Help the City of Corona Set ONTario Free!
5/16/2012
The City of Corona Mayor and City Council urge our business community to become active in the Region’s campaign to regain local control of Ontario International Airport (ONT) and “free” it from the neglect of the City of Los Angeles.
Over the last 20 years, the City of Corona has proudly become a hub for aeronautics, aftermarket auto accessories, food processing, and R&D for medical technology. Like the City of Ontario, Corona offers headquarters and west coast operations centers for many Fortune 500 firms. One of our competitive advantages is the ability of our business community to connect nationally and internationally utilizing Ontario International Airport. Unfortunately, as ONT has declined, so has our ability to capitalize upon this regional asset, especially as it supports our commitment to economic development and job growth.
The Ontario International Airport is currently owned and operated by the City of Los Angeles and is intended to offer low cost alternatives for air travel. Unfortunately, ONT is no longer able to be competitive due to high operating costs and excessive fees on the airlines. Passenger traffic is down 37%, destinations and departures are down 56%, and most of the low cost carriers have fled ONT and settled at LAX and other less expensive airports. The neglect of ONT has cost the region 9,250 jobs and has a negative economic impact of $500 million annually.
With fewer flight options at ONT, companies must move personnel and commerce through LAX and other Southern California airports. This increases freeway congestion and creates challenges for Corona businesses searching for geographic proximity to transportation and logistics resources.
If your business values regionalization, local control, and economic development, please consider creating a letter of support for publication on the “Set ONTario Free” website and distribution to Los Angeles, State and Federal officials. Examples of support letters are available on the website.
Here are some additional ways the business community can become involved in the Set ONTario Free campaign:
2. Sign the online petition to express your support of local control.
3. Like the campaign on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SetONTarioFree
4. Call your Local, State and Federal elected officials and encourage them to take a position of support.
5. Encourage your professional associations to take a formal position of support!
For more information, you can contact the “Set ONTario Free” Airport Transition Team at 909-395-2010 or SetOntarioFree@ci.ontario.ca.us.
Together with our many Southern California partners, we will be able to regain local control of Ontario International Airport and restore the region’s most valuable economic engine and job creator. Set ONTario Free!