Victor Valley - City of Victorville

Victor
Valley
businessclimate.com/victor-valley
Economic development
To Infinity
and Beyond
Aviation, aerospace firms in region
test technologies for future flight
Sponsored by THE Victor Valley Chamber of Commerce | 2015
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Contents
Victor
Valley
Economic development
2015 Edition | Volume 7
on the cover
GE tests its next generation of jet
engines at the Southern California
Logistics Airport (SCLA) in Victorville.
Photo by Natan Vigna
7 Overview
8Discover
33 Economic Profile
24
34
Business Climate
Cooperative
Climate
Regional collaboration,
competitive assets deliver
success for the Victor Valley
22
Transportation
14
Highway Hub
Investments in road
enhancements boost logistics
appeal for the Victor Valley
14
29
To Infinity
and Beyond
Cradle to
Careers
Aviation
Victor Valley’s aviation
and aerospace firms test
technologies for future flight
Education
24
Energy
Power Player
18
The Victor Valley harnesses
natural resources to enhance
sustainability in the desert region
Magnetic force
34
Manufacturing
The Victor Valley’s location,
low costs and workforce lure
manufacturers of all sizes
Livability
Work Hard,
Play Harder
Awe-inspiring landscapes
and diverse recreation enhance
the Victor Valley’s quality of life
10
Industry and higher education
leaders create educational
pathways to help students
pursue careers
39
Health Care
Promising
Prognosis
Victor Valley hospitals expand
to meet community needs
businessclimate.com/victor-valley
|| 3
Victor
Valley
2015 edition volume 7
Economic development
Vice President/Director of Content | Bill McMeekin
Editor | Emily McMackin
Assistant Project Manager | Raven Petty
Contributing writers | Teree Caruthers,
John Fuller, Bill Lewis, Gary Wollenhaupt
Staff Writer | Kevin Litwin
Art Director | Laura Gallagher
lead designer | Heather Hauser
Senior Graphic Designers | Michael Betts,
Amy Hiemstra, Kris Sexton, Mark Townsend,
Vikki Williams
Graphic Designer | Lindsey Higgins
Project Manager | Becca Ary
Senior Photographers | Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord
Staff Photographers | frank OrdoÑez,
michael tedesco
color imaging technician | alison hunter
Integrated Media Manager | Kate Dauer
Ad Production/Sales Support Coordinator |
Courtney Cook
Advertising Production/Sales Support Manager |
Katie Middendorf
Ad Traffic Assistant | Patricia Moisan
Web project manager | David DAy
Senior Software Engineer I | jim porter
Web Designer II | richard stevens
Digital Products designer | Erica lampley
Chairman | Greg Thurman
President/Publisher | Bob Schwartzman
Executive Vice President | Ray Langen
Senior V.P./Client Development | Jeff Heefner
Senior V.P./Operations | Casey Hester
Senior V.P./Sales | Jarek Swekosky
Vice President/Business Development | Clay Perry
Sales Manager | Jared lane
V.P./Content Operations | Natasha Lorens
Creative Services Director | Christina Carden
Photography Director | Jeffrey S. Otto
web services Director | Allison davis
Controller | Chris Dudley
Senior Accountant | Lisa Owens
Accounts Payable Coordinator | Maria McFarland
Accounts Receivable Coordinator | Diana Iafrate
database director | debbie woska
Executive Secretary | Kristy Giles
Human Resources Manager | Peggy Blake
MITSUBISHI
CEMENT
CORPORATION
Victor Valley Economic Development is published annually
by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through
the Victor Valley Chamber of Commerce.
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about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at
(615) 771-0080 or by email at [email protected].
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(760) 248-7373
For more information, contact:
Victor Valley Chamber of Commerce
14174 Green Tree Blvd. • Victorville, CA 92395
Phone: (760) 245-6506 • www.vvchamber.com
Visit Victor Valley Economic Development online
at businessclimate.com/victor-valley
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4 || Victor Valley
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VICTO
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Aviation
test tech , aerospac
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for futu in region
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SPONS
ORED
t
BY VICTOR
VALLE
Y CHAMB
ER OF
COMM
ERCE
| 2015
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6 || Victor Valley
Overview
7 Reasons to Live, Work in Victor Valley
Affordability, Accessibility and Environment Among Region’s
Top Advantages
1. Affordability.
The Victor Valley is one of
the most affordable regions in
Southern California to live, work
and do business. Along with a
low cost of living, the region offers
inexpensively priced land, labor
and utilities.
2. Housing. Homes are highly
affordable in the Victor Valley,
especially compared to the Los
Angeles basin. The housing
market is reasonably priced
and diverse, with properties
ranging from ranch-style
homes to lakeside condos.
3. Accessibility.
The Victor Valley’s location
puts it within proximity to the
amenities of bigger cities, as
well as major ports, airports
and highways. Businesses in the
region can reach a population of
more than 20 million people and
most western markets within
a three-hour drive.
distribution operations,
the region provides a wealth
of options, including the Global
Access-Victorville development
at the Southern California
Logistics Airport. The 5,000-acre
complex offers dedicated logistics
and industrial space, along with
an aviation and air cargo facility
with one of the nation’s longest
commercial runways.
6. Workforce. With its
rich manufacturing heritage
and network of colleges and
technical schools, the Victor
Valley produces an educated
pool of workers with a deep level
of expertise in production and
a high level of training.
7. Natural Attractions.
Located in the Mojave Desert in
the midst of mountains, dunes
and trails, the Victor Valley is
an outdoor lover’s paradise.
Along with a limitless supply of
recreational activities, including
hiking, biking, skiing and more,
the area’s open stretches of
desert make it a hot spot for
off-roading, motocross and
other extreme sports.
For more information, contact:
Victor Valley
Chamber of Commerce
14174 Green Tree Blvd.
Victorville, CA 92395
(760) 245-6506
www.vvchamber.com
127
Victor Valley
15
4. Environment.
The region is known for clean
air, low humidity and more
than 300 days of sunshine. Its
environment makes it ideal
for tapping into solar power and
other natural resources. From
using alternative energy to power
plants to conserving the local
water supply, the region makes
sustainability a high priority.
S A N B E R N A R DI N O
58
Adelanto
40
15
247
Apple Valley
Victorville
247
Hesperia
138
210
San Bernardino
Lake
Havasu
62
62
5. Industrial Sites.
For companies looking for largescale sites for manufacturing and
businessclimate.com/victor-valley
|| 7
Discover the
Victor Valley
CEMEX’s Victorville plant
produces up to 3.3 million
tons of cement per year.
Signature Industry
Emerging Industry
A Solid Foundation
Here Comes the Sun
Since the discovery of large deposits of limestone
and granite in the Victor Valley near the turn of the
20th century, the region has been a magnet for mining
companies, especially those involved in cement
production. Three of the nation’s top cement producers
are located in the area and share a rich heritage there.
