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Job Opening: Anaheim Enterprise Zone Manager

The City of Anaheim has recently been awarded Enterprise Zone Designation by the State of California. This new designation creates an immediate need at the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce for an Enterprise Zone Manager. Click here to read the job announcement. Read more about the job description here. For more information on the Anaheim Enterprise [...]

READ MORE CAEZ February Newsletter

February 2012 Update: The Enterprise Zone (EZ) Tax Credit program might not be part of Governor Brown’s budget proposal this year, but it is clear the Governor and his administration are still attempting to reform the program. The California Association of Enterprise Zones (CAEZ) continues to work closely with the Department of Housing and Community [...]

READ MORE SCV business benefiting from EZ credits

By Jana Adkins/The Signal Business Editor More than 300 businesses are benefiting from hiring tax credits from the Enterprise Zone program, the city of Santa Clarita reported Tuesday. The city of Santa Clarita reported 301 companies participating in the program range in size and industry; from large corporate entities such as Citibank, 24 Hour Fitness, [...]

READ MORE Enterprise zone meant tax credits for 140+ employees

By Beau Yarbrough/Hesperia Star Staff Writer Businesses in Hesperia’s enterprise zone have picked up tax credits for more than 140 employees since 2010. “I think, year to date, we’ve actually had 80 vouchers approved, which is between Jan. 1 and today,” said Steve Lantsberger, the city’s deputy director of economic development. Sixty tax vouchers were [...]

READ MORE Allan R. Mansoor: Axing E-Zone tax credits a contract breach

By ALLAN R. MANSOOR / Republican assemblyman, 68th District I was disappointed, to say the least, when Gov. Jerry Brown unveiled the May revision of his budget, but I wasn’t surprised. The governor’s updated budget proposal still calls for an increase in taxes at a time when Californians can least afford it. His so-called “reforms” of [...]

READ MORE Contra Costa Times Readers’ Forum: Attacking Enterprise Zones won’t help economy

By Craig Johnson, President of California Association of Enterprise Zones We can no longer ignore that California’s economy isn’t in recovery. More than 2 million Californians are unemployed and our state budget has been cut to the bone, as deficits continue to persist. We hear stories almost daily of companies scaling back their operations and [...]

READ MORE San Diego Business Journal: With Future of Enterprise Zones in Doubt, Firm May Pack Up, Go

Sacramento’s battle with cities and counties about the future of so-called enterprise zones — special districts that benefit business with tax credits and related breaks — has hit home.

Vista-based beef wholesaler Jensen Meat Inc. was weighing relocating to the San Diego Regional Enterprise Zone, which includes Otay Mesa, most of National City and western Chula Vista.

READ MORE Sacramento Bee: Small Business Alliance Argues for Enterprise Zone Program

(Sacramento, CA)—Bill LaMarr, Executive Director of the California Small Business Alliance has penned a response to an editorial in the Sacramento Bee in which he argues that Enterprise Zones create jobs and the program’s elimination will result in an illegal budget maneuver by the governor and Legislature.

READ MORE Senator Tony Strickland Applauds Enterprise Zone Program

(Sacramento, CA)—Senator Tony Strickland (R-Moorpark), argued in favor of the successful Enterprise Zone Tax Credit program in yesterday’s Santa Clarita Valley Signal. He joins a bipartisan coalition of state and local elected officials and more than 300 businesses and community leaders in supporting the jobs and economic benefits of the Enterprise Zone Tax Credit program.

READ MORE In Case You Missed It: Elimination of Enterprise Zone Tax Credit Threatens Local San Diego Businesses

(SAN DIEGO, CA)— San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, Mayor Cheryl Cox of Chula Vista, and Mayor Ron Morrison of National City as well as other business and community leaders from throughout the region, met at the NASSCO shipyard yesterday to discuss the benefits of the Enterprise Zone program. NASSCO is just one of the businesses throughout the state that would be negatively impacted if Governor Brown’s proposal to eliminate the Enterprise Zone tax credit program goes through.

READ MORE In Case You Missed It: Fresno County Officials Rally for Enterprise Zones

(FRESNO, CA)—Business owners and elected officials met at Holt Lumber in Fresno to discuss their opposition to Governor Brown’s proposal to eliminate Enterprise Zones.

READ MORE City of Salinas Joins the List of Enterprise Zone Supporters

(Salinas, CA)—The Salinas City Council passed a resolution supporting the Enterprise Zone Tax Credit program. Governor Brown has threatened to eliminate the Enterprise Zone program as a part of his solution to close the $25.4 billion budget deficit.

READ MORE Sacramento Metro Chamber Editorial Argues in Favor of Enterprise Zone Program

(Sacramento, CA)—The Sacramento Metro Chamber has joined a list of more than 300 elected officials, business advocates and companies in support of California’s successful Enterprise Zone program.

READ MORE In Case You Missed It: Bipartisan Support for Enterprise Zones

(Modesto, CA)—The Modesto Bee today ran two editorials supporting California’s successful Enterprise Zone Tax Credit program. One editorial, penned by Stanislaus County Democrat Central Committee Chairman Gary Robbins, argued that if the Enterprise Zone program is eliminated, more people will be out of work. A second editorial by Republican State Senator Anthony Cannella argued that Enterprise Zones are an important tool to attract new business and stimulate the economy.

READ MORE Appeal-Democrat: Enterprise zones do deliver

By Mary Hanson, Yuba-Sutter Enterprise Zone manager

And here we go again. “Enterprise zones fail to deliver. Enterprise zones play favorites. Enterprise zones are costing California millions.”

