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• CEOs
• Successes
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Butte County Tourism
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Thursday, August 28, 2008 |
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Location
Butte County, located in the northern region of California's Central Valley, is just 60 miles north of Sacramento. Bordered by the Sacramento River on the west and the Sierra Nevada mountains on the east, Butte County is just a short drive from the San Francisco Bay area and Reno, Nevada. Butte County's rural setting offers abundant business, educational, recreational, and cultural opportunities to expanding and relocating businesses.
Workforce
"We moved here from the Bay area for a variety of reasons, but mostly the labor market," says Greg Jones of Compac Engineering, Inc. Jones is not the only one to find Butte County's workforce appealing. When optics manufacturer Spectra-Physics sought a new location, it discovered a stable, highly educated and cost-effective labor force in Butte County. According to Vice President/General Manager George Balogh, lower employee turnover and wage rates, along with other Butte County incentives, helped cut operating costs by 30 percent.
Manufacturing Education and Training
In addition to the long-standing commitment to education at all grade levels, Butte County's favorable workforce can be credited to the educational focus on high tech manufacturing. California State University, Chico leads the nation with its Industrial Technology and Management Information Services programs. In addition, the Butte College Manufacturing Technology program offers a variety of training opportunities, and the Private Industry Council customizes training programs to meet local business needs.
Transportation
Butte County facilitates business with a variety of transportation modes for worldwide access. State Highway 99 and nearby Interstate 5 provide north/south access, while Highway 70 offers additional access south to Sacramento or points east to Reno and Interstate 80, the nation's east-west artery. In addition, two Union Pacific Railroad lines provide ready access for national distribution. Butte County's proximity to the deep-water ports of Sacramento, Stockton and Oakland ensure access to international markets within a matter of hours. Daily commuter flights shuttle passengers to large metropolitan areas, while overnight couriers offer immediate worldwide transport of merchandise.
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COMPARATIVE MEDIAN WAGES |
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Butte
County |
San Jose/
Bay Area |
Los
Angeles |
| Receptionist/Info Clerk |
8.97 |
10.78 |
9.63 |
| General Laborers |
7.98 |
8.91 |
8.57 |
| Packaging/Filling Machine |
9.09 |
9.03 |
9.08 |
| First Line Supervisor-Production |
9.33 |
20.94 |
16.52 |
| Shipping Receiving Clerk |
9.85 |
13.10 |
12.53 |
| Machinery/Maintenance Mechanic |
10.66 |
19.10 |
15.84 |
| Forklift Operator |
12.82 |
15.11 |
14.50 |
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Occupational Wage Data: EDD |
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Power
Butte County offers businesses options when purchasing power. Pacific Gas and Electric has traditionally supplied power to Butte County, however, businesses may opt to purchase power from competitive suppliers. Manufacturers can be assured the county's power infrastructure will provide safe and reliable delivery, regardless of the power source. "We were amazed at the 25 percent savings on utility costs," said one local CEO.
Telecommunications
Butte County's state-of-the-art communication systems provide businesses with high-quality voice and data transmissions. Manufacturers requiring digital switching, fiber optics, ISDN and Centrex will find many industrial and commercial areas ready to connect.
Water & Sewer
Thanks to its enviable location, Butte County provides one of the most abundant and clean water supplies in California. Sewer capacities are more than adequate to meet the needs of new and existing industry and residents for decades to come.
Real Estate
With a generous supply of zoned land and available buildings, Butte County can quickly accommodate any business. If a build-to-suit is your preference, Butte County is extremely competitive with a track record of delivering on time and budget. Lares Research discovered land prices in Butte County were about 1/10 the cost of similar property in the Bay area. And Spectra-Physics' George Balogh says, "Butte County is pro-industry and there's plenty of land. You won't find an enterprise zone located in a nicer area."
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REAL ESTATE LEASE RATES |
| Industrial Lease Rate (per month/square foot) |
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Butte
County |
San Jose/
Bay Area |
Los
Angeles |
| Warehouse |
$.20 - .28 |
$.37 - .40 |
$.50 - .53 |
| Finished Shell |
$.25 - .34 |
$.41 - .45 |
$.54 - .60 |
| R&D Facilities |
$.43 - .60 |
$.80 - 2.00 |
$.75 - 1.33 |
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Applied Economics |
Quality of Life
Butte County offers all the advantages of the heartland combined with metropolitan amenitiesaffordable housing, low crime rates, short commutes, abundant outdoor recreational opportunities, strong work ethics, a sense of community, a highly-acclaimed university, fine arts and cultural programs, state-of-the-art medical services, and easy access to the state's major metropolitan areas. "There's a big equation out there and it doesn't take long to figure it out," says Wrex Products controller Mike Barry. "Wages may be higher in metropolitan areas, but when you factor in housing and transportation costs, what have you gained?"
Pro-Business Attitude
When it comes to promoting commerce, Butte County can't be beat. In addition to a long list of incentive programs, government agencies work closely with businesses to make things happen. For instance, to facilitate Spectra-Physics' move, officials introduced a fast-track program and permitted the entire project within two weeks.
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