The OC’s sun and surf isn’t what’s bringing Virginia and Utah’s govenors to the area; it’s the businesses. (Photo Credit: Jim Nix)
Here we go again! Governors from both Virginia and Utah will be visiting the Golden State tomorrow. I’m sure you can guess why, but I will tell you this–it’s not for the warm weather or picturesque beaches. It’s the latest attempt by out-of-state leaders to wine and dine California businesses hoping to lure them over to another team.
In February, Texas Governor Rick Perry made a big ruckus trying to recruit companies—buying radio ads and talking to local media.
The joint trip will have three stops: Costa Mesa, Palo Alto and San Francisco. First stop, Orange County, where the Governors will be hosting an invite-only event in Costa Mesa.
A PR firm was hired to handle the invites and media attention. A representative from that firm told me, “the guest list includes businesses who have already expanded to Virginia or Utah or those businesses who are in talks to expand.”
California Forward caught up with Orange County Business Council (OCBC) President and CEO Lucy Dunn to get her two cents on why the governors chose the region.
It’s a no-brainer, really—Orange County boasts the second most diverse industry cluster portfolio in the U.S. with almost 1,300 biomedical, I.T., cleantech research and development companies. Plus the county maintains one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state and nation at 6.5 percent.
Dunn said now is the time for our legislators, business community and educators to work together to ensure California becomes more business friendly, by “cutting the red tape and rolling out the red carpet.”
The OCBC, a partner with the California Economic Summit movement, launched its own marketing effort, stressing efforts to cut regulations and streamline processes.