CEMEX USA opened its Victorville plant in 1916 and
produces up to 3.3 million tons of cement per year from
its facility, which employs 225 people. Originally built
in 1957 by industrialist Henry Kaiser, the Mitsubishi
Cement Corporation plant in Lucerne Valley produces
1.7 million tons of cement per year and employs a
workforce of 174. Riverside Cement’s plant in Oro
Grande originally opened in 1907, before shutting
down during the Great Depression. It restarted during
World War II and has been operational ever since, now
producing more than 2 million tons of concrete annually.
With nearly 300 days of sunshine per year and low
operating costs, the Victor Valley is a natural spot
for solar firms. SolTech Solar recently built a
12-panel installation – the largest of its kind in
the state – in Newberry Springs that uses tracking
technology to follow the sun and feeds power into
Southern California Edison’s distribution network,
powering 500 homes with renewable energy. Global
solar manufacturer SunEdison is constructing a
1.7 MW DC roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system
in Hesperia that will also connect to the Southern
California Edison grid. Salt Lake City-based
sPower has several projects in the works in
Victorville, Apple Valley and Adelanto, and
Portland-based Iberdrola Renewables is planning
a large-scale project for 11 acres of public land in
San Bernardino County.
8 || Victor Valley
Who’s here
Hub of Operations
The Victor Valley’s strategic location and industrial assets have attracted multiple Fortune 500 firms with
operations in the area The nation’s largest company and retailer, Wal-Mart, operates a distribution center in
Apple Valley that employs more than 1,000. The region is also a hotbed for aviation leaders, like Boeing and GE
Aviation, which both utilize the Southern California Logistics Airport at Global Access-Victorville for
their operations. The Southern California Logistics Centre (SCLC), also part of Global Access, houses a
distribution center for Newell Rubbermaid, shipping products for brands such as Sharpie, Graco and Paper
Mate from the location. Dr Pepper Snapple Group also uses SCLC as its western distribution hub, reaching up
to 20 percent of U.S. consumers with drink products shipped from their facility. Goodyear Tire & Rubber also
operates a distribution center at the Foxborough Industrial Park in Victorville.
Made Here
Building Brands
Some of the nation’s best known and most ubiquitous brands
are made in the Victor Valley. From doorstops to mini blinds
to golf tees, custom injection molding manufacturer Kazz
Molds Inc., in Hesperia, makes plastic products for a variety
of uses. In business for more than 20 years, the family-owned
and -operated firm has produced plastic products for
customers such as Xerox, Rubbermaid and Telecom.
Another Victor Valley company, Electronics USA, located
in Victorville, specializes in production of small and large
LED digital clocks, digital and stopwatch timers, handheld
stopwatches, time zone clocks, and countdown timers and
clock displays. Other companies making brand-name
products in the Victor Valley include:
Church & Dwight Co., Inc.: Makes and distributes products
for Arm & Hammer, including liquid laundry detergent, XTRA
laundry detergent, and Arm & Hammer clumping cat litter at
its Victorville facility.
The Nutro Company: Produces all-natural pet food
in Victorville, sold under its Nutro brand.
United Furniture Industries: Manufactures and ships
sofas, recliners, sectionals and other furniture for the
Simmons Upholstery brand from the Southern California
Logistics Centre (SCLC) in Victorville.
Dr Pepper Snapple Group: Produces more than 40 million
cases of soft drinks, juices, ready-to-drink teas and energy
drinks for its brands at SCLC in Victorville.
Things to Do
Get Your Kicks
Music lovers, history buffs and sports fans alike can find plenty of attractions in the Victor Valley to keep them
entertained. More than 10,000 people a year drop by the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville, which celebrates
the region’s stop along the famous Chicago-to-Los Angeles route. The museum offers a treasure trove of exhibits,
including historic signs and memorabilia as well as folk art from the whimsical roadside attraction Hula Ville. Visitors
can experience the culture of the Old West with a visit to Calico Ghost Town, a 19th-century silver mining town near
Barstow that is now a state landmark offering mine tours, gunfight stunt shows and gold panning. In the spring and
summer, baseball fans can cheer on the High Desert Mavericks, a minor league team of the Texas Rangers, at its
stadium in Adelanto. Summer also brings concerts and events to the area, including the annual Desert Rocks Film and
Music Festival in Hesperia and the Sunset Concert Series at the Civic Center Park Amphitheater in Apple Valley.
businessclimate.com/victor-valley
|| 9
Business Climate
Cooperative
Climate
Regional collaboration,
competitive assets deliver
success for the Victor Valley
T
By Gary Wollenhaupt
Apple Valley is one of the most
business-friendly cities in the state.
10 || Victor Valley
he crown jewel of
the High Desert,
the Victor Valley
stands out as
a hot spot for
business and
economic growth fueled by
regional cooperation and
investments in infrastructure.
Located along Interstate
15 in sprawling San Bernardino
County, the five cities in the
region – Victorville, Apple Valley,
Hesperia, Adelanto and Barstow,
as well as unincorporated
communities – have a combined
population of more than 450,000
and together rank as the eighthlargest city in California.
Affordability is a major draw
for companies locating and
expanding in the Victor Valley.
The region offers lower labor
and land costs than most regions
across the state, along with
highway, rail and air connectivity
to major markets and a skilled,
motivated and loyal workforce.
“If you want to have a
manufacturing facility in
California, this is where you
want to be,” says Bill Scott,
president of Adelanto-based
Scott Turbon Mixer, which
makes stainless steel mixers
and mixing systems for food,
pharmaceutical, cosmetic and
chemical industries worldwide.
out, and the city is starting on
Phase II that will encompass
about 22 acres in the I-15 corridor.
To welcome more industry,
the city invested $8 million to
build the one-mile G Avenue
railroad lead track, extending it
to 200 acres of prime industrial
space now served by BNSF
railroad. The city also developed
a 488,000-square-foot space
suitable for distribution or
light manufacturing.
Neighboring Apple Valley has
developed an Industrial Specific
Plan containing 6,600 acres of
environmentally certified land
that partially offsets the impact
of state tax and regulatory burdens
via a 120-day administrative
approval process, according to
economic development manager
Orlando Acevedo.
The plan is one of the reasons
economic development analysts
and the California Retail Survey
Team Effort
The Victor Valley’s five cities
present a unified front through
cooperative efforts like High Desert
Opportunity, an annual event that
showcases the benefits of doing
business in the region.
“The municipal governments
work together to succeed; when
one has a success everybody
benefits,” says Robert Lovingood,
First District Supervisor of San
Bernardino County. “We know
there is value in understanding
and collaboration.”
Part of the Mojave Desert Air
Quality Management District, the
region takes a business-friendly
approach to managing air quality
for the 500,000 residents living
within its boundaries. More than
1,000 businesses hold permits
within the district.
“That gives us an advantage
with industry, because it’s easier
to get permits in the High Desert
than it is in other areas of the
state,” says Steve Lantsberger,
economic development director
for Hesperia.
