LOS ANGELES COUNTY ANNOUNCES MAJOR INITIATIVE TO KEEP LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE AND AEROSPACE CORPORATION IN CALIFORNIA

Colorado Economic Development Corproation is trying to lure the Air Force and Aerospace Industry from California to Colorado.

Los Angeles CA (PRWEB) October 7, 2003 --This is not a fight we can afford to lose, because its vital to LA Countys economy," said CEO & President Lee Harrington Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAECC).

Los Angeles, CA -A Colorado State Economic Development Commission has initiated a major effort to persuade the US government to move the Space and Missile Systems Center at the Los Angeles Air Force Base to the Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado as part of the upcoming Base Realignment and Closure process.

The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) believes that such a move could have dramatic implications for the economy of southern California and for the safety of the space program," said CEO & President Lee Harrington Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC). We are committed to the retention and growth of the LA Air Force Base (LAAFB) and the Aerospace Corporation here in Los Angeles County," said Harrington.

Harrington said LAEDC has been working with these two large employers, the County of Los Angeles, the South Bay and the cities of El Segundo, Hawthorne and Redondo Beach for the last six months to ensure they stay. Now, we are launching a major public retention initiative. Loss of these operations would bring a catastrophic set back to our aerospace/defense industry," said Harrington."

Chief Economist Jack Kyser, LAEDC says more than 65,000 current high wage jobs worth $3.3 Billion annually are at stake in southern California.

Based on new contract awards, this job base will grow to 75,000 in the next few years and $3.8 Billion in wages. These jobs will generate at least $270 million in state and local taxes annually. LAAFB and the Aerospace industry support thousands of other businesses in LA County and southern California. In short, they are a 'real plum that other regions would love to 'pluck," explained Kyser.

The County, the South Bay and the business community are all committed to ensure we dont lose this critical cornerstone of our economy", said President Joe Aro, of the South Bay Economic Partnership.

The key is for everyone to work together on this effort", said Chairman John Parsons of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments and Co-Chair of the LA Air Force Base Retention Task Force. A task force, made up of public and private sector leaders, will try to convince Washington, D.C. that the LAAFB is an essential part of the southern California economy. We also want them to know that the incredible technical and design capabilities of our industries, universities and employment base are unrivaled in the world for the scientific and technical mission of the LAAFB and Aerospace Corporation."

Past large scale moves like this have resulted in safety concerns due to 'brain drain, when highly experienced engineers chose not to move with their unit," said LAEDC Vice President Lynn Hogan of LAEDC assigned to support the task force. "Addressing safety issues is critical to the decision regarding the relocation of the LAAFB", added Hogan, who was formerly Government Affairs Manager for ARCO with experience in Sacramento and Washington. The task force will work to inform and educate decisions-makers in Washington, D.C. that Los Angeles is far and away the best place for the Space and Missile Systems Center."

This is not a fight we can afford to lose", concluded Harrington. We invite members of the community to join us in this effort."
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[Editors: For interviews please contact George McQuade, 818.340.5300 or PR@MayoCommunications.com. All LAEDC Study results are posted at: www.laedc.org under special reports and at www.Mayocommunications.com]