|
• Case Studies
• Top Employers
• Local Resources
• Page 1
• Page 2
• Page 3
• Page 4
Butte County Tourism
|
 |
|
 |
Thursday, March 11, 2010 |
|
 |
"In Butte County there is room to grow, your costs are lower, turnover goes down and you can be more competitive," says Craig Lares, whose company designs, develops and manufactures advanced technology dental equipment.
While in the Bay Area, Lares Research had spread to three buildings, creating logistic and communication difficulties. Lares wanted the operation under one roof. With plentiful ready-to-go sites, existing large space and a progressive development community, Lares found Butte an attractive solution.
"Land costs in Butte County were about a tenth of the price," says Lares. Since the move, Lares Research has grown from 45 to 120 employees and revenues have more than quadrupled.
Like Lares, Spectra-Physics wanted to drive down costs, achieve a higher quality of life for its employees and stay within a few hours of San Francisco.
True to its scientific origins, the company found the best community by analyzing a ratio analysis of high school test scores against per capita income. From the data emerged one significant anomaly—Butte County.
"Local residents place a higher priority on education," says George Balogh, Vice President/General Manager of Spectra-Physics. Butte County students consistently score higher than the state average on Scholastic Aptitude Tests.
Why? Further investigation provided the company with an answer: California State University, Chico, founded in 1887 as Chico Normal School, had been a driving force for more than a century. Nearly 15,000 students are currently enrolled in the school, which offers more than 129 various degrees. In addition to the university, Butte County also has a leading junior college, Butte College, which offers a variety of programs customized to meet the needs of individual businesses.
|
|
|
|
|