This website has been designed to simplify the process of evaluating the Victor Valley region. Here you will find information on the ideal desert location for businesses and employees.
The communities that comprise Victor Valley are located along I-15, the primary transportation corridor and interstate commerce route.
Citing lower operating costs as a primary reason major companies, including several Fortune 500 companies, have located facilities in Victor Valley. You can receive a confidential operating cost comparison report specific to your company.
Employers are benefiting from an expanding and skilled workforce. The region's population is expected to grow at a faster rate than the US.
There are a large number of prime industrial and commercial properties available for development.
Potential for retail sales will continue to expand with Victor Valley's growing market population, the increasing number of households and rising household incomes. Learn more about Retail Market Opportunities in the updated Retail Market Analysis Report (Feb. 2008)
The Victor Valley communities encourage and support business development and responsible growth. We would be happy to provide you with a site location proposal.
Logistics Business Case
Logistics in Victor Valley, California
Road, Rail, and Air Access, Less than 100 Miles from Los Angeles
>> Major Transportation Corridor: Experience immediate access to Southern California– one of the largest U.S. consumer markets – and extend your reach around the world.
>>Multimodal Services: Move product through Victor Valley’s hub of full intermodal services: air access through SCLA, rail lines provided by Union Pacific and BNSF, major freeways and interstates.
>>Import/Export Resources:Direct inbound clearance at SCLA. Onsite U.S. Customs Port of Entry offers 24/7 service and frequently clears 747s in less than two hours.
>> Large Sites:Victor Valley offers a rare commodity in Southern California: access to a variety of large-scale sites.
>> Speedy Processing: Get up and running with a 90-120 day entitlement process and California’s first SCE Certified Site by McCallum Sweeney.
Transportation Assets
Air
Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA) features 15,050 ft and 9,100 ft runways, international cargo support.
Rail
BNSF’s third rail through the Cajon Pass will increase capacity to 100-150 trains per day.
Southern California Rail Complex (SCRC) will offer a 430 acre intermodal yard.
Hesperia Industrial Rail Park will be completed
Highways
Victor Valley is the hub of three major transportation routes—Interstate 15, Interstate 10, and U.S. Hwy 395. Together, they provide an east-west corridor to Los Angeles, Nevada, and the Western U.S.
Foreign Trade Zone
Activated Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ #243) – defer, reduce, or eliminate duties
Locate Where Demand is Highest Victor Valley offers business-friendly development policies and lower operating costs, close to your high-demand solar markets in California and the Southwest.
Market Opportunities: As you probably know, several factors have boosted California’s standing as a large solar consumer: –High electricity costs compared to the U.S. average –State efforts to increase solar output, including the California Solar Initiative and aggressive RPS –California end-user incentives Low Operating Costs: Lower real estate costs and tax incentives contribute to low overall operating costs for Victor Valley businesses.
Market Access: Located less than 100 miles from Los Angeles, Victor Valley is a logistical hub between California, Nevada and Arizona, providing timely delivery of your large products via highway and rail.
Renewable Portfolio Standard
California RPS: 20% by 2010 33% by 2020
California Net Metering Policy
Up to 1MW system size
California Feed-In Tariff
Allows customers to sell energy produced by small renewable systems (up to 3 MW) to utilities.
All utilities with 75,000+ customers must make a standard feed-in tariff available.
California Demand
California imports more electricity from other states than any other state.
California is the most populous state and its total energy demand is second only to Texas
Source: Energy Information Administration
Energy Costs Drive Move Toward Solar Power
Type
California
U.S. Average
Residential
15.00 ¢/kWh
11.91 ¢/kWh
Commercial
15.08 ¢/kWh
10.51 ¢/kWh
Industrial
11.55 ¢/kWh
7.18 ¢/kWh
Source: Energy Information Administration, State Energy Profiles for June 2009.
