Rep. Mark Takano Leads Inland Empire Delegation Letter Calling for Riverside and San Bernardino Counties to be Designated as a Manufacturing Community

Washington DC – Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano lead a bipartisan letter from the Inland Empire Congressional delegation to the United States Department of Commerce calling for Riverside and San Bernardino counties to be designated as a manufacturing community under the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Program (IMCP). 

 

The letter, signed by Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside), Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Corona), Rep. Judy Chu (D-Pasadena), Rep. Paul Cook (R-Yucca Valley), Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Temecula), Rep. Gary Miller (R-Redlands), Rep. Gloria Negrete McLeod (D-Chino), Rep. Ed Royce (R-Orange), and Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Palm Springs), said, “The Inland Empire Manufacturing Community described in the attached proposal offers the infrastructure and manufacturing strength, supplier networks, workforce, innovation ecosystem, private and government partnership and leadership to maximally benefit from a Manufacturing Community designation.”

 

And later, “The Manufacturing Community offers significant opportunities for fruitful federal investment by the IMCP agencies and will leverage committed future investments and economic development projects underway. Please accept our enthusiastic recommendation of the proposed designation of the Inland Empire as a Manufacturing Community.”

 

The University of California, Riverside Center for Economic Development and Innovation is leading the application, which would give Riverside and San Bernardino counties preferential consideration for up to $1.3 billion in federal dollars and assistance from 10 federal agencies. 

 

 

 

March 5, 2014

 

The Honorable Matt S. Erskine

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development 

U.S. Department of Commerce

1401 Constitution Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20230

 

Dear Mr. Erskine: 

 

We are writing to express our support for the University of California, Riverside (UCR) Proposal for Designation as a “Manufacturing Community” (Docket No. 131121981-3981) in preparation for future federal investments through the Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP).

The Inland Empire Manufacturing Community described in the attached proposal offers the infrastructure and manufacturing strength, supplier networks, workforce, innovation ecosystem, private and government partnership and leadership to maximally benefit from a Manufacturing Community designation.  

In the center of this development is the lead institution, the University of California, Riverside (UCR) and its Center for Economic Development & Innovation (CEDI), which has demonstrated previous and ongoing leadership in coordinating economic development and innovation based activities within the Inland Empire.  This includes earning a recent designation from the State of California as one of 12 Innovation Hubs. UCR’s research and education activity will contribute directly to technical innovation, which will increase efficiencies, economies, and product development. 

The City of Ontario also boasts a medium-hub, full service airport (ONT) with commercial jet service to major US cities and through service to international destinations. In 2012, 4.3 million passengers used the airport and 454,880 tons of airfreight was shipped. ONT is also the center of a developing freight movement system that includes the airport, two railroads, four major freeways, and an expanding network of freight forwarders. ONT is served by U.S. airfreight carriers including Ameriflight, Empire, FedEx, Kalitta, UPS, and West Air.

Beyond this, the Inland Empire is also a thriving “Makers Community,” that serves as an incubator for entrepreneurship. In Murrieta and Temecula, government buildings have been converted into inexpensive space for new companies to rent so they can grow their businesses. In Riverside, companies are beginning to offer makerspace access to students to explore and develop their creativity while allowing small startups access to advanced manufacturing tools.

The Manufacturing Community offers significant opportunities for fruitful federal investment by the IMCP agencies and will leverage committed future investments and economic development projects underway. Please accept our enthusiastic recommendation of the proposed designation of the Inland Empire as a Manufacturing Community.

Sincerely, 

 

Mark Takano 

Member of Congress                                                                     

 

Ken Calvert

Member of Congress

 

Judy Chu

Member of Congress

 

Paul Cook

Member of Congress

 

Duncan Hunter

Member of Congress

 

Gary Miller

Member of Congress

 

Gloria Negrete McLeod

Member of Congress

Ed Royce

Member of Congress

 

Raul Ruiz

Member of Congress

 

cc:  Mr. Ryan Hedgepeth, Office of Performance and National Programs, Economic Development Administration