Ontario is the heartbeat of one of Southern California’s most exciting and fast-growing metropolitan areas. Today, the Inland Empire ranks as the 12th largest Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in the United States, having recently surpassed the San Francisco Bay Area. By 2050, the population of the two-county region is expected to reach 5.7 million people, up 20% from current levels, according to the state Department of Finance. By contrast, L.A. County will have lost population during that same period. And yet, the Ontario story goes far beyond the numbers. Fueled by a strategic economic development strategy and visionary land-use regulations, Ontario is attracting world-class businesses, innovative developers, and forward-thinking investors who see boundless opportunities for growth and prosperity.
And it is happening all across the city.
Through bold leadership and innovative partnerships, Ontario has embarked on a renaissance of its historic core that is redefining what a 21st century downtown area can, and should, be – with a combination of modern affordable housing, adaptive re-use of historic structures, an urban greening program, new business opportunities and, soon, the latest in zero-emission bus rapid transit. That system, the West Valley Connector, will link the downtown area with stops in eastern Los Angeles County, Ontario International Airport (ONT), and across western San Bernardino County.
So impressive was Ontario’s vision for downtown that in 2018 the state awarded the city a $35 million Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) grant – a highly competitive source of funding given only to those communities, and projects, that are committed to improving the health and well-being of all residents. Other downtown partners include the University of La Verne, which for years has operated its College of Law in the historic core and plans to add its College of Health and the Randall Lewis Center of Innovation, Social Impact, and Entrepreneurship.
To the south of the city, Ontario Ranch, the largest master-planned community in California, will feature 46,000 new homes along with schools, and millions of square feet in retail, office, commercial and industrial spaces, all strategically positioned within 13 square miles. Among the major distribution centers that will call Ontario Ranch home: are VF Corporation, Home Depot, Lululemon, and the largest Amazon fulfillment center in the world. Along the cityís north end, Ontario stakes claim to the region’s foremost entertainment hub. There, the 11,000-seat Toyota Arena and the Ontario Convention Center host more than 250 events annually and welcome more than 1.2 million guests. Upcoming development projects in the Arena District will feature pedestrian and entertainment-oriented development that will add 70,000 square feet of commercial space and 700 new apartments. Future development will also include a performance arts center, a hotel, and the California Sports Hall of Fame. Among other developments that are taking shape within the growing Arena District is Neuhouse, a thoughtfully planned community by Landsea Homes, featuring a mix of apartments, townhomes, single-family residences, and a retail center. Notably, “The Collection,” developed by Lewis Retail Centers, will cater to nearby residents with a conveniently located Stater Brothers supermarket and various retail opportunities.
Ontario also is home to the world-famous Ontario Mills Mall, which attracts more visitors each year than Disneyland.
Meanwhile, ONT will serve nearly six million passengers in 2023 and has been recognized as the fastest-growing airport in the U.S. for five years in a row. The airport offers nonstop commercial jet service to nearly two dozen major airports in the US, Mexico, Central America, and Taiwan. It’s also among the Top 10 cargo airports in North America, serving as a hub for UPS, Federal Express, and Amazon. Recently, the Ontario International Airport Authority Board of Commissioners authorized airport staff to negotiate an agreement with DHL for a fourth major cargo operation. Add it up and ONT is a major economic driver – not only for the Inland Empire but all of Southern California. According to a 2022 study by Oxford Economics, Ontario International creates $3.8 billion a year in economic activity, supports 27,800 jobs, and is the center of a global logistics network that generates
$17.8 billion in economic output.
Ontario’s role in this transformation of the Southern California landscape is indisputable. According to the Southern California Association of Governments, Ontario is expected to add nearly 97,000 residents by 2048, making it the fastest-growing city in the Inland Empire. None of this would mean as much if Ontario weren’t the balanced community that it is. Home to high-performing schools, great recreational amenities, and a cultural scene that includes museums, libraries, and community events such as the Route 66 Cruisin’ Reunion, Ontario offers its 185,000 residents a way of life that is unrivaled in the Inland Empire.
Ontario truly has it all. And the best is yet to come. Learn more at OntarioThinksBusiness.com.