Thanks to its I-15 frontage,
Hesperia has an annual traffic
count of 75 million vehicles,
making it a prime location for
retail and distribution operations,
Lantsberger says. Hesperia’s High
Desert Gateway Phase 1 retail
development is almost fully built
Adelanto-based Scott Turbon Mixer
benefits from the Victor Valley’s low
business costs, prime location and
dedicated workforce.
businessclimate.com/victor-valley
|| 11
Rising Employment Across Top Industries
(San Bernardino County, Jan. 2014-Jan. 2015)
Source: California Employment Development Department
2015
76,000
2015
322,400
2015
90,800
2014
72,900
2014
307,800
2014
89,100
Construction
Trade, Transportation
& Utilities
Manufacturing
2015
144,500
2015
194,900
2015
149,500
2014
131,100
2014
189,400
2014
142,200
Business &
Professional Services
Educational and
Health Services
Leisure & Hospitality
Industrial Inventory
by City
Retail Inventory
by City
Office Inventory
by City
Total: 17,808,500 square feet
Total: 17,573,000 square feet
Total: 5,490,265 square feet
7% 0.2%
7% 1.5%
17.7%
10.3%
17.6%
2% 2.6%
21%
40%
14.6%
17.4%
40%
17.3%
46.4%
20.4%
20.4%
Adelanto
(3,151,897 SF)
Victorville
(7,126,160 SF)
Adelanto
(258,089 SF)
Victorville
(7,343,776 SF)
Adelanto
(3,151,897 SF)
Victorville
(2,548,638 SF)
Apple Valley
(2,601,328 SF)
Barstow
(1,251,658 SF)
Apple Valley
(3,100,487 SF)
Barstow
(2,843,490 SF)
Apple Valley
(1,157,105 SF)
Barstow
(565,826 SF)
Hesperia
(3,634,373 SF)
Rural areas
(43,087 SF)
Hesperia
(3,064,592 SF)
Rural areas
(962,106 SF)
Hesperia
(964,313 SF)
Rural areas
(110,380 SF)
Source: Coldwell Banker Commercial Victorville
12 || Victor Valley
rank Apple Valley among the
most business-friendly cities in
California. Already home to a
distribution center for Wal-Mart
as well as one for medical device
and pharmaceutical maker
Fresenius, the city extended
Apple Valley Road from Highway
18 north to I-15 to open up even
more development opportunities
in its northwest sector.
Adelanto, one the fastest
growing cities of the Victor
Valley, has attracted companies
like Texas-based Hanson
Structural Precast Pacific,
a leading supplier of precast
products to western markets.
Phase Two of the Adelanto
Marketplace, a major retail
anchored center along Highway
395, will begin construction
soon. Springfield Real Estate
Development built Stellar Plaza
and will follow up with Weaver
Plaza – a new shopping center
west of Highway 395.
Investment Returns
In Victorville, the Southern
California Logistics Centre, a
former Air Force base, anchors
development for distribution,
warehousing and manufacturing.
Neighboring on-airport facilities
have attracted natural partners
like GE Aircraft Engines, Boeing,
Pratt & Whitney, and others.
Off-airport development, which
encompasses about 2,500 acres,
is taking off as well.
Firms like Mars Chocolate,
United Furniture Industries,
Newell Rubbermaid and Red Bull
occupy Class A spaces from 3,500
square feet to 1 million square
feet, says Anita Tuckerman,
director of asset services for
Stirling Development, which
owns and manages the property.
Over the past decade, Stirling has
privately funded more than 3
million square feet of space, and
is currently developing an
additional 450,000 square-footfacility for additional tenants.
Manufacturers are thriving
at the facility, and Tuckerman
points to United Furniture as a
prime example. The company
manufactures 1,100 pieces of
furniture per day and employs
over 300 workers.
“Those are jobs that were not
in the community previously,”
Tuckerman says. “If Stirling
hadn’t invested and built the
building, United Furniture would
not have leased it, and we wouldn’t
have those employees out in our
community shopping for homes
and cars.”
Aviation
To Infinity
and Beyond
Victor Valley’s Aviation and aerospace companies
test technologies for future flight
A
viation’s new frontiers, from the
next generation of super-efficient
and powerful passenger jet engines
to components for America’s
newest stealth strike fighter,
are being explored by aerospace
companies with operations in the Victor Valley.
International companies with household names,
such as Boeing, GE Aviation and Pratt & Whitney,
as well as local enterprises like Exquadrum, Reid
Products and Telexca, are making the region a top
14 || Victor Valley
spot for aerospace manufacturing and research and
development. These firms are attracted to the area
by a unique combination of advantages, including
a technically trained workforce, affordability, a
sunny climate, and the Global Access-Victorville
development at Southern California Logistics
Airport (SCLA).
Victor Valley Economic Development Authority
director Keith Metzler lists several more advantages
that SCLA holds for aviation-related firms.
“Available hangar space, uncongested and clear
Southern California Logistics Airport: Natan Vigna
By Bill Lewis
Global companies such as GE Aviation use
the Southern California Logistics Airport
for testing next-generation engines.
flying conditions and two long runways,” he
says, including one runway that, at 15,050 feet,
is the second-longest public-use runway in the
United States.
Those are among the reasons why Boeing signed
a $1.8 million, three-year lease for 100,000 square
feet of hangar and office space at SCLA. The lease
includes options for up to 12 years and $8.3 million.
“Boeing’s lease at Southern California Logistics
Airport is a testament to the pro-business climate
we have worked to create,” Metzler says. “This lease
will pave the way for additional high-caliber
corporations to follow Boeing’s lead and locate
their operations in Victorville.”
Boeing has been at SCLA since 2003. The
company’s lease enables it to centralize three
growing divisions, including Boeing Capital, Boeing
Aircraft-on-Ground Operations and Boeing Flight
Test. Its hangar space at SCLA serves as a facility
for aircraft modifications, as well as repairs for
Boeing’s global customers. The space also acts as
a hub for installation of equipment on new aircraft.
businessclimate.com/victor-valley
|| 15
Powering the Future
GE’s Flight Test Operations
division is flying two Boeing
747s at SCLA to test GE’s
next generation of jet engines,
including the LEAP, the
GE9X and the Passport. The
engines represent significant
advancements in power
and efficiency.
With a fan diameter of 134
inches, the GE9X is the largest
jet engine ever built. The LEAP
engine is designed to provide
double-digit improvements in
fuel consumption and emissions
of carbon dioxide. The Passport
engine will power Bombardier’s
ultra-long-range Global 7000
and Global 8000 jets.
“We are ramping up our
resources in Victorville,” says
Hsin-Yi Yen, GE’s engineering
manager at SCLA. “It’s an
amazing time to be here.”
SCLA, located just 90 minutes
from Los Angeles, is also home
to aviation companies such as
Pacific Aerospace Resources &
Technologies, Pratt & Whitney,
and Leading Edge Aviation,
along with a production facility
for Adelanto-based Exquadrum,
which designs and develops
rocket technology for high-profile
defense and aerospace clients.