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The California Budget Project once again publishes critical articles and commentaries concerning the zone program’s effectiveness. The most recent report comes to the same conclusion — end the program. These negative reports continue to focus on employment and fail to examine unemployment rates, poverty rates and specific household wage and salary data. Focusing only on employment within zones ignores other very important economic factors affecting enterprise zones. Research has shown that enterprise zones help reduce poverty rates, lowers unemployment rates, provides higher wages, increases household income levels and fosters greater community investment through private sector businesses. Jobs in turn create revenue for the state.

READ MORE Stockton Record: Ending state programs would devastate Stockton

By Ann Johnston
Stockton mayor

Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposal to eliminate redevelopment agencies and enterprise zones would be devastating for Stockton. These critical economic development tools are essential to improving our neighborhoods, attracting private investment and creating jobs. Redevelopment keeps property tax dollars right here in the community, and enterprise zones offer incentives for businesses to locate and remain in Stockton.

Stockton suffers from 21.5 percent unemployment, high foreclosure rates and a declared fiscal emergency. The governor’s proposal would shift our tax dollars away from Stockton to the state, where they would be redistributed based on the state’s priorities, not ours.

READ MORE Alejo wants to reform enterprise zone program

Alejo wants to reform enterprise zone program

February 16, 2011

Donna Jones, Santa Cruz Sentinel

Bucking Gov. Jerry Brown’s plan to scrap the state’s much criticized enterprise zone program, Assemblyman Luis Alejo is pushing for reform.

Flanked by Salinas Mayor Dennis Donohue and economic development officials from across the region at a press conference Friday, Alejo, D-Watsonville, said the state can’t afford to lose a program that has brought tens of thousands of jobs to disadvantaged communities.

READ MORE Assemblyman Cameron Smyth: Cut Taxes, Not Tax Credits

CUT TAXES, NOT TAX CREDITS
Assemblyman Cameron Smyth

February 16, 2011

When the governor released his 2011-2012 budget proposal, much ado was paid to the governor’s special election tax increase maneuver. But hidden in the budget is another, nearly $1 billion tax increase—his proposal to eliminate enterprise zones.

Enterprise Zones are one of the only tools we have to attract jobs to California. We are faced with a lot of tough choices this year, but for those of us who signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, we should oppose this proposal just as vigorously as we’re opposed to the other tax increases the governor has put on the table.

READ MORE ICYMI: USC Professor Details Economic Benefits of Enterprise Zones

In Case You Missed It: USC Professor Details Economic Benefits of Enterprise Zones
New research is second study that disproves faulty conclusions in PPIC report

(Sacramento, CA)—As a preview to his upcoming publication in the Journal of Public Economics, USC Professor Charles Swenson laid out both anecdotal and empirical evidence in support of Enterprise Zones in today’s Fox & Hounds Daily.

READ MORE GEORGE RUNNER: Don’t kill California’s recovery

Fresno Bee: GEORGE RUNNER: Don’t kill California’s recovery

By George Runner

With jobless numbers still at record highs, it wouldn’t be right to declare California’s economic downturn over anytime soon. Even so, glimmers of hope are beginning to emerge that the Golden State is inching its way toward economic recovery.

Let’s hope the politicians don’t mess it up.

In his recent State of the State address, Gov. Jerry Brown said “we will not create the jobs we need unless we get our financial house in order.”

Unfortunately the governor’s proposals to put California’s financial house in order are starting to look more like a wrecking ball than a rescue plan.

His budget proposes billions of dollars in taxes on the private sector — the very folks he wants to create more jobs.

READ MORE In Case You Missed It: Assemblyman Allan Mansoor Explains Enterprise Zone Tax Increase in Orange County Register

The Orange County Assemblyman calls the plan illegal and a tax increase on California businesses

(Sacramento, CA)—Assemblyman Allan Mansoor (R-Costa Mesa) has penned a Reader Rebuttal to an editorial in the Orange County Register, refuting claims that eliminating the Enterprise Tax Credit program will help solve the state budget crisis.

READ MORE IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: HESPERIA STAR

(Hesperia, CA)—The Hesperia Star today highlighted the importance of enterprise zones, citing their importance in spurring job creation and lowering unemployment.

READ MORE Study: Enterprise zones create jobs for the unemployed, create a profit for the state

If Gov. Jerry Brown goes ahead with his proposal to eliminate the state’s enterprise zone program, it could cost the state — and Hesperia, which now has an enterprise zone of its own — more than cutting the program would save.

READ MORE Dennis Donohue: Save our enterprise zones

Gov. Jerry Brown recently released a budget proposal that includes eliminating redevelopment agencies and enterprise zones.

The proposal, if enacted, would eliminate the Salinas Redevelopment Agency and its three redevelopment project areas, as well as numerous redevelopment agencies throughout Monterey County.

READ MORE Preserving the CA Enterprise Program

Working for a leading California economic development organization, I am often asked about the state of our economy and my thoughts on how we can get it back on track. Clearly this is a top concern to citizens here in California and across the country.

READ MORE Protect San Diego’s greatest economic engine

As chair and interim president of the Downtown San Diego Partnership in 2010, I’ve lead discussions of what our downtown is and what we want it to be. Downtown San Diego is one of the major economic engines of our county, producing jobs and tax revenue, and the partnership is dedicated to ensuring that San Diego’s center city reaches its full potential as a sustainable live-work environment.

READ MORE Adjust, don’t kill, enterprise zones

As one of his proposed budget solutions, Gov. Jerry Brown is calling for an end to enterprise zones — areas in which businesses get big tax incentives for adding or retaining jobs.

Inevitably this will turn into a major political fight, perhaps with a small twist — politicians from both parties champion enterprise zones, which are scattered throughout the state.

READ MORE