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Butte County Tourism
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Sunday, May 11, 2008 |
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Landacorp
"The much higher access to government officials in Butte County definitely helped expedite our expansion."
Bryan Lang moved to Butte County in the early 1980s to complete the CSU, Chico's computer science master's program. Like many alumni, once he'd experienced life in Butte county, he didn't want to leave. He started a computer-consulting firm. That company eventually grew into Landacorp, a manufacturer of medical management software that meets the administrative needs of payers and providers.
Lang launched the first software system in 1985, then, won a contract with the British government to develop a similar product for the United Kingdom. When that project was complete, he returned to the United States with a new software system suitable for the insurance market, as well a hospitals. Although Lang could have located his company anywhere, he came back to Butte County.
"People want to stay here," says Landacorp COO/CFO Stephen Kay, who hails from England but finds Butte County's weather and recreational opportunities more to his liking. With communications the way they are today, you can run a business from wherever you are."
The company has stayed in Butte County because CSU, Chico has one of the top computer programs in the country and maintaining close ties with the university allows the company to access as many programmers as it needs. The company participates in the university's intern program, and though demand for CSU, Chico graduates is high, Landacorp's Butte County address offers a distinct advantage when it comes to recruitment. "Our most outstanding interns become permanent employees," says Kay.
Butte County's lower costs, from labor to land, are an advantage to Landacorp, but Kay also expresses his appreciation for local government's pro-business attitude and willingness to accommodate corporate needs.
"They've been very keen to keep us here and help us with our building," says Kay. "The much higher access to government officials that we have here has definitely helped expedite our expansion."
Though Landacorp now has an office on the East Coast, Kay says many of the company's top executives, R&D support, and the training center will always remain in Butte County.
Landacorp's semi-rural location has not been a barrier to growth. The company continues to gain new national customers and maintains a prompt delivery schedule from its Butte County base. And, more importantly, the location has not prevented some of the largest venture capitalists -Sequoia Capital, Bedrock Capital, and Greylock- from getting behind the company.
"Landacorp recently completed a year of major growth, including significant venture capital investment," says Kay. "What should have been a high turnover year yielded an annualized 'churn rate' of only nine percent. We probably have one of the lowest churn rates on R&D of any company in the industry."
Kay attributes this to the area's quality-of-life. "We do lose people to the Bay area now and again," admits Kay, "but we often see them come back. They don't have the chance to enjoy the extra money, if it's all paid out in rent, transportation and other living expenses. It's not hard to attract people -they can simply afford a better lifestyle in Butte County.
"I love the weather and the environment," adds Kay. "It's a great family town -busy when it needs to be and relaxed when you need to chill out."
Company Information
Address:
1072 Marauder
Chico, CA
530-891-0853
Stephen Kay, COO/CFO
Info Management
Product: Medical Management Software
Process: Manufactures medical management software for the administrative functions of payers & providers.
Fast Facts
Employees: 75
Square Footage: 17,500
Customer Base: Distributes across the nation and beyond. Major clients on East Coast.
Top Factors in Site Selection:
1. Software intern programs
2. Lack of turnover
3. Quality of Life
4. Low infrastructure costs
5. Major access to key officials
© Butte County Economic Development Corporation 1999-2001. Any other use must have express permission.
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