2021 AV Edge Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
2021 The place ECONOMIC ROUNDTABLE REPORT LOS ANGELES COUNTY: Lancaster • Palmdale SOUTHEAST KERN COUNTY: California City • Mojave Ridgecrest • Rosamond • Tehachapi OUR LITTLE PIECE OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY The story goes of a primitive community where every morning the But the Antelope Valley is about much more than aerospace. men went out together and fished, every afternoon they hunted Among the first large industries in the area were farming, and then tended to their crops, and every evening they helped ranching and mining, all of which remain today. Logistics, energy, repair each other’s huts. Meanwhile, the women spent their days manufacturing, medicine, tourism, film and more also add to our working together to cook, clean, make clothes and care for their economy. children. All of these pieces of our local Antelope Valley economy also rely One morning, one of the men announced to the rest of the group: on regulatory, geo-political and other factors beyond our control, “I don’t want to go fishing today. I don’t like fishing. I’d rather just as we are learning in a global pandemic. Any of these factors hunt all day.” may impede our ability to succeed and thrive, or they can create Another replied, “If you hunt for me, I’ll fish for you.” And another opportunities and spawn new industries; some factors do both for said, “If you guys hunt and fish for me, I’ll spend all day in the different sectors. field caring for the crops for all of us.” And another chimed in, This paints just part of the canvas against which AV EDGE works “If you guys take care of all my food, I’ll spend all day fixing our every day to convince both local businesses and those from outside huts.” Another said, “I don’t like doing any of this work, but I enjoy the region and state that California is the best place for their making the tools we all use. I’ll make tools for everyone.” And so next expansion, and the Antelope Valley is the best place within it went, with each man selecting a task he enjoyed to do all day. California for their new jobs, while at the same time advocating for The women followed suit, each choosing to spend their day doing policies which support this truth. what they enjoyed most. This Roundtable Report is one means of telling you about our No longer did anyone have chores to do – everyone had a vocation, part of the world as we work to grow our regional economy. For an occupation, a job. And thus, this community had started an two decades, this annual publication has been a cornerstone of economy. recruitment to our region, providing a wealth of local demographic and other information which cannot be found anywhere else. This Economies have evolved over time from small trade and barter book will highlight for you information about housing, schools, systems to today’s global economy. Yet, smaller economies recreation and other community amenities to help you make your still exist, defined by national, state or local geography such as business location decision. Read it, share it, reference it, use it. the Antelope Valley; by industry, such as aerospace, or by other means. And when you’re ready to learn more about our region and the communities which comprise it, and choose a new location for Antelope Valley Economic Development & Growth Enterprise (AV your next business expansion, contact us at AV EDGE. We’re here EDGE) was created last year by a group of dedicated community to help you make that decision. members to help bring jobs to the Antelope Valley. While AV EDGE is new, its mission, purpose and members are not. AV EDGE is building on the legacy of two long-standing organizations Rob Duchow, Chair which have served our communities in Northern Los Angeles Southern California Gas Company and Eastern Kern Counties for decades. The Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance (GAVEA), which previously published this Report, supported economic development in the cities of Lancaster, Palmdale, Ridgecrest, California City and Tehachapi, along with the unincorporated communities in between, since 1999. The Antelope Valley Board of Trade (AVBOT) advocated on behalf of local businesses since 1957. The Antelope Valley has been blessed with steady growth over the last century. A military presence which started during the Great Depression and a strong aerospace industry which proliferated after World War II still help lead our economy today. Being at the forefront of commercial space flight while developing the next generation of military aircraft led many to call the area Aerospace Valley. 