The former site of George
Air Force Base, SCLA has been
transformed into a multi-industry
center through the management
of the city of Victorville in
partnership with Stirling Capital –
the company selected to redevelop
the base property. In addition
to aviation companies, Global
Access-Victorville is home to
manufacturing and distribution
operations for companies like
Newell Rubbermaid, Dr Pepper
Snapple Group, Plastipak
Packaging, Inc. and Mars Chocolate.
Creating Jobs, Opportunity
The benefits of SCLA’s success
extend far beyond the airport’s
grounds, Metzler says.
“The related benefits are that,
with the attraction of new jobs
and major employers, Victor Valley
has a better chance at reducing
our commute shed to down-thehill employers, effectively keeping
our employees local,” Metzler says.
“This helps keep our quality of
life high.”
Roberto Brand, founder and
president of Telexca, an aerospace
components supplier in Apple
Valley, says there are many reasons
firms like his thrive in the region.
Telexca is a third-tier
supplier to the aircraft industry.
It manufactures components
for second-tier suppliers that
specialize in engineered
products like insulation and
high-pressure ducting.
Telexca’s products are used by
Gulfstream, AirBus, Bombardier
and other commercial aircraft
manufacturers, as well as in
military aircraft, such as the B-1
and B-2 bombers, the new F-35
strike jet, the F-22, the F-15
and the F-18.
“Victor Valley offers great
opportunities for any kind of
business, especially in the field
of manufacturing, where space
is always a big factor in growth
and expansion,” Brand says.
“Leasing or buying space here
costs about one third of that
in L.A. or Orange County.”
The region’s labor pool
is another plus for aerospace
suppliers like Telexca,
Brand says.
“There is a high ratio of young
people who are looking for trainee
positions,” Brand says. “Aerospaceoriented industries are always
their first choice in training.”
Major Aerospace Firms With Operations at SCLA
Boeing: Performs aircraft repairs, modifications and equipment
installations at SCLA, which houses three divisions for Boeing.
GE Aviation: Houses a flight-test operations division at SCLA,
where it tests GE’s newest jet engines, including the LEAP, the
GE9X and the Passport.
Pratt & Whitney: Provides aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul
services for several Russian commercial airline companies, as well as
on-wing engine support services for domestic and global customers.
Leading Edge Aviation: Provides aircraft interior and exterior painting;
mod-center painting services support; VIP aircraft interior completions and
exterior paint; aviation graphics; and other services to commercial airliners.
Its facility can house up to two B747-400s and is recognized as one of the
best paint facilities on the West Coast, servicing more than 200 aircraft
per year for customers such as United, Delta and Air Canada.
Pacific Aerospace Resources and Technologies: Operates three
hangars at SCLA, which provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services
for Airbus, Boeing, Embraer, and other leading manufacturers. Pacific
Aerospace is part of a global aviation company specializing in heavy
aircraft maintenance, aircraft modifications, long-term aircraft storage
and aircraft disassembly.
Exquadrum: Operates a production facility at SCLA, where it develops
space launch vehicle designs, tests propulsion systems and provides other
services to government customers such as the U.S. Air Force, the Missile
Defense Agency, and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.
Manufacturing
Magnetic
Force
18 || Victor Valley
M
By John Fuller
anufacturers feel right at
home in the Victor Valley.
Those operating in the region
enjoy business-friendly costs
and incentives, proximity
and transportation links
to western markets, excellent workforce training
programs and ample space to grow.
Some of the biggest names in corporate America
operate production facilities in the area. Victorville’s
2,500-acre Southern Logistics Centre, part of the
Global Access development at the Southern California
Logistics Airport, houses plants for Dr Pepper Snapple
Group, Plastipak Packaging, Inc. and United Furniture
Industries, to name a few.
The city’s 233-acre, rail-served Foxborough
Industrial Park is home to operations for all-natural
pet food maker Nutro Products and Church & Dwight
Co., Inc., whose products include laundry detergent
and cat litter for Arm & Hammer brands.
Located less than 100 miles from Los Angeles, the
Victor Valley is a logistical hub between California,
Nevada and Arizona, providing timely delivery of
large products by highway, rail and air transport.
The convergence of major highways like I-15,
U.S. 395 and State Route 18 make it a distribution
focal point for firms like Goodyear Tire & Rubber,
Mars Chocolate, Red Bull, Newell Rubbermaid,
ConAgra Foods, TruBlu Logistics and Wal-Mart.
Welcoming Manufacturers
DMI Victory Builders: Natan Vigna
The Victor Valley’s
location, low costs
and workforce lure
manufacturers of
all sizes
Apple Valley is another fast-growing community
for manufacturing.
“We are finding that those companies that have
moved here are enjoying success and expanding,” says
Orlando Acevedo, economic development manager for
the Town of Apple Valley.
Firms have benefited from workforce development
programs within existing companies and area
colleges, Acevedo says. He notes that the region
is making a concerted effort to recruit companies
that are second- and third-tier providers of products
to major companies in Southern California
and elsewhere.
Apple Valley and nearby communities are
also welcoming new businesses by streamlining
permitting processes that lessen the time it takes
for a company to begin operations.
In 2009, DMI Victory Design moved to Adelanto, which
offers expansion space and proximity to major markets.
businessclimate.com/victor-valley
|| 19
Manufacturing employs more than
80,000 workers in the Victor Valley.
“We have the advantage of large
lots of land, affordable living and
clean air,” says Steve Lantsberger,
economic development director
for the City of Hesperia.
All Victor Valley communities
have dedicated industrial park
space for future growth. Apple
Valley has a 2,800-acre Airport
Business Park adjacent to the
Apple Valley Airport and located
less than 5 miles from I-15.
United Furniture Industries
workers make sofas and
recliners in Victorville.
20 || Victor Valley
Hesperia is home to an
Industrial Rail Park that
connects manufacturers to
the main BNSF Railroad line.
The City of Adelanto has
developed several industrial
parks, which are ready for
manufacturers and logistics
firms to move into right away.
“We are a business-friendly
community with attractive
quality-of-life amenities,” says
City Manager James Hart.
“We have a large amount of
undeveloped land, and that
makes us appealing to companies
that are struggling to grow in
overcrowded areas.”
Sustainable development is
a key objective of city planners
across the region. Adelanto works
closely with Southern California
Edison on energy conservation,
and that partnership has expanded
to all Victor Valley communities
in what is now known as the
High Desert Regional Energy
Leader Partnership.
Low Costs, High Quality
of Life Draw Small Firms
Along with Fortune 500
companies, the Victor Valley is
attractive to small- to mediumsize manufacturers as well. The
area is a hotbed for small,
entrepreneurial shops searching
for a lower cost business location
and a high quality of life.
Manufacturers like DMI Victory
Design, Scott Turbon Mixer and
Northwest Pipe Company are just
a few examples of smaller firms
that are thriving here.
DMI Victory Design moved
into a 45,000-square-foot facility
in Adelanto in 2009 after
outgrowing its space in a large
urban area. The company designs
and builds customized
architectural materials, including
fiberglass molding installations,
for restaurants, retail centers,
hotels and more. Its work adorns
buildings from massive casinos on
the Las Vegas Strip to restaurants
operated by The Cheesecake
Factory nationwide.