Local User
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., March 18, 2010 – Victor Valley College and SolFocus announced today that they are installing a 1 megawatt facility of high concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) systems for Victor Valley College in Victorville, California. When the solar plant is completed in May, it will be the largest energy facility of its kind in North America. [read more]
Local Businesses Going Green
The data suggest that "going green" can be a boon for businesses in the Region - most respondents said they prefer such businesses, even if it costs slightly more. Respondents reported that they view protection of the environment as a higher priority than economic growth. (Source: 2007 Inland Empire Annual Survey by the Institute of Applied Research and Policy Anlaysis at California State University San Bernardino)
The demographic information provided below represents the cities within the Victor Valley region: Adelanto, Apple Valley, Hesperia and Victorville.
Demographic Overview
Current regional population (2009)
313,840
Average Household Size (2009)
3.18
Median Age (2009)
30.77
Owner-Occupied Homes (2009)
65,577 (69.3%)
Total Housing Units (2009)
105,941
Source: Claritas 2009 Data (as of Sep 2009)
Historic and Projected Population Estimates
2000
2009
2014-est
198,980
313,840
376,638
Growth Rate
57.7%
20.0%
Source: Claritas 2009 Data (as of Sep 2009)
Racial and Ethnic Composition of Population
% Distribution of Population
Race / Ethnic Origin
Total
Local
State
U.S.
American Indian or Alaska Native
3,902
1.2%
1.0%
0.9%
Asian
8,517
2.7%
12.2%
4.4%
Black or African American
30,680
9.7%
6.3%
12.5%
Hispanic or Latino
183,887
58.6%
36.7%
15.4%
Multi-race / Other
82,683
26.5%
24.2%
8.6%
Pacific Islander
690
0.2%
0.4%
0.2%
White
187,368
59.7%
55.8%
72.5%
Source: Claritas 2009 Data (as of Sep 2009) *Claritas demographic estimates are based on U.S. Census Bureau data. The U.S. Census Bureau complies with the Office of Management and Budget’s standards for presenting data on race and ethnicity which state that racial categories reflect a social definition of race recognized in the U.S. and do not conform to biological criteria. Ethnicity, or origin, is defined by the US Census Bureau as the heritage, nationality group, lineage, or country of birth of the person, the person’s parents, or ancestors before arrival in the U.S. People who identify their origin as Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino may be of any race.
Income Level
Local
State
U.S.
Per Capita
$18,173
$28,057
$29,410
Median Household
$49,776
$61,034
$51,433
Average Household
$61,006
$93,049
$67,918
Source: Claritas 2009 Data (as of Sep 2009)
Household Income Distribution
% Distribution of Population
Annual Income
Total
Local
State
U.S.
Under $35,000
34,385
36.2%
28.6%
33.7%
$35,000 - $50,000
14,640
15.0%
13.3%
15.2%
$50,001 - $75,000
20,314
20.2%
18.3%
19.6%
$75,001 - $100,000
24,084
24.7%
28.0%
24.1%
Over $100,000
4,189
4.3%
11.9%
7.5%
Source: Claritas 2009 Data (as of Sep 2009)
Age Distribution of Population
% Distribution of Population
Age Category
Total
Local
State
U.S.
Under 18 years
93,393
31.0%
25.5%
24.4%
19-24 years
78,576
25.0%
24.6%
23.1%
25-34 years
44,993
14.3%
14.3%
13.3%
35-54 years
78,735
25.1%
28.5%
28.3%
55-74 years
55,204
17.6%
19.8%
22.3%
75 years and older
3,923
1.3%
1.6%
1.9%
Source: Claritas 2009 Data (as of Sep 2009)
Median Age of Population
Local
State
U.S.
30.77
34.94
36.83
Source: Claritas 2009 Data (as of Sep)
Educational Attainment of Population over 25 Years of Age
% Distribution of Population
Years of School Completed
Total
Local
State
U.S.