2020-2021 AV EDGE Slate offIcers AV EDGE Members at Large Rob Duchow Anthony Bruneau John Currado, LUTCF Southern California Cobb, Doerfler & Associates Driscoll & Driscoll Insurance Agency Gas Company Treasurer President Henry Escalante Bret Banks Kaiser Permanente Lisa Moulton Antelope Valley Air Quality Individual Management District Harvey Holloway Vice-President Co-Past President Coldwell Banker Commercial Valley Realty Diane Walker Veronica Knudson Antelope Valley Union Palmdale Regional Laura Gallegos High School District Medical Center Palmdale Water District Secretary Co-Past President TABLE OF CONTENTS AV EDGE STAFF BOARD OF DIRECTORS . INSIDE COVER RONDA PEREZ Thank you to everyone who made this report possible! TABLE OF CONTENTS / STAFF . 1 Executive Director Design & Print: INTRODUCTION . 2 SUE SOFFA South Street Digital, Inc. Administrative Assistant Coordinator: DEMOGRAPHICS PJ DelGaudio Employment by Sector .................... 3 MAILING ADDRESS Photography: Demographics & Population Detail. 4-5 41301 12th Street West, David Emenheiser Los Angeles County Profile .............. 6-7 Suite D Editor: Kern County ........................... 8-9 Palmdale, CA 93551 Janice Smith City of Lancaster ..................... 10-11 O: (661) 441-2957 Marketing: City of Palmdale ...................... 12-13 W: AVEDGECA.ORG Look Up Communications Greater Tehachapi .................... 14-15 California City ........................ 16-17 City of Ridgecrest .................... 18-19 Mojave / Rosamond .................. 20-21 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT C.O.L. Index & Largest Employers. 22-23 Reg. Contacts & Chambers of Commerce .. 24-25 QUALITY OF LIFE STEM/STEAM Education ............... 26-29 Higher Education & Workforce Dev. ..... 30-31 Health Care .......................... 32-33 Real Estate / Housing Market ........... 34-35 Air / Utilities ......................... 36-37 INDUSTRY Aerospace ........................... 38-39 Small Business Support & Retail ........ 40-41 Water ............................... 42-43 Mining & Renewable Energy ........... 44-45 Public Transportation ................. 46-47 Spirits & Brews ....................... 48-49 Quality of Life & Entertainment ........ 50-51 Become A Member ........................ 54 Sponsors ..................Outside Back Cover COPYRIGHT © 2021 by Antelope Valley Economic Development & Growth Enterprise - All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher addressed “Attention: Copyright Permission” at the address provided. 2021 AV EDGE Economic Report AVEDGECA.ORG 3 To say 2020 was an unprecedented time of change is an understatement. The past year’s events were at times chaotic, and what some called the springboard to a cancel culture. At the AV EDGE we view it differently. As we look forward to 2021 and beyond, we embrace the lessons learned. The unwavering resolve of this region is to not only persevere but to achieve greatness in a time of uncertainty. Our regional industries and businesses have an unbridled enthusiastic approach to the future of our Region’s economic development and growth, and together we thrive. It was in February of 2020 that the AV EDGE was founded on the legacy of two great organizations – the former Antelope Valley Board of Trade and Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance. The marriage of these two iconic organizations launched at a turbulent time, but to the contrary, the rise of the new organization is energized – no longer building on what used to be, but emerging with a new structure, new attitude, and a new way of doing business, including the opportunity to cultivate both old and new relationships with the goal of achieving healthy regional economic development and growth. You are wholeheartedly invited to join the AV EDGE. Our approach is far from business as usual. It is engaging, innovative, inspiring, and meaningful. Being a member provides you access to a variety of industry leaders, keen insights to regional data, business referrals, networking opportunities, resources, legislative advocacy and more. All these assets, including strategic thought leadership and practical implementation methods, will help grow your business. To learn more about our membership levels visit AVEDGCA.ORG or call (661) 441-2957. Ronda Perez Executive Director Grand Charter Donors AV EDGE Mission Statement The AV EDGE mission is to ensure thoughtful, AV Florist diverse economic growth and development Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District (AVAQMD) of the entire Antelope Valley. Through Antelope Valley College partnerships, legislative advocacy and Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) education,