New strategy for luring business to Victor Valley

A regional economic development group is looking to follow the city of Hesperia’s example by possibly getting a huge portion of the Victor Valley declared an Enterprise Zone.

The designation would create a number of significant tax incentives to help lure businesses to the region.

“An enterprise zone is a very effective economic development tool,” said David Zook, chief of staff for 1st District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt. “It gives a company looking to locate a facility tremendous incentives to locate there.”

Among those incentives are generous tax credits for hiring new employees and substantial sales tax credits on new equipment, so a business such as Dr Pepper Snapple Group could get a break on the pricey bottling equipment that’s being rolled into its coming plant at this moment.

Mitzelfelt chairs the Victor Valley Economic Development Authority, charged with overseeing the revitalization of 10,500 local acres impacted by the closure of George Air Force Base in 1992. VVEDA’s project area includes almost all of Victorville, large chunks of Adelanto and Apple Valley, a portion of Hesperia and patches of unincorporated San Bernardino County scattered across the Victor Valley.

VVEDA’s board this month approved paying some $9,000 for a consultant to study the feasibility of a VVEDA Enterprise Zone. Zook said the results are due back in November.

If the group is successful, the Victor Valley’s enterprise zone designation will last for 15 years.

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Brooke Edwards may be reached at (760) 955-5358 or at bedwards@VVDailyPress.com.