“We were looking to grow, and
Adelanto and the High Desert
area gave us that opportunity,”
says Bonnie Pappas, corporate
secretary for DMI Victory Design,
noting that the company is
already looking to add more
space to its operation.
“When we moved here, 33
of our 35 employees at the time
were able to move with us because
of the more affordable housing
and cost of living here,” Pappas
says. “Because we do a great deal
of work in Los Angeles and Las
Vegas, this location is ideal.”
Made in
Victor Valley
Manufacturing Scorecard
Riverside-San Bernardino
(Current and Three-Year Forecast)
Current Employment:
85,447
Aviation/aerospace components
(Reid Products, Telexa, Exquadrum)
Average Annual Wages:
$48,070
Average Annual
Percent Growth:
1.3%
Employment Concentration:
0.79
Source: San Bernardino County 2014 Community Indicators Report
Beverages
(Dr Pepper Snapple Group,
Plastipak Packaging Inc.)
Building materials
(CEMEX USA, TIMCO Truss, DMI
Victory Design)
Furniture
(United Furniture Industries/Simmons
Upholstery brand)
Household products
(Church & Dwight Co., Inc./
Arm & Hammer brand)
Pet food
(Nutro Products)
businessclimate.com/victor-valley
|| 21
transportation
Highway
Hub
T
Investments
in road
enhancements
boost
logistics
appeal
for the
Victor Valley
By John Fuller
he Victor Valley
region is in the
midst of a
transformation
that could put it
on the map as a
major transportation hub. With
highways like Interstate 15, U.S.
Route 395 and State Route
18 passing through the area,
companies shipping goods from
the Victor Valley are within a
day’s drive to key western markets,
as well as Canada and Mexico.
Rail and air access are also
plentiful here. Two Class I
railroads, Union Pacific and
BNSF, run through the area, and
the location offers easy access
to major airports in Southern
California. The 5,000-acre
Southern California Logistics
Airport and Logistics Centre
at Global Access-Victorville
provides world-class air cargo
access and commercial and
industrial capabilities competitive
with any part of the nation, and
future plans include a rail business
park nearby.
22 || Victor Valley
Several highway improvements
are in the works that will enhance
the region’s reputation as a
transportation and logistics hub.
“We have tremendous
advantages geographically,” says
Mike Podegracz, city manager
of Hesperia. “With many highway
improvements under way and
planned, it will make our region
even more attractive to business
and cut commuting time for
those coming and going to
the High Desert.”
Highway Projects to
Improve Flow, Access
Several of these projects focus
on improving traffic flow in and
out of the region.
The Ranchero Road
Interchange project in Hesperia
will connect major roads to I-15
with a full-service interchange.
The road consists of three
through lanes in each direction,
along with additional turn lanes
at the freeway ramp connections.
The Yucca Loma Bridge project,
one of the most anticipated road
improvement efforts, will connect
Yucca Loma Road in Apple Valley
with Green Tree Boulevard in
Victorville. The bridge will span
the Mojave River and BNSF
Railroad tracks, bringing greater
east-west access to the region.
A recently completed interchange
on I-15 in Victorville has improved
both residential and business
access, as well as overall operation
of the freeway. The
$324 million Devore Interchange
along I-15 at the Southern entrance
to the Victor Valley is expected
to greatly reduce congestion and
accidents, while also improving
freeway operation.
Enhancements include added
truck lanes for more efficient
movement of cargo along this
heavily traveled interchange,
which is impacted by freight
movement, recreational
vehicles and commuters.
Running through the Cajon
Pass, this highway is one of only
three routes into and out of
Greater Southern California.
Along with serving as a primary
Distance to Markets
from the Victor Valley
10
1. Anaheim, Calif.: 76 miles/SW
2. San Diego, Calif.: 143 miles/SW
3. Las Vegas, Nev.: 197 miles/NE
4. Phoenix, Ariz.: 361 miles/E
7
6
5
9
3
1
2
5. San Jose, Calif.: 391 miles/N
6. San Francisco, Calif.: 456 miles/NW
4
8
7. Salt Lake City, Utah: 608 miles/NE
8. Albuquerque, N.M.: 704 miles/E
9. Denver, Colo.: 935 miles/NE
10 Portland, Ore.: 991 miles/N
corridor for moving goods to
key markets, it is the route to
recreation destinations, such as
Las Vegas and the Colorado River.
“These projects will help
generate jobs and bring economic
expansion to the Victor Valley and
Southern California,” says Tim
Watkins, chief of legislative and
public affairs for San Bernardino
Associated Governments. “This
is one of the major goods-moving
corridors in the nation. We are
extremely excited to be putting
these kinds of investments into
the region.”
Plans for a High
Desert Corridor
An exciting future project that
will markedly benefit the region
is the High Desert Corridor, which
will connect Antelope Valley in
Los Angeles County with the
Victor Valley.
The purpose of the HDC is
to improve east-west mobility
within the High Desert region of
Southern California. In addition
to the 65-mile corridor highway,
a high-speed rail connection and
bikeway are also being considered.
The cost of the project is estimated
to range between $3 billion and
$5 billion, and construction is
expected to span several years.
“The High Desert Corridor
would be a huge, good improvement
for the region,” says Brad Miller,
engineer for the Town of Apple
Valley. Most goods moving out
of Southern California ports
must go through I-15, Miller
says, and the corridor would
create a more efficient eastwest route.
“The construction of the HDC
has prompted a number of
companies to look at the Victor
Valley region as a logical staging
area for their goods,” says Miller,
noting that the region’s industrial
parks and available land are
readily available to them.
In addition to a tremendous
job creator, the HDC will provide
a more efficient and fast way for
commuters to get into and out
of the Victor Valley for work.
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businessclimate.com/victor-valley
|| 23
Energy
Cities in the Victor Valley are using
alternative energy sources to help
reduce costs and conserve resources.
24 || Victor Valley
Power
Player
The Victor Valley harnesses
natural resources to
enhance sustainability
in the desert region
W
By Gary Wollenhaupt
ith plenty of sunshine and a
need to conserve water, the
Victor Valley is pioneering
sustainable approaches
to managing natural
resources for the future.
In Southern California, water management is a
top priority, and the Mojave Water Agency (MWA)
is enhancing sustainability in this area with its
Regional Recharge and Recovery project. The
$54 million R 3 project delivers water from the
California Aqueduct in Hesperia to area recharge
sites to replenish the drinking water supply. The
project began pumping water in 2013, with the
first delivery to the city of Victorville. The city
was able to virtually eliminate use of its treatment
plants, reducing water treatment costs and
balancing demand on the aquifer.
“It was designed around our needs as defined
by a coalition of diverse stakeholders, and they
wanted a comprehensive water supply project that
would provide a drought-proof and sustainable
water supply to the entire region,” says Kirby Brill,
general manager.
Overall, MWA has spent more than $160 million
on capital projects in its 490,000-square-mile area,
and expects to invest an additional $4.9 million over
the next five years.
