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Y-S ENTERPRISE ZONE WINS SUCCESS AWARD

The Yuba-Sutter Enterprise Zone has been named the Success Story of the Year in the small city category, the state Trade and Commerce Agency announced.

The local zone, one of nine enterprise zones to be recognized in 11 categories, also tied for top honors in the award for having the best innovative vouchering system for developing employee tax credits for the businesses within the zone.

The Success Story of the Year award was given for efforts in landing the Yuba County Motorplex and the Bill Graham Presents amphitheatre, projects Trade and Commerce said would "open the way to improve area infrastructure, revive the local economy and create more than 1,500 new jobs."

"It's nice that our peers, as far as our other enterprise zones, have recognized us for our hard work," zone manager Mary Hansen said.

Three finalists in each category were presented to the zone representatives at a recent state conference.  The Yuba-Sutter zone also was a finalist for having the best Web site and in the category for job development/workforce preparation, Hansen said.

Hansen said the award will be another thing the zone can use to show the state why it should be extended another five years in 2001.

The zone was one of the original 10 created by the state in October 1986.  It started at 15 square miles and is now the largest in the state, extending over 73.5 square miles and encompassing more than 1,500 businesses.

"It will help when we go forward to the state (next year) to extend the enterprise zone," Hansen said. "We will be able to show the state not only our awards, but all the other work we have done."