Less than High School
43,149
23.6%
23.5%
19.4%
High School
53,852
29.5%
20.2%
28.3%
Some College
52,258
28.6%
23.0%
21.3%
Associate's Degree
13,350
7.4%
7.2%
6.4%
Bachelor's Degree
12,811
7.0%
16.9%
15.8%
Graduate or Doctorate Degree
7,264
4.0%
9.2%
8.9%
Source: Claritas 2009 Data (as of Sep 2009)
Labor Force
Labor Force and Unemployment
July 2010
Total Labor Force
Number Unemployed
Unemployment Rate
Victor Valley Cities1
94,600
17,000
18.7%
San Bernardino County
864,200
127,900
14.8%
State of California
18,370,300
2,344,200
12.8%
2009 Average Annual
Victor Valley Cities1
94,200
14,900
16.6%
San Bernardino County
864,300
112,700
13.0%
State of California
18,250,200
2,086,200
11.4%
2008 Average Annual 2
Victor Valley Cities1
94,300
9,200
10.3%
San Bernardino County
867,300
69,900
8.0%
State of California
18,391,800
1,332,300
7.2%
Source: California Employment Development Department, LMID, July 2010 Data (as of August 2010) (1) Includes cities of Adelanto, Hesperia, Victorville and the Town of Apple Valley; (2) Seasonally-adjusted figures
Commute Patterns
Distribution of Workers
Commute Time
Number of Workers
Local
State
U.S.
Less than 15 minutes
26,938
25.01%
24.24%
28.75%
15 to 29 minutes
32,951
29.75%
35.24%
36.13%
30 to 44 minutes
13,022
12.09%
20.78%
19.43%
45 to 59 minutes
13,352
12.40%
8.31%
7.61%
60 or more minutes
22,334
20.74%
10.44%
8.08%
Estimated Average Travel Time to Work
37.04 minutes
30.08 minutes
27.77 minutes
Source: Claritas 2009 Data (as of Sep 2009)
Labor Costs
Employment Taxes & Mandated Benefits
Tax / Benefit
Rate/Basis
Administering Agency
Disability Insurance
1.1% of wages up to $90,669 (employee paid via withholding)
Employees covered by Disability Insurance (see above) are eligible for up to six weeks of paid family leave to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent or domestic partner, or to bond with a new minor child. Disability insurance is paid by employees.
Customized training at employers’ worksites; Short term training (non-credit courses); On-line courses. Credit courses that can be applied towards a certificate or an associate’s degree
Lewis Center for Education Research (Apple Valley) The center is a collaborative effort among academics and community members that offers several distinct educational and research programs to students, teachers and parents. Partnerships with NASA and JPL/Caltech are just some of the opportunities participants benefit from while working with the center. Among the Lewis Center's most significant programs is the Academy for Academic Excellence (AAE), a K-12 charter school in which new teaching techniques and strategies are tested and refined in a standards-based education program.
Source: Dun & Bradstreet, Victor Valley EDA members (updated Nov 2009)
New to the Area
Dr. Pepper Snapple Group announced June 18, 2008 their decision to locate at the Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville. The $120 million Dr. Pepper facility will include an 850,000-square-foot building on 57 acres, with 550,000 square feet of warehouse space and a 300,000-square-foot manufacturing plant with up to six manufacturing lines. The facility, targeted for opening in early 2010, is expected to employ 200 people and will become the company's Western hub in a regional manufacturing and distribution footprint serving California and parts of the desert Southwest. The company will produce a wide range of soft drinks, juices, juice drinks, ready-to-drink teas, energy drinks and other premium beverages at this new facility.
Source: Victor Valley EDA members (updated November 2009)
Southern California Logistics Airport - Global Access
The Victor Valley is home to the multi-modal dedicated air cargo logistics facility, Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA). Strategically located near three major ports and two major rail service providers, SCLA is positioned to become the country's leading air cargo hub.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration Airport Master Records as posted on www.gcr1.com; Distance per Rand McNally, (as of Sep 2009)
Motor Freight & Contract Carriers (partial list)
Company
Services
FedEx West (formerly Viking Freight) 7250 North Cajon Blvd Adelanto, CA 92407 909-887-3970
FedEx National LTLSM is a transportation leader of long-haul LTL (less-than-truckload) shipping. LTL service features:
Fast transit times.