To gather data on water sources and demand,
the agency uses aerial photos made with multispectral
and infrared cameras that can accurately measure
the presence and flow of water both on the surface
and below. That data can pinpoint water use and
guide decisions on finding new sources and
managing consumption.
MWA also encourages water conservation
through the Cash for Grass program, which offers
50 cents per square foot for turf removed from
businessclimate.com/victor-valley
|| 25
residences, and is stepping up incentives for
commercial/industrial projects with a new
offer of $1 per square foot of turf removed.
Area utilities are also providing incentives for
energy efficiency through rebates for homeowners
and commercial customers. Southwest Gas offers
consumers rebates on certain home upgrades, such
as tankless water heaters and certain types of
cooking appliances. Southern California Edison also
offers rebates on qualifying appliance purchases, as
well as whole-home upgrades, including insulation
and high-efficiency heating and cooling systems.
Solar and wind projects continue to thrive in the
region, including one completed in 2014 by sPower
in Victorville, which will generate enough solar
energy to power more than 4,000 homes per year.
Local governments welcome well-planned
renewable energy projects that respect the
local community.
“We recognize the economic progress they bring,
and we look for the right projects in the right
location,” says Robert Lovingood, First District
Supervisor of San Bernardino County. “We evaluate
projects on their individual merit and where they
will lie in the communities.”
sPower has broken ground on another project in
Victorville, an 8.3 MW solar power project, under
a program to promote wholesale distributed power
generation to support the electrical grid.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and
Power’s Adelanto Solar Project provides 10 MW
of power in the Mojave Desert to meet the needs of
3,300 homes a year for up to 25 years. In Victorville,
a power plant that features a unique hybrid of
natural gas and solar parabolic mirror technology
generates electrical output of 570 MW.
In Hesperia, a SunEdison’s 1.7 MW rooftop solar
project will provide energy for 20 years via a power
purchase agreement with Southern California Edison
from solar panels mounted on a leased rooftop.
Biogas is another resource that’s been given new
sustainable use in the region. In 2014, Victor Valley
Wastewater Reclamation Authority opened the
Omnivore Biogas Renewable Energy Project. Biogas
produced from food waste and sewage powers the
plant, while diverting tons of garbage from landfills.
It’s the first of its kind in the U.S., and the second
anywhere, according to general manager Logan
Olds. The only other one in operation is in Denmark.
“We will make 100 percent of the energy we need,”
Olds says. “The project will save about $9 million
over the term of the project, which we were able to
do by entering into a power purchase agreement
with a private firm.”
Wind Turbine: ©istock.com/tazytaz
Relying on Renewables
Renewable Resources
By the Numbers
Solar and wind energy systems are growing in the Victor Valley.
Among the larger projects are:
$160M
ÌÌ The Apple Valley Wal-Mart Distribution Center installed more than
5,300 ground-mounted solar panels that supply 1 megawatt (MW) of
electricity – the equivalent of powering 175 homes.
Investment by the Mojave Water Agency
on capital projects promoting water
sustainability in its 500,000-square-mile
area, with $4.9 million more planned
over the next five years.
ÌÌ Cement giant CEMEX USA commissioned four wind turbines to power
its cement plant in Victorville and quarry in Apple Valley, generating
enough energy to power 1,500 households.
ÌÌ Victor Valley College operates a solar power plant with a concentrator
photovoltaic system that generates 1 MW to power campus facilities –
about 30 percent of the college’s electricity demands.
ÌÌ The Federal Bureau of Prisons at Federal Correctional Institution in
Victorville has a 750kW wind turbine and a 75kW solar station on the roof
of parking lot coverings.
The $54 million R project delivers water
from the California Aqueduct in Hesperia to
area recharge sites to replenish the drinking
water supply.
3
$9M
Costs saved by new biogas renewable
energy technology used at Victor
Valley Wastewater Reclamation
Authority’s treatment plant
17,000 kW
Energy added to the electricity grid
by residential solar installations in
San Bernardino County in 2013
Working Together to Educate
Our Students for Their Future
education
Cradle to
Careers
I
Industry and higher education
leaders create educational
pathways to help students
pursue careers
By Bill Lewis
nnovative partnerships
between schools and
businesses throughout
the Victor Valley are
strengthening the
economy by creating
pathways that prepare students
for careers within top industries.
“The earlier we engage students
in career exploration and help
them define a career pathway,
which includes an educational
plan, the more successful they are
going to be,” says Roger Wagner,
superintendent and president of
Victor Valley College (VVC).
VVC has developed a partnership
with Park University that ensures
VVC graduates get full credit for
their two-year degree when they
transfer to the university. The
university also has a new satellite
campus at VVC, where students
can acquire credits toward a
bachelor’s degree. Not only
does the partnership provide
students with easier access to a
four-year program, but it also
gives them the expectation of
higher incomes and rewarding
careers with local employers
upon graduation.
“Not often considered but
extremely important is the fact
that if we educate locally, we are
more likely to keep those students
and their skills locally,” Wagner
says. “Students who continue
beyond the associate degree are
likely to have earnings nearly
75 percent higher than someone
holding only a high school diploma.
Developing and keeping degree
holders is critically important
to maintaining and growing our
local economy.”
Pathways to Success
Local employers and schools
are also forming partnerships
to create career pathways,
says Thomas Hoegerman,
superintendent of the Apple
Valley Unified School District.
Groups such as Opportunity
High Desert and business partners
throughout the region are working
with Victor Valley schools to boost
educational attainment. One such
example is Adelanto-based
Exquadrum, a research and
development engineering firm that
is helping local school districts set
up precision machining academies.
Exquadrum CEO Eric Schmidt
“has a real vision for what a schoolindustry partnership should look
like,” Hoegerman says.
At Apple Valley High School,
businessclimate.com/victor-valley ||
29
Victor Valley students get hands-on training
in STEM (science, technology, engineering
and math) courses at area schools.
30 || Victor Valley
precision machining is part of
a STEAM pathway that provides
students with a hands-on
background in science, technology,
engineering, art (3-D design) and
math, Hoegerman says.
The program is part of the Apple
Valley Engineering Extension
program, which is flourishing with
the support of the private sector.
“Local industry has been
instrumental in guiding the
program’s design and helping
to purchase tooling, write
curriculum and train staff,”
Hoegerman says. “Further, local
experts have served as mentors,
provided internships and given
tours of facilities for students.
This partnership has served as
a model for career exposure and
program advisory in the High
Desert region.”
Victor Valley is also home to
the new Barstow STEM Academy,
a magnet school in the Barstow
Unified School District that
focuses on providing students in
Science Class: ©Monkey Business/Dollar Photo Club
Victor Valley College is part of the
California Community College system
and enrolls over 13,000 students.
fifth through eighth grades with an
accelerated education in science,
technology, engineering and math.
Seamless Training
Another initiative, the RAMP
UP project, is intended to bring
community colleges, employers,
public schools and other
organizations together to help
students plan their careers.
