Kinko's, which operates more than 1,100 copying and business-supply centers around the world, has made Ventura—which is about 80 miles north of Downtown LA-its home since 1988. Chief Executive Gary Kusin says the move will save the company money, in part because Texas is closer to more of its stores.

Kusin also says the company will trim its workforce by 350 jobs this week, with 100 of the positions to come from its Ventura headquarters. About 1,000 people currently work at the Ventura facility, though most of those jobs are expected to disappear when the relocation is completed in about a year.

Ventura County officials have been worrying about the fate of Kinko's since August, when Kusin took over as CEO. Kusin formerly headed HQ Global Workplaces Inc., which is based in Texas.

Economic-development officials from Ventura had offered a number of incentives to get Kinko's to stay, including installation of a fiber optic network, street upgrades and other infrastructure improvements. But those offers weren't enough to dissuade the move to Texas, where wages are generally lower and no state income tax is levied.

Kusin says he's negotiating with several cities in the northern part of Texas that are interested in landing the new Kinko's HQ, but he wouldn't identify them. The winning city will be announced next month, Kusin says, and the move should be completed by 2003.