Earthquake: The Road To Recovery : Coalition Formed to Attract L.A. Businesses

Insisting that they only want to be good neighbors, Ventura County business and government leaders have set up a coalition to attract quake-ravaged San Fernando Valley businesses.

Starting Wednesday, the newly formed Partners in Action coalition will offer a toll-free telephone line, a fast-track permit process and other relocation assistance to Los Angeles County businesses considering a temporary or permanent move to Ventura County.

“We want to send the message that we want to keep you in Southern California and we want to be good neighbors,” coalition spokeswoman Dana Weber Young said.

Valley business boosters, however, did not take the offer so genially.

“If these are my neighbors, God forbid what my enemies might do,” said Ben Reznik, chairman of the Earthquake Recovery Task Force for the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn.

“They’re thinking very selfishly,” said Reznik, a Sherman Oaks lawyer. “If they were thinking about the region, they wouldn’t be doing this.”

Some Valley business owners said by attempting to attract businesses--even temporarily--to Ventura County, the coalition puts the entire Valley economy at risk.

“When businesses move out, it also affects the restaurants employees eat in and the stores they shop in,” said Joe Kletzel, president of Chatsworth-based Devon Industries and a member of VICA. “It will destroy the economic base of the Valley.”

Young disputed such talk, saying she doubts desirable commercial rental space can be found in the Valley.

“This is not aimed at stealing businesses,” Young said.

The coalition plans to spend about $30,000 on promotion and assistance, running ads in San Fernando Valley newspapers and on Valley radio stations and staffing the toll-free telephone line.

Coalition members promise that one phone call will be all a business needs to get industrial, commercial and residential rental information as well as advice on what local city best fits the company’s needs.

The coalition includes local chambers of commerce, county government, real estate firms, and individual businessmen and businesswomen. Young said although only a few cities have so far agreed to join the coalition and donate money toward its marketing effort, many others have expressed interest in participating.

The cities of Ventura and Oxnard have each donated $2,500. The Thousand Oaks City Council will discuss donating $2,500 to the effort at its council meeting Tuesday.

Steve Hayes, economic redevelopment manager for the city of Moorpark, said Moorpark is ready to help ease a company’s relocation from the Valley. The Moorpark City Council has not yet discussed participating in the coalition, he said

“Any Valley business that comes through will receive immediate, special attention,” he said.

The coalition’s telephone number, which will be in effect Wednesday and operating out of the Ventura County Economic Development Assn.’s office in Oxnard, is 1-800-880-3700 or 805-988-1106.