Funded by a $15 million California
Career Pathways Trust grant, the
project is a career and technical
training program that will use
technology as one of the primary
tools to bridge courses between
public schools, VVC and other
area community colleges,
VVC’s Wagner says.
RAMP UP focuses on
“seamless career technical
training programs” that start
in high school, continue through
college and result in jobs within
five career pathways, he says.
These pathways include
automotive/diesel maintenance,
aviation maintenance, energy
and utilities, health care and
manufacturing and design – all
fields expected to bring high-wage,
and high-growth jobs to the region.
Interactive teleconferencing
classrooms are being developed
for each of the RAMP UP school
partners. These classrooms will
bring facilitated cooperative classes
and virtual workplace learning
experiences for students across
the region. Employers will also
have the ability to interact
directly with students, creating
opportunities for virtual field trips.
“This pairing of community
college faculty and high school
teachers will allow for collaboration
on everything from aligning
pathway curriculum to outfitting
practical labs with an appropriate
inventory of career technical
equipment,” Wagner says.
STEM-related degrees awarded
by public and private two- and
four-year institutions in San
Bernardino County:
Bachelor’s: 381
Associate: 830
= 50 degrees
Source: National Center for Education
Statistics, 2012-2013
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www.aaa.com
Alaska USA Business
& Commercial Services
www.alaskausa.org/biz
American Pacific Mortgage
www.americanpacmortgage.com
Apple Valley Unified
School District
www.avusd.org
Azusa Pacific University
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32 || Victor Valley
Ballard Rehabilitation
www.ballardrehab.com
Excelsior
www.excelsior.com
San Joaquin Valley College
www.sjvc.edu
Choice Medical Group
– Choice Physicians Network
www.choicemg.com
Foremost Senior Campus
www.foremostseniors.com
Southwest Gas Corporation
www.swgasliving.com/vvcc
High Desert Community Foundation
www.hdcfoundation.org
St. Mary Medical Center
www.stmarynetwork.org
Courtyard by Marriott
www.courtyard.com/onths
ISU Insurance Services
ARMAC Agency
www.isu-armac.com
Stirling Capital Investments
www.stirlingdevelopment.com
Desert Valley Hospital
www.dvmc.com
Mitsubishi Cement Corporation
www.mitsubishicement.com
Encore Education Corporation
www.encorehighschool.com
Mojave Water Agency
www.mojavewater.org
City of Victorville
www.victorvillecity.com
Victor Valley College
www.vvc.edu
Victor Valley Global
Medical Center
www.vvgmc.com
Economic profile
Victor Valley:
Major Population
Centers
442,497
Victorville:
Population
121,096
Regional
Labor Force
Top Production-Based
Employers in Victor Valley
1,000+
Hesperia:
92,147
103,800
Apple Valley:
70,924
Average
Household Income
$58,846
Adelanto:
31,304
Barstow:
23,219
200+
100+
Cost of Living
Average for Victor Valley cities: 96
Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif. (metro): 123
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif. (metro):
129
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif. (metro): 133
Orange County, Calif. (metro): Apple Valley Distribution Center
143
Income and Housing
$$ Median
Household Income:
Median Home
Sale Price:
$$ Median Rent
for a 2BR Apartment:
$47,128
$112,833
$850
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Plastipak
Packaging, General Atomics, CEMEX, Pacific
Aerospace Resources and Technologies,
Leading Edge Aviation Services, United
Furniture Industries
Arizona Pipeline Company, Northwest
Pipe Company, Newell Rubbermaid, Robar
Enterprises, Goodyear Tires, Church & Dwight
Co., Inc., Nutro Products, TXI-Riverside Cement
Company, Mitsubishi Cement Corporation
Sources: U.S. Census QuickFacts, FindTheData
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Livability
Johnson Valley in San Bernardino
County offers 180,000 acres of space
for off-roading in one of the largest
OHV areas in the country.
34 || Victor Valley
Work
Hard,
Play
Harder
Awe-inspiring landscapes and
diverse recreation enhance the
Victor Valley’s quality of life
businessclimate.com/victor-valley
|| 35
The Victor Valley’s landscape suits outdoor
lovers with parks and places for biking,
hiking and ziplining throughout the area.
R
By Teree Caruthers
ecreation is
integral to the
quality of life
in the Victor
Valley. From
hiking, biking
and horseback riding to skiing
and extreme sports, the region
offers a diverse landscape that
attracts everyone from the nature
lover to the adventure seeker.
The High Desert area of
Southern California boasts some
of the most breathtaking vistas
and challenging hiking, biking
and ATV trails in the nation,
along with top ski resorts in
Wrightwood, Snow Valley and
Big Bear – all within an hour’s
drive of the area.
Recreation From Mild to Wild
“You’re basically equal distance
from several world-class hiking
and biking destinations,” says
Ryan Orr, a 30-year-old marketing
professional who works in Apple
Valley. “You’re 45 minutes from
the San Bernardino Mountains
and Big Bear Lake. You’re 45
minutes from the San Gabriel
Mountains and Wrightwood,
both of which host some of the best
ski resorts in Southern California.”
Big Bear Lake is a favorite
destination for outdoor
enthusiasts who want a place to
play year round. Summers offer
fishing, boating, hiking and
horseback riding, while winter
ushers in world-class skiing and
snowboarding on slopes with a
650-foot drop.
Avid bikers and hikers like
Orr can choose from more than
100 trails in the San Bernardino
Forest, with varying degrees of
difficulty, from easy to the extreme
alpine trails in the Lucerne Valley.
Many of the region’s trails are part
of the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,799mile trail that begins in Mexico
and ends in Canada, skirts Silver
36 || Victor Valley
Wood Lake, winds through the
San Gabriel Mountains, then
resurfaces on the other side of
Lancaster. The trail was featured
in the newly released 2014 movie
Wild, starring Reese Witherspoon.
Adrenaline junkies can get
their fix ziplining or rappelling
in Wrightwood or off-roading
at El Mirage Dry Lake, Dumont
Dunes, Stoddard Valley or Johnson
Valley OHV Area, one of the
country’s largest areas for offhighway vehicles. The varied
terrain – with elevations reaching
4,600 feet above sea level – lends
itself to riders of all skill levels.
“Being in the High Desert
region, the possibilities to go where
ever you want and do whatever you
want are endless,” Orr says. “If you
want to do it, you can drive within
an hour-and-a-half and be at one
of the best destinations on earth.”
A Community That
Plays Together
At the local level, the parks
and recreation departments
of Hesperia, Victorville, Apple
Valley and Adelanto invest
heavily in preserving the region’s
open spaces and providing
residents with a range of outdoor
and indoor recreational options.
The town of Hesperia boasts
eight community parks, including
Lime Street Park and Community
Center, which includes a public
swimming pool, skate plaza and
dog park. The recreation and
park district also offers options
specifically designed for kids,
such as the Timberlane Park
and Youth Activity Center and
the Epicentre teen center. The
most recent addition to Hesperia’s
recreation roster is the Hesperia
BMX track at Live Oak Park, which
hosts training clinics and racing
events for racers of all ages.
