Strong Numbers Spotlight Ontario

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Each year, the City of Ontario looks for new superlatives to describe the phenomenal growth and development occurring in the city. But sometimes, cold, hard numbers best express Ontario’s surging growth. Since 1997, building permit valuations have totaled about $1 billion.

“That’s an incredible number in any body’s book,” says Ontario Director of Development Otto Kroutil.

Ontario’s absorption rate a barometer that shows who is moving into the area’s

available space increased more than 50 percent in 1999. Gross absorption was more than 20 million square feet last year up from 13.3 million in 1999. More significantly, there were 46 transactions for 100,000 square foot or larger buildings in 1999, up from 29 the previous year and 17 in 1993.

The reason for Ontario’s attractiveness, according to business reporter Jack Katzanek who covers Ontario for the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, is the city’s air, rail and freeway access. “More important, the land is available,” says Katzanek. “It’s more expensive to shoehorn a factory into one of Southern California’s more built-up areas.”

Typically, lease rates in the Inland Empire, of which Ontario is emerging as the region’s unofficial capital, average 10 to 15 cents lower than comparable sites in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

“That difference could save a business as much as $3 million over the course of a five-year lease,” says Richard John, senior vice president of Collins Commercial Corporation.

Leveraging the more than 20 colleges and universities that serve the region, Ontario is also playing its technology card at the turn of the new millennium. Spearheaded by the Ontario Economic Development Department, Ontario has launched dual initiatives to attract aerospace and high-end help desk centers to the City. The aerospace strategy leverages Ontario’s rich aviation history, fueled by Ontario International Airport’s new twin terminals, while the help desk center initiative plays to Ontario’s young, talented and trainable labor supply.

“These higher paying jobs will continue Ontario’s momentum as an emerging high-tech market in the Inland Empire,” says Ontario Economic Development Director Mary Jane Olhasso.

Not missing any opportunities, Ontario is building high-speed Internet links throughout the City. In addition, the Ontario Convention Center offers state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure , from fiber optics to satellite and global teleconferencing capabilities , that reflect the city’s expanding high-tech emphasis.

In response, companies from BMW and Inacom Computers to new start-ups like Citydrive.com and Cooking.com are making Ontario their first choice for business.

“Ontario is in a unique position to attract a new generation of high-tech businesses, and we plan to take full advantage of this opportunity,” says Olhasso.

Ryan Bennett is with the City of Ontario.

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