A Blueprint for Growth in Paradise

In 1990, Ventura County leaders laughed when I called Oxnard a paradise. Wasn’t I aware of high taxes, unresponsive leaders, civic strife, defense industries leaving, etc.? Only Southern California Edison Region Manager Mike Montoya and former Greater Oxnard Economic Development Corp. chair George Lauterbach realized I was comparing it with my previous homes.

Some cities seem to have it all. Clean, high-paying jobs, good schools, prosperous agriculture--everything. How do they do it? Can Ventura County grow and remain a paradise?

I offer these suggestions, based on 50 years of community development in 12 locations:

* Learn from successful areas. Carlsbad welcomed my firm 14 years ago. Everything was done for us, similar to Greater Oxnard EDC President Steve Kinney’s efforts there. Connecticut, in contrast, did nothing to retain us because the state was in the middle of a boom. Five years later, with defense in a slump, Connecticut wanted us back. No way!

* Plan ahead. Our new county Economic Development Collaborative is long overdue. The financing, defense conversion initiatives and the formation of clusters are invaluable but must be extended just to keep even with hungry competitors.

* Balance military and industrial income. The Pentagon no longer coddles crybaby cities. We must demonstrate efforts to help ourselves.

* All residents must prosper together. Education must aim for transition programs for new Americans. The Sears automated distribution center in Delano is a model of retraining agricultural workers for computer work.

* Agriculture, tourism and high-tech industries can coexist, as they do in Oxnard and Carlsbad. But our limited industrial acreage must be devoted to industries with the highest balanced benefit per acre.

* Cooperation between neighboring cities is mandatory. Nothing repels a new client more than bickering neighbors.

* Education. California’s education system remains the envy of the world, and Cal State Channel Islands will be our crown jewel. Ventura, Oxnard and Moorpark colleges each have areas of great strength but transferability to four-year curricula must be developed. As Myron Miller and I travel the world, we see the university incubator and the transportation consortium Calstart providing international prestige. (Our windchill factor of 72 degrees helps also.)

* Entrepreneurial skills must be taught and applauded. Many Jaycees chapters offer entrepreneurial courses, as do local colleges. We must celebrate this spirit that makes California unique--the hot-rod attitude we take for granted.

* Think international. Our World Trade Center, under Gary Snyder, offers practical assistance to overcome obstacles that hinder international trade. We need to make the most of the Port of Hueneme; no amount of money could duplicate it in today’s regulatory climate.

Never forget that the semiconductor industry started back East. I couldn’t believe my eyes as it was lured West. The East took its eyes off the ball. That can’t happen in California--can it?

John Mungenast is vice president / technology of Adams Intertec in Ventura. As acting chairman of the semiconductor, power supply and motion control cluster of the Economic Development Collaborative, Ventura County, he welcomes interested parties to the next cluster meeting 3:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday at Camarillo City Hall. For details call 650-7070.

Planning for success, especially in the community, can help to bring it closer.