Business

As our economy continues to race forward, we should never lose sight of the speed bumps along the way.

Despite the historic restructuring and transition from a local to a national to a global economy, the journey during the last few years has not been uneventful. National economies have nearly collapsed, sending shock waves through international markets.

It is safe to say that the past may foretell the future. Although everyone agrees that economic growth is necessary, if it is not balanced in a responsible way or if reactionary “fixes” are applied, the consequences will be profound. As VCEDA enters its 50th year, it continues to support our membership in identifying and reacting to the issues of the day in an effort to minimize crises and maximize economic stability. Our Ventura County forecast for 1999 is best summarized as encompassing education, regulation and Y2K.

During the past few months, local educational initiatives ranging from the School to Career program to the creation of Cal State University Channel Islands to expansion at Cal Lutheran University, have been launched. Business supports these initiatives because our community culture has changed and the ability to apply new technologies is the only way to remain competitive. Today’s top business needs are a trained work force and a mechanism for continuous learning. Although partnership between business and education has at times been adversarial, in 1999 we will be judged on our ability to make the marriage work.

Regulation is the antithesis of partnership. Unfortunately, today’s political environment is dysfunctional in that it lacks the knowledge to understand the difference and the will to choose one or the other. Whether we consider the Agricultural Policy Working Group and SOAR--Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources--or the Calleguas Creek Task Force and watershed planning, public-private partnerships are forums with track records of constructively discussing problems and developing solutions.

Although elected officials tend to form new partnering organizations at every opportunity, seldom are those organizations used to develop reasonable regulations, eliminate unreasonable regulations or seek alternatives to regulation. This trend is changing, however, and in 1999 the dialogue between public and private sectors will become less reactionary and more focused and substantive.

Perhaps the most interesting speed bump in 1999 will be Y2K--the notion that the computer systems we take for granted may come to a screeching halt not knowing how to interpret the millennial change of date (19XX versus 2000). If a recession is not caused by Y2K, as a few predict, it may occur when the investment of billions of dollars is no longer required to employ the work force currently trying to fix the problem.

Ventura County is on a positive track. VCEDA’s forecast for 1999 is not without a ripple but is accompanied by our faith that, as always, we have the ability to overcome by working together.