Direct delivery to virtually every ZIP code in the continental U.S.
Consistent, on-time reliability.
State-of-the art information technology with end-to-end shipment visibility.
A dedicated team of professionals to assist with all of your freight needs.
YRC 17401 Adelanto Adelanto, CA 92301 800-345-3520
Yellow Freight & Roadway merged
Same Day, Next Day, Second Day, Deferred, Custom
By 09:00, By 12:00, By 17:00
Multiday Window, One-to-Multiple Hour Window
North America, including: Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam
Shipped:Air, Surface, Blended, Hot-Shot
Expedited: Exact Express® and Expedited DirectTM—Seamless air and ground, time-specific delivery throughout North America at your specification
Guaranteed: Definite Delivery®—Guaranteed delivery by your must-arrive-by-date or within your delivery window
Hesperia awarded $2M US Department of Commerce EDA grant for the G Avenue Industrial Rail Lead Track project, which will enable construction of approximately one mile of railroad lead track with a parallel runaround track in Hesperia’s I Avenue Industrial Area. (December 2007)
City of Victorville officials approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the BNSF Railway Company (BNSF), setting the stage to explore development of a major intermodal logistics facility at Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA) in Victorville. (January 2007)
Source: Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), Union Pacific (UP) (as of Sep 2009) and the cities of Hesperia and Victorville
Serving California: Central Valley, Bay Area, and Sacramento (San Joaquin Valley); San Luis Obispo to San Diego (Ocean); Sacramento to the Bay Area (Capitol Corridor); Los Angeles to Seattle
Operated by Amtrak & CalTrans in California
Source: Victor Valley Transit Authority and Amtrak (as of Sep 2009)
Taxes
State Tax Profile
The State of California tax system is composed of a range of taxes that are administered and collected by various state and local agencies. Each tax has a different base, rate and administering agency. The following outlines the most significant taxes.
Local tax profiles for the cities of Adelanto and Hesperia are not available at this time
Source: Town of Apple Valley and City of Victorville respective websites (Sep 2009)
Incentives
Victor Valley member communities offer a variety of incentives to businesses locating and/or expanding in the region.Following is a summary of incentive programs offered in the Victor Valley Region. Many incentives are site specific.Check availability of incentives for each site in consideration.
Incentives
Incentive Program
Where Available in the Region
Type
Description
Redevelopment Programs
Throughout region in designated Redevelopment Areas
Tax Increment Financing
Construction of public infrastructure
Financing of capital equipment Infrastructure Improvement
Financial assistance for franchise fees and other franchise costs
Local Agency Military Recovery Act (LAMBRA) Enterprise Zone
Victorville/ Southern California Logistics Airport
NOL Carry-over Tax credits
Business expense deductions
15-year net operating loss carry-over
Tax credits for sales and use taxes paid (up to $20 million per year of qualified machinery and machinery parts)
Hiring credits for wages paid (approximately $30,000 for each employee hired) Various business expense deductions
Victorville/ Southern California Logistics Airport and Hesperia
Reduced or delayed Customs duties and taxes
Foreign merchandise may be admitted without filing a formal Customs entry and without paying U.S. Customs duties and government excise taxes.
Merchandise may be exhibited, stored, tested, sampled, relabeled, repackaged, mixed, manipulated and destroyed.
Certain bonded merchandise may be transferred to SCLA, canceling bond or time limit applicable to traditional bonded warehouses, resulting in immediate recovery of taxes previously paid.
Industrial Development Bond
Throughout region
Low-cost financing
No prepayment penalty
Comprehensive funding
Flexible ownership
On-the-Job Training
Throughout region
Cash reimbursement
Up to 50% reimbursement of wages paid over a set training period for eligible new hires.
Customized Training/Employment Training Panel
Throughout region
Cash reimbursement
Reimbursement of customized training programs for existing workers with pre-approved contract.
Work Opportunity Tax Credit
Throughout region
Tax credit
Up to $2,400 tax credit for each eligible new hire. Certification of eligibility provided at no cost to business.
