SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA, Dec. 30, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Gregory L. Lee, a veteran economic development specialist, was named head of the Southwest California Economic Alliance, a regional business and job attraction group that includes the cities of Lake Elsinore, Murrieta and Temecula and Riverside County.
He succeeds Stevie Field, who will become a legislative aide responsible for economic development and job creation for newly elected Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone.
Lee will serve as manager of business development for the Alliance, which was formed in 1999. In the last year the Alliance was responsible for the construction of more than 400,000 square feet of industrial space.
The Alliance also recently established a new global identity for the fast-growing region, updated its easy-to-use GIS-based site location system, created a local job data base so commuters could find local jobs and set up a commuter computer to show how much commuting costs.
Getting commuters from Southwest California off the road so they can spend more time with friends and family is one of the goals of the Alliance, which hopes the commuter computer and the new Alliance Internet-based job bank will get residents of Southwest California to take another look at jobs in their own backyard that may pay a little less but enhance their quality of life.
Lee said the work done by Field and the foundation she created in her six years in Southwest California will make his job much easier.
"Stevie is a tough act to follow," he said. "But I look forward to meeting all the partners, getting to know key players in the region and getting the word out about the benefits of doing business in Southwest California."
Lee comes to the Alliance from Riverside County Economic Development Agency. He joined the EDA in 1999 after heading a youth program in the Desert for the Riverside County Office of Education.
With EDA, Lee served as an economic development specialist, worked in Workforce Development and helped expansion-minded companies take advantage of the county's fast-track permitting programs.
Lee, 32, his wife and two children live in Moreno Valley.
Southwest California enjoys an exceptional quality of life, a mild climate, good air quality, reasonably priced land and building sites adjacent to the I-15 and I-215 corridors, affordable housing at all levels, a highly skilled labor force, quality educational facilities and programs, and cultural, entertainment and recreational activities for every lifestyle.