Content about California

The Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation, in partnership with College of the Canyons, hosted its annual Outlook economic forecast event at the Hyatt Regency Valencia on Feb. 27. The event was sold out, with more than 300 attendees anxious to hear what keynote speakers had to say about the economic future of the Santa Clarita Valley and L.A. region as a whole.

It is becoming a Valley Industry and Commerce Association tradition to establish a formal list of legislative priorities for the upcoming year. 

It is becoming a Valley Industry and Commerce Association tradition to establish a formal list of legislative priorities for the upcoming year. It began in 2011 with VICA’s 11 Legislative Priorities for 2011 and continues with our 12 Legislative Priorities for 2012.

An annual college scholarship fund has been created in name of the late Helen Fox, a founding member of the Santa Clarita Valley Division of the Southland Regional Association of Realtors.

The College of Canyons Foundation, SRAR and the Bernard Osher Foundation came together this year to raise $20,000 to begin the fund in memory of Fox, who was known by friends and colleagues for her dedication to her career and community up until her death in 1987.

The results are in. The selection committee of the Santa Clarita Valley Business Journal and JCI Santa Clarita Valley 40 Under Forty awards has named the class of 2011.

Roberto Barragan has been with the Valley Economic Development Center (VEDC) for 17 years, 12 of them as the organization’s president. The VEDC, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary, has grown to become the largest nonprofit business development corporation in the metropolitan Los Angeles area involved mostly in lending to small and medium-sized businesses. Many of these businesses are unable to obtain financing from traditional banks because of the extreme tightening of credit the past few years.

James E. Brown has been appointed as manager of business attraction for the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corp.

A veteran real estate executive, Brown will be responsible for lead generation, prospect development, enhancing broker services and implementation of the SCVEDC’s Business Attraction plan.

Brown will also work closely with local organizations, such as the city of Santa Clarita, Los Angeles County, College of the Canyons, Spirit Holding and Newhall Land.

Brown will continue working with Newhall Land in a consulting capacity.

Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce board members Dena Maloney and Fred Arnold, co-chairs of the Ian Gelig Scholarship Committee, are proud to announce the first recipient of the Ian Gelig Desert Storm/Operation Enduring Freedom Warrior Scholarship to Nicholas Flores. Flores is a College of the Canyons student who served our country in the War on Terror with the 1st Marine Division in Iraq. Flores exhibited the characteristics of a true patriot and the leadership, courage and loyalty of Sergeant Ian Gelig.

As the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation’s manager of business retention and marketing, I’m often asked about what it is I actually do.

This is a great question. Unlike the other half of SCVEDC’s mission (attracting new businesses to the area) the work of “retaining” firms is a much more abstract calling. Aside from the fact that Santa Clarita Valley firms are subjected to the State of California’s arduous regulatory and tax environment, most are quite content with doing business in the region.

Save the date. Santa Clarita’s ultimate meet-and-greet is just around the corner. The SCV Chamber of Commerce in association with the city of Santa Clarita presents the 27th Annual SCV Community Expo (also known as the Home and Business Expo) and Taste of Expo! on September 16, 17 and 18.

Returning to the Santa Clarita Sports Complex at 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway just off Golden Valley Road, access is easy and central to the valley via the cross-valley connector. Expo offers new and expanded parking adjacent to the event along with complimentary shuttle service.

For the past several years, the homebuilding industry has been in a deep depression.

This summer, instead of taking our children on vacation, my wife and I decided to have a pool put in our backyard. I’d be lying if I said this isn’t a costly undertaking or that having a pool installed is the fastest way to increase our home’s value. However, the memories we’ll be creating are certainly invaluable. Moreover, even though this upgrade is expensive in the short term, in the long term the pool will significantly increase the value of our home.

L.A. County Supervisor Michael Antonovich spoke before an enthusiastic crowd at the State of the County Luncheon held on Wednesday, May 18, at the Hyatt Regency Valencia.