude and high quality merchandise has been the key to their success. "We get to know our customers personally, and offer many complimentary services."

Oxnard

The city of Oxnard and the local business community are forming a partnership to support economic development and to enhance the already-warm business climate of this coastal community. The new non-profit corporation will privatize the city's economic development department and add momentum to efforts aimed at attracting new business to the city, said Oxnard Economic Development Director Steve Kinney.

With a diverse economy that embraces agriculture, manufacturing, retail and light industry. Oxnard hosts a quality labor pool with all levels of skill and high education levels. Major employers include Proctor & Gamble; BMW of North America; Viggo-Spectramed, manufacturer of medical products and transducers; Workrite Uniforms, Inc.; Olga Co., lingerie manufacturer; and Nabisco Food Co., in addition to agriculture industry leaders Bob Jones Ranch, Inc., and Paramount Citrus Association.

Oxnard's business-friendly approach succeeded in helping attract Wal-Mart and Sam's Club. Shopping at the Rose, a 60-acre site off the 101 Freeway at Rose Avenue, is being developed by Rothbart Development of Sherman Oaks. Other anchors of the center include Vons supermarket, Sport Mart and House of Fabrics. Officials expect the center to add between $2 and $3 million to the city's coffers annually, and to employ 1,200 people after build-out. The 60,000 square-foot center is scheduled to open in the fall.

Norwalk

In a recent statewide survey, Norwalk was distinguished as the 8th best mid-size city in California for business. With an excellent location, central to Los Angeles and Orange Counties, the City of Norwalk offers access to four major freeways; the I-5, I-605, Route 91 and the new I-105. In 1994, the Metro Green Line will provide commuter rail access to LAX and the Norwalk Transportation Center will provide the key rail connection between Los Angeles and Orange Counties, with links to Riverside and San Bernardino.

As a city with a superb business climate, Norwalk continues to encourage progress with numerous public and private development projects. The LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk has recently relocated to the Norwalk City Centre, which also includes Bechtel Engineering, Norwalk Sheraton Hotel, and a new Arts & Sports Complex. An exceptional selection of existing office space and developable land is also available throughout the city.

For more information on the business opportunities in Norwalk, please call [phone], Ext. 204

Burbank

Spurred by the successful opening of the 1.3 million square foot Media City Mall in 1991, the City of Burbank has fashioned a list of development projects that are the envy of cities across the country. There are currently projects totaling over 500,000 square feet under construction, with a development value of over $100 million. These projects include corporate office buildings for both The Walt Disney Company and Warner Bros. Inc., as well as a new Circuit City, Office Depot, California Pizza Kitchen, and Chevy's Mexican Restaurant, to name a few. These projects, coupled with a potential one million square foot promotional retail "power center" and/or 22,000 seat sports arena on a 102-acre site, will serve as the basis for the city's growth into the 21st century.

The City of Burbank and the Burbank Redevelopment Agency has been and will be intimately involved with all development that occurs in the coming years. The Burbank City Council, led by Mayor George Battey, Jr., has set the course for a business-friendly local government that will work to facilitate development that meets the overall goals of the community. The city has assembled an economic development work that works on business recruitment and retention, and has created an Economic Incentive Zone (EIZ) which, when coupled with the Burbank Redevelopment Agency's incentives, can be a powerful tool in today's development market.

The City of Burbank has spent a great deal of time and effort preparing for the future. That preparation has allowed Burbank to receive a tremendous return on its investment. Burbank has recognized the challenges that lie ahead as "opportunities," and they are making the most of them. Burbank is indeed, OPEN FOR BUSINESS - and they are making the most of it! For more information, please call [phone].

Montery Park

The City of Monterey Park, located six quick miles east of downtown Los Angeles, offers the amenities and high quality of life found in few other places. These attributes have enhanced the reputation of Montery Park, which is already recognized as an outstanding location for both domestic and international investment.

Montery Park's strategic location is unparalleled. Five nearby freeways provide outstanding access to metropolitan Los Angeles, Orange County, Long Beach and the Inland Empire. With readily accessible port and rail facilities plus convenient proximity to the Los Angeles, Burbank, Long Beach and Ontario Airports, Monterey Park offer businesses a premiere location from which to serve markets in Southern California and throughout the West. Monterey Park is an internationally recognized city which offers businesses established relationships with major consumer markets and financial institutions from the Pacific Rim economies.

The Economic Development Department regularly assists businesses in finding appropriate space and streamlining the administrative process. Call [phone] to become a part of the Monterey Park success story.