INSERT BUSINESS NAME
ADDRESS
CITY, STATE and ZIP CODE
PHONE NUMBER
(or print on business letterhead)
INSERT DATE HERE
SUPPORT ENTERPRISE ZONES
INSERT ASSEMBLY MEMBER OR SENATOR NAME HERE
State Capitol
Sacramento, California 95814
Dear TITLE LAST NAME:
I am the [owner, president, etc.] of [insert business name] – a [insert type of business here] located in
[city].
Recently, I was shocked to hear about Governor Jerry Brown’s proposal to eliminate California’s
Enterprise Zones because they are one of the few tools left we have to attract businesses and jobs in
underserved areas of our state.
Our business employs [insert number] workers because we have taken advantage of tax credits available
under the Enterprise Zone program. These jobs would not exist without the investments we made to
locate our business within an Enterprise Zone and help spur the economy in historically distressed areas
of our communities.
As our state grapples with double-digit unemployment levels, now is not the time to eliminate the one
program that helped create more than 92,000 jobs statewide in 2010. Like many other businesses that
take advantage of Enterprise Zone credits, we hire local workers that reinvest in our communities and
help lead a renaissance in these distressed areas. Further, the Enterprise Zone program provides
incentives for our business to hire ex-offenders, public assistance recipients and individuals located in
low-income targeted employment areas. We provide these employees the opportunity they need to
positively change their lives.
I understand you have tough decisions to make related to our state’s current budget deficit. But it is
also important for you to understand the long-term negative effect elimination of Enterprise Zones will
have on our local economy. Should the program be eliminated, we would be forced to decide how to
keep our doors open – thus adding to the unemployment rolls or shuttering them altogether. We
invested in our business here because of the program and ending the incentives mid-term would literally
pull the rug out from under us.
As the budget debate moves forward, I would ask that you remember the positive impacts Enterprise
Zones are making in your legislative district and that you would help us preserve their existence. Should
you need more information on the program please contact me.
Sincerely,
NAME
INSERT BUSINESS NAME
ADDRESS
CITY, STATE and ZIP CODE
PHONE NUMBER
(or print on business letterhead)
INSERT DATE HERE
SUPPORT ENTERPRISE ZONES
INSERT ASSEMBLY MEMBER OR SENATOR NAME HERE
State Capitol
Sacramento, California 95814
Dear TITLE LAST NAME:
As an employer of X constituents in your district, I want to encourage you to oppose Governor Brown’s
proposal to eliminate enterprise zone tax credits as part of his budget solution.
To put it simply, this proposal is not a solution. Not only will our state’s unemployment rate increase,
but also the number of residents utilizing government services like CalWORKS, food stamps and
unemployment benefits.
My business prides itself on being a strong partner with our community. We work to hire people who
have relied on government services, are below the Federal Poverty Line or have struggled in the past to
find employment. We work to invest in the community by hiring local residents who spend their
earnings in other local stores and restaurants. Given the state’s abysmal double-digit unemployment
rate, our ability to hire and retain employees is a testament to the success of enterprise zones.
Moreover, the savings assumed in the governor’s budget are misleading. The budget assumes that the
state will be able to illegally eliminate unused tax credits that companies like ours have carried forward
from previous tax years. This maneuver will be challenged in court and, once determined illegal, will
drastically decrease the assumed budget savings. In fact, the true budget savings for eliminating
enterprise zones is much closer to $100 million, significantly less than the $924 million suggested by the
governor.
When you account for the tax dollars saved by taking more than 18,000 Californians off of some type of
public assistance (CalWORKS, Workforce Improvement Act, Unemployment Benefits, etc.), it is clear that
eliminating enterprise zone tax credits will actually cost the state more money.
Enterprise zones are the only tool local officials have to attract and keep businesses in our state. At a
time when Texas and Arizona are investing more in their enterprise zone programs, we must continue to
support our enterprise zone program in order to keep businesses in California.
We encourage you to keep jobs in California. We encourage you to keep California competitive. We ask
you to please oppose the elimination of the enterprise zone program.
Sincerely,
INSERT BUSINESS NAME
ADDRESS
CITY, STATE and ZIP CODE
PHONE NUMBER
(or print on business letterhead)
INSERT DATE HERE
SUPPORT ENTERPRISE ZONES
INSERT ASSEMBLY MEMBER OR SENATOR NAME HERE
State Capitol
Sacramento, California 95814
Dear TITLE LAST NAME:
I am writing because I strongly believe in California’s Enterprise Zone program.
California’s unemployment rate is over 12%. The state has very few tools to attract new businesses and
help create jobs in local communities, especially in some of the most disadvantaged communities.
Unfortunately, one of these tools, enterprise zones, are threatened by state budget cuts this year.
In 2010, enterprise zones created or retained 10,000 jobs across the state every month. When many
businesses cannot afford to hire new employees, enterprise zones helped create 20,000 new jobs in the
past year alone. When many businesses are laying-off employees, enterprise zone benefits helped more
than 92,000 employees keep their jobs.
Eliminating this program will only increase unemployment, increase the number of Californians reliant
on state-funded services and undermine our attempts at economic recovery. More than 18,000
employees in enterprise zones are previous recipients of some type of public assistance (CalWORKS,
MediCal, unemployment, food stamps, etc.). If enterprise zones are eliminated, many businesses will
downsize and employees will be forced back on government assistance, increasing the burden to
California taxpayers.
I understand that the Governor has a tough job to balance the budget in the midst of a deep deficit.
However, the last thing we should do is eliminate a program that is an important part of economic
recovery and helps to create jobs. We need to focus California’s policies on initiatives that will help spur
growth and positive economic activity, not take away from it.
Sincerely,