Julia Sabin, general manager of Smucker Quality Beverages agrees. "We were ranked as one of the top '100 Best Places to Work in America' by Fortune Magazine. That says a lot about the highly motivated and loyal employees we have here in Butte County."

And Pacific Coast Producers cites the county's willingness to work with companies as an added benefit.

 "We've quadrupled in size over the past 20 years," says Pacific Coast Producers Plant Manager Dan Sroufe. "The county has always been prompt and helpful in meeting our time lines for permits."

The community stands out as a leader with its pro-business attitude. To facilitate the Spectra-Physics move, a fast-track program was introduced and the entire project was permitted within two weeks.

"Within five months from breaking ground, we were shipping product," says Balogh. "The mayor and the city manager would come out once a month to see if there was anything they could do to help."

"The city has been very helpful in accessing government loans for our expansions," says Andy Youngs, CEO of Weaver Manufacturing, LLC, maker of environmental products for the gas station industry. He adds. "And the Enterprise Zone gives us some excellent tax advantages."

Lares Research has found the same pro-business attitude. "They offered us the adjacent property ­no money down for five years ­on a job creation basis," says Lares. "That shows me they're committed to business."