Affordability Is Key in Getting New Businesses to San Joaquin County, Calif.

Byline: Joe Goldeen

Apr. 30--Affordability remains the bottom line in bringing new businesses to the county, San Joaquin Partnership President and CEO Michael Locke said Thursday.

From coastal California to the San Joaquin Valley, there is a 20 percent to 25 percent reduction in operational costs for technology-component manufacturers, Locke told about 150 San Joaquin County business and political leaders attending the joint annual meeting of the partnership and the Business Council Inc. at Lodi's Wine & Roses Hotel.

"Our 60,000 commuters provide us with a trained work force we believe will transition here as they become tired of two-hour commutes. Affordability is a key issue when we attempt to attract business to this region," Locke said.

In 2003, the partnership worked on 19 projects -- including The Home Depot's 750,000-square-foot distribution facility in Lathrop and Schneider National's Stockton expansion into a major intermodal transportation center -- that will create 1,700 jobs and $140 million in capital investment in the county.

For 2004, Locke anticipated the partnership would work on 22 projects creating 2,500 to 3,000 jobs and $150 million to $180 million in capital investment. As is the partnership's…