MEDICAL

Kaiser Permanente’s new 386,000-square-foot Ontario Medical Center is set to open in 2011 providing affordable, high quality health care services to the rapidly expanding West End of the Inland Empire Service area. The 224-bed medical center will employ approximately 600 people. Primary care services will include family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics/gynecology along with many specialty services.

OFFICE

Ontario Airport Towers, developed by PGP Partners, is now 89% occupied which is a strong indicator in Ontario’s ongoing attraction, despite a challenging office leasing market. The six-story class A office tower is representative of the high-quality office buildings and emerging headquarters submarket that has been a focus for healthcare, education, and financial services industries. The office tower, located at I-10 freeway and Archibald Avenue, encompasses 147,729 square feet with two major tenants West Coast University and California Credit Union League. As GlobeSt.com previously reported, construction on the first 150,000 square feet of office space at the 850,000-square-foot Airport Towers office and retail project began in September 2007.

INNOVATION

This fall, Wheego will begin delivery of the Wheego LiFe, a crash-tested, highway-ready all-electric vehicle. The LiFe will go approximately 100 miles on a charge, and runs on state-of-the-art lithium batteries from California-based Flux Power. Wheego is poised to be the first company to deliver an affordable all-electric car across the US. Wheego’s engineering center and final assembly operation are located in Ontario.

RETAIL

As GlobeSt.com previously reported, Ontario is investing $4.5 million of redevelopment agency funds into Ontario Mills, one of California’s largest outlet and value retail shopping destination. The investment is part of a proactive collaboration with The Mills, a Simon Co., which owns Ontario Mills, which will add new stores, create jobs, and enhance the Ontario Mills shopping experience. Ontario Mills will be adding a greatly expanded Forever 21 and Burlington Coat Factory, plus the addition of Sports Authority, as well as more convenient entrances and extra parking. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2011 with completion set for 2012. The new investment also represents hundreds of new jobs.

LOGISTICS

Home Depot will open its new 667,000-square-foot Rapid Deployment Distribution Center in Ontario this December. The new distribution center will create 300 new jobs. ProLogis is developing the new distribution center located on 55 acres within Crossroads Business Park in Ontario.

TRANSPORTATION

The City of Ontario is also proactively pursuing local control of Ontario International Airport. The City recently released an in-depth analysis providing the first comprehensive look at why “there is grave reason for concern” about the future of what should be a major component of the region’s air transportation system. As airline traffic rebounds and LAX approaches its practical capacity based on ground access and facilities, the region's need for a fully developed and healthy ONT will become increasingly important.

“It’s no small feat to have companies such as Home Depot, Wheego, and Kaiser Permanente making investments in our City and bringing greater economic opportunity to this region,” says Mayor Leon. “These companies are creating local jobs, which mean more people can now invest locally in homes, shopping and dining, and creating even more business growth.”

Ontario’s success today stems from its strong planning coupled with competitive fundamentals that include housing and building affordability; a strong and diverse workforce; a strategic logistics infrastructure of roadways, railways and airport; and a central Southern California location.

Long term vision has been central to the City’s ability to withstand the impact of current economic cycles, according to a prepared statement. “Ontario’s web-based general plan proactively supports the City’s expected population and jobs growth over the next 30 years. The true value of The Ontario Plan is that it supports the Ontario vision for a complete community which provides housing, jobs, education, shopping and services, culture, and recreation for people at all ages and socioeconomic levels.”

Mayor Leon adds that “When you look at the diversity of industries growing in Ontario, you can understand the value of the complete community concept. We’re creating and encouraging economic opportunity at all levels, and that is the difference to succeeding in this economy, now and for the long-term.”