“We provide these facilities
and programs for leisure time and
conservation of outdoor spaces and
promoting healthy lifestyles,” says
Brandon McAnulty, recreation
supervisor for the Hesperia
Recreation & Parks District. “With
the amount of sunshine we get in
this area, you can pretty much use
our parks 365 days of the year.”
Mojave Narrows Regional
Park in Victorville is a favorite
destination for families, with
year-round fishing in Horseshoe
Lake, hiking, biking and equestrian
trails, a water play area for kids as
well as overnight camping sites.
Apple Valley’s parks and recreation
department offers a range of
organized activities, classes and
events – from yoga for expectant
mothers and senior fitness groups
to baking classes and Tae kwon do.
Apple Valley is also known for its
equestrian centers and 22-acre
Aquatic Center, which features
a junior Olympic-sized pool.
“Recreation is important for
community,” says Ralph Wright,
parks and recreation manager
for the Town of Apple Valley.
“Our world has turned into this
amazingly fast-paced place,
so being able to get out and
enjoy nature and each other
is important to the growth of
the community and to each
individual family.”
75%
The High
Desert’s Largest
Independent
Insurance
Brokerage Firm
COMMERCIAL
INSURANCE
Commercial
Property
Commercial
General Liability
Commercial Auto
Workers’
Compensation
Professional
Liability
Excess/
Umbrella Liability
17177 Yuma St.
Victorville, CA 92395
760-241-7900
www.ISU-ARMAC.com
CA License 0C26179
Percentage of residents in
San Bernardino County
who live within one mile of
a local park and within five
miles of a regional, state
or national park.
businessclimate.com/victor-valley
|| 37
Health Care
Promising
Prognosis
W
hospitals
expand
to meet
community
needs
By Teree Caruthers
hen it
comes to
health,
residents
in the
Victor
Valley can expect cutting-edge care
and a roster of services thanks to
ongoing growth among the region’s
three major health-care providers:
Victor Valley Global Medical Center,
Desert Valley Hospital and St.
Joseph Health, St. Mary.
“Quality of life often starts with
health; it’s hard to enjoy the things
around you if you are suffering from
a preventable ailment,” says Ryan
Orr, director of communication and
marketing for St. Joseph Health,
St. Mary. “Access to quality health
care is on par with the importance
of good public schools and low crime
rates when families are looking to
settle in a new place.”
Growing Stronger Every Day
St. Joseph Health, St. Mary is
committed to addressing chronic
conditions, such as diabetes, heart
disease and childhood obesity. The
hospital’s Diabetes Education
Center, for example, is an American
Diabetes Association-recognized
self-management education
program that instructs patients
on nutrition, exercise, medications
and mental health issues that can
arise from the condition.
St. Joseph Health, St. Mary
also offers clinics and screenings,
and partners with municipal
organizations to develop fitness
events. Over the next five years,
the medical group plans to invest
$288 million to define the future
of quality health care in the Victor
Valley for generations to come.
Those investments include
new urgent care facilities, an
outpatient imaging center and
a new Victorville Oasis Campus,
which is slated to offer several
outpatient services.
“Our mission statement
specifically accounts for raising
the health profile of the Victor
Valley region, which would
account for using resources as
responsibly as possible to keep
our residents healthy,” Orr says.
“We will continue to do what is
necessary to meet the demands
of our residents, while carrying
out the best quality of care.”
Heart Smart Services
Heart disease is a growing
concern for an aging population,
and the Heart & Cardiac Care
Center at Desert Valley Hospital
brings together a team of the
region’s top cardiologists, cardiac
and vascular surgeons, and
interventional radiologists, along
with state-of-the-art equipment,
to prevent and treat a range of
cardiovascular diseases and
conditions. The center specializes
in heart surgery, robotic thoracic
procedures, valve repair and
treatments for atrial fibrillation,
among other procedures.
Since becoming a part of the
KPC Global Medical Group, Victor
Valley Global Medical Center
(VVGMC) expanded its services
through sister facilities to include
bariatric surgery and an orthopedic
and spine institute. The medical
center – the only hospital in the
region fully accredited by both
the Healthcare Facilities
Accreditation Program and The
Joint Commission – also plans to
open a new urgent care center in
Victorville, as well as add rehab
services and additional orthopedic
and neurology services to its
Victorville campus.
To accommodate a rising
number of patients, Kaiser
Permanente opened a new,
businessclimate.com/victor-valley
|| 39
8,700-square-foot medical facility in
Victorville that houses nine doctors
specializing in family and pediatric
medicine, internal medicine,
allergy and physical therapy.
Promoting a Healthy Economy
Growth in services mirrors
the region’s population growth,
says Lovella Sullivan, marketing
director for Victor Valley Global
Medical Center. Over the last two
years, VVGMC hospital has nearly
doubled its employee base from
about 440 to more than 730, which
has also had a positive impact on
the region’s economy, Sullivan says.
Orr also emphasizes the link
between growth at St. Joseph,
St. Mary and growth of the Victor
Valley economy.
“As the largest private employer
in the High Desert, these ventures
will continue to create economic
opportunities for professionals
looking to break into the medical
field,” he says. “We continue to use
local vendors at every possible turn,
and will continue to support the
same stability that St. Mary has
been a part of since 1956, during
which time the region’s population
has more than quadrupled.”
As Sullivan points out, “a
healthy hospital is a healthy
community is a healthy economy.”
Accolades for Victor Valley Hospitals
In 2014, Desert Valley Hospital was recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of 50
hospitals in the nation with the lowest heart failure mortality rates. Truven Health Analytics
also included the hospital on its Top 100 Hospitals list in 2013 for excellent patient care.
Victor Valley Global Medical Center ranked among the top 10 in the Leadership
500 Excellence Awards at the 2014 Global Leadership Excellence Forum for its leadership
development achievements. In 2014, the hospital also received The Joint Commission’s
Gold Seal of Approval for its commitment to providing the highest level of patient care.
In 2013, St. Joseph, St. Mary was among 5 percent of hospitals nationwide to be
designated a Baby-Friendly hospital by Baby-Friendly USA.
Ad Index
33 AAA Auto Club of Southern California
4 Alaska USA Business & Commercial Services
32 American Pacific Mortgage
28 Apple Valley Unified School District
5 Azusa Pacific University
23 Ballard Rehabilitation
40 Choice Medical Group – Choice Physicians Network
6 Excelsior
6 Foremost Senior Campus
32 High Desert Community Foundation
37 ISU Insurance Services ARMAC Agency
4 Mitsubishi Cement Corporation
16-17 Mojave Water Agency
32 San Joaquin Valley College
27 Southwest Gas Corporation
C2-C3 City of Victorville
21 St. Mary Medical Center
1 Courtyard by Marriott
13 Stirling Capital Investments
C4 Desert Valley Hospital
31 Victor Valley College
38 Victor Valley Global Medical Center
2 Encore Education Corporation