Incentives offered by this zone include a range of loans, hiring tax credits, workforce development programs, and technical assistance with marketing, site selection, and zoning. Each city may offer additional incentives and services such as streamlined permitting or public utility rebates. Workforce programs, recruitment, on-the-job training, work opportunity tax credits and specialized programs can be utilized throughout the zone. Manufacturers may take advantage of Enterprise Zone tax credits, Foreign Trade Zone import-export subsidies, low-cost loans, access to foreign capital and investment, and marketing through the RecycleStore, Connectory and Made in CA initiatives.

Materials targeted within the zone include mixed waste paper, glass, tires and rubber, plastic, yard waste, and inert solids. The goal of the zone is to attract businesses that can process these materials within the zone.

The zone has a variety of industrial and commercial buildings available, ranging in size from 1,000 to over 500,000 square feet. New speculative or built-to-suit construction has increased year-over-year, which results in a newer, more environmentally efficient, industrial inventory. With over $1 billion of infrastructure improvements under construction, the San Bernardino County RMDZ provides a world-class and well-connected network of highway, airport, and rail systems. Major highways traverse the county from Los Angeles and Southern California to Nevada and Arizona, and include I-10, I-15, I-40, I-215, SR-60, and SR-210. Ontario International Airport is the largest commercial and passenger airport in the Inland Empire and is a corporate alternative to LAX. Extensive rail service provided by Union Pacific and BNSF easily connect manufacturers to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and to markets east of the Rockies.

San Bernardino County is one of the fastest growing metros in the nation with 2.1 million residents and a 900,000 strong workforce. The median age is 31. The County of San Bernardino Economic Development Agency, Workforce Development Department and Workforce Investment Board administer all workforce development programs and incentives. The Alliance for Education brings industry, education, and government together to promote STEM education, vocational training, and internship-to-career programs.

The major advantage of this zone is an affordable, business friendly location with easy access to the entire Southern California region of 23 million people. Businesses will be able to find some of the most affordable residential and commercial real estate in the region, an innovation corridor of 22 universities and colleges, and unparalleled recreation opportunities from rock climbing to snow skiing.

Ryan Niesen