Antelope Valley Press Editorial

July 27, 2005

Valley economy advances to next level

FOCUS: If Antelope Valley leaders continue to play their cards right, they will rake in new jobs, and retail, commercial and industrial development that will make our communities prosperous for years to come.

Aerospace, housing and employment in the Antelope Valley came up aces in the mid-2005 Economic Forecast and Industry Outlook Update released recently by the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp. The 72-page document graded a wide variety of industries and spoke to the general economy of the region. Overall, it predicted good things for the region in the next year.

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Specifically, it mentioned the Valley as one of the few areas where homes are being built in large numbers. Even the Inland Empire and regulated to allow much more affordable-home construction, the update noted. "There is less land available for housing development in Los Angeles County except in the Antelope and Santa Clarita Valleys," it reads.

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The update also records a steady growth in employment in the Valley from 49,000 in 1997 to 65,000 in 2004 - about 2,000 new jobs a year, or better than 4% growth a year, with another 2,000 predicted by the end of 2005. Several economic development groups have been successfully negotiating with industry and retail businesses to bring their goods, services, jobs and paychecks to the Valley.

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