Aaron Baker, president and owner of Cannon Safe in San Bernardino, California, published a powerful opinion piece in the San Bernardino Sun today. Cannon Safe is located within the San Bernardino Enterprise Zone.
As an employer of 200 enterprise zone workers and an annual payroll of $7.2 million, Mr. Baker’s company is an important contributor to the California economy. Mr. Baker states in very certain terms that without the California Enterprise Zone program, Cannon Safe would have little reason to remain in the state.
In the article, Mr. Baker tells about his frustration in trying to communicate the importance of California’s enterprise zone program to state legislators. Yet, as he travels out-of-state for business, his other-state business associates constantly ask him “Why are you still in California?”

[E]ven with the benefits offered by the enterprise zone, it is still less expensive to do business in other states. If I moved my company to Utah or various other states, I would see as much as a 20percent increase in profits.

I realize that moving my business would have a devastating impact on the local economy. Cannon Safe employs 200 workers and our 2009 payroll contributed $7.2 million to the local economy. Manufacturing companies like Cannon Safe have a ripple effect on the local economy, because we also employ hundreds of local support businesses.

Mr. Baker ends with what should be received by California legislators as a dire warning. For every business owner like Aaron Baker who is saying this out loud, there are surely hundreds more in silent agreement that will leave California if the enterprise zone program is weakened by future legislation. Says he,

I love California, but I can’t continue to throw my money away. Without the enterprise zones, there is little reason for me, and other entrepreneurs, to keep our businesses in California.

If you do business in a California enterprise zone, I also urge you to contact your California Assembly Member and express your opposition to California Senate Bill 974.  The bill passed the CA Senate on June 3 and has now been passed to the California Assembly.  See my previous post about this bill, and how it could impact enterprise zone businesses.
I am Vaughn Hromiko. Please feel welcome to contact me with your questions about the California enterprise zone program.  You can reach me at vah@WOTCPlanet.com or (800) 655-5281 ext. 101.