Feb 05, 2010

HESPERIA RECEIVES SECOND STATE DESIGNATION IN 2009

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By: City of Hesperia

Batting 1000 in 2009, the City of Hesperia’s Economic Development team wrote its second competitive, award-winning state application of the year. December 24, 2009 brought notification of final approval for the Hesperia Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ).

An RMDZ is a specially designated geographical area formed to promote the growth of the recycling industry, administered by the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) and implemented locally. The Hesperia RMDZ combines state benefits, such as low-interest loans, with innovative incentives offered by the City of Hesperia.

“This initiative will demonstrate that Hesperia is becoming a ‘green’ community, by reducing our carbon footprint and the amount of waste going into our regional landfill,” said Mayor Thurston “Smitty” Smith. “Hesperia’s RMDZ is especially important as it will serve approximately one-third of the waste sent to the Victorville Sanitary Landfill.”

Within these specially-designated zones, the state offers below-market rate loans and no-cost marketing of products manufactured in an RMDZ. In addition, technical assistance for preliminary research and development of the new market is available in the form of specialized studies to determine project feasibility, identification of feedstock (raw material) and prospective markets for the project.

“The City of Hesperia has become extremely competitive in its goal of attracting and expanding businesses and creating jobs. In addition to our newly designated Enterprise Zone, the award of an RMDZ is expected to further stimulate industrial growth and reduce waste currently going to landfills,” said Steve Lantsberger, Deputy Economic Development Director. “The RMDZ will provide significant economic development benefits for the residents and community of Hesperia and the Victor Valley.”

Businesses wishing to participate in the State’s RMDZ Loan Program must meet specific eligibility criteria. Aside from being a business located in the RMDZ, eligible projects must show diversion of nonhazardous solid waste from California landfills. The loan program is administered by CIWMB and funded through ‘tipping fees’, the charges paid at landfills statewide for the collection of waste and rubbish. In recent months, California lawmakers have looked into increasing the current waste diversion rates of 50% (which was required by 2000) to 75%. For many years now, Hesperia has consistently exceeded the mandate. Currently the reporting factors are based on a per capita Calculated Disposal Rate, for which Hesperia’s performance has been exemplary.

For more