OXNARD : City Unveils Unified Push for Businesses

Oxnard officials on Tuesday unveiled the city’s latest effort to lure new businesses and the tax dollars they generate.

Officials announced that four agencies--the Greater Oxnard Economic Development Corp., the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Oxnard & Harbors Tourism Bureau, and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce--will all operate out of the city’s Heritage Square office complex.

With the groups under one roof, agency representatives say, they will be able to consolidate their push to boost the city’s economic base.

“It’s an idea whose time has come,” said George Lauterbach, chairman of the Economic Development Corp. “We are off to a very quick start and I think you are going to be pleased with the results we have in the very near future.”

Already, the unified team can claim partial credit for persuading GTE California to move to Oxnard.

The Thousand Oaks-based telephone company announced last week that it will establish a customer service center in Oxnard, a move that will bring 650 jobs to the city.

Oxnard officials say they believe more businesses will follow, especially now that the consolidated effort exists.

“I think the city has always been at the forefront of economic development,” Mayor Manuel Lopez said. “Now we are embarking on a new method of addressing the need for economic development.”