Welfare to Work Tax Credit
Throughout region
Tax credit
Up to $8,500 tax credit, over two years, for hiring eligible employees. Certification of eligibility provided at no cost to business.
Tax credits and other Hesperia EZ exclusive incentives
Hiring credits for each qualified employee hired (approximately $37,440 over 5 years)
Tax credits for sales and use taxes paid (up to $20 million per year of qualified machinery and machinery parts)
Up to 100% net operating loss carry-forward for 15 years
Up front expensing for certain depreciable property
Net interest deduction for lenders to businesses located in the EZ
State Contract Preference
Reduces permit process to 45-120 days after a complete application is submitted.
A certified Environmental Impact Report eliminates CEQA review requirement
Transportation Impact Fee Credit
Apple Valley
Fee Credit
Cost of construction of qualifying street improvements is offset by credit
Sewer Reimbursement
Apple Valley
Cash Reimbursement
Reimburses cost of construction of qualifying sewer improvements
Water Reimbursement (Private)
Apple Valley
Cash Reimbursement
Reimburses cost of construction of qualifying regional water improvements
Source and Date: VVEDA primary research sourced from local member communities
Business Resources
The Victor Valley community is proud of the high level of collaboration and partnership between government and businesses. Below are only a few of the many partners that contribute to Victor Valley's reputation for being business friendly.
San Bernardino County Business Resources is committed to assisting businesses and job seekers. Services to employers include providing local labor market information, job referral and applicant screening, tailored recruitments, on-the-job training incentives, customized training programs, welfare-to-work tax credits, work opportunity tax credits, and enterprise zone vouchering. These services are provided at no cost to both job seekers and employers.
The Inland Empire Economic Partnership (IEEP) is the private, non-profit regional economic development organization for the Inland Empire (which includes both Riverside and San Bernardino Counties). IEEP's core mission is the expansion and relocation of business to the Inland Empire.
The Inland Empire Small Business Development Center (SBDC), a division of the Inland Empire Economic Partnership (IEEP), provides the small businesses and entrepreneurs in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties with business assistance services from a variety of locations in the Inland Empire.
Training
Victor Valley College 18422 Bear Valley Road, Victorville, CA 92392 Phone (760) 245-4271
Victor Valley Community College is open to everyone in the community. The College's educational, civic, social, and cultural programs are designed to meet the needs of individual students and the community as a whole.
CREW Inland Empire, a member organization of The Commercial Real Estate Women Network (CREW Network) is a non-profit organization established to promote and sponsor educational and professional activities for its members in the field of commercial real estate. Members of CREW are the professional women involved in a commercial real estate deal - brokers, bankers, attorneys, accountants, engineers, architects, appraisers, City economic development directors, title agencies and so on.
Taking global access into the 21st century, Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA) is a dedicated air cargo facility and a 5,000-acre multimodal business complex integrating manufacturing, industrial and office facilities.
Source: (1) www.weather.com; (as of Sep 2009); (2) www.bestplaces.net (as of Sep 2009); (3) The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. The comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.
Cost of Living
This index compares the relative cost of living in different locations. Using the United States as the base location (i.e. a value of 100), and index value of 120 means that the cost of living in that particular community is 20 percent higher than in the base location; a value of 84 indicates a more affordable location.
Adelanto, CA
103
Apple Valley, CA
109
Hesperia, CA
108
Victorville, CA
106
Boise, ID
94
Dallas, TX
93
Denver, CO
105
Fresno, CA
104
Irvine, CA
169
Portland, OR
109
Reno, NV
113
Salt Lake City, UT
98
San Diego, CA
147
San Jose, CA
162
Seattle, WA
132
Source: Sperling's BestPlaces, October 2007 data; the total of all cost of living categories is weighted as follows: 30% housing, 15% groceries, 10% transportation, 6% utilities, 7% health care, and 32% miscellaneous (clothing, services, entertainment); state and local taxes are not included. (as of Sep 2009)
These operating cost scenarios show how Victor Valley compares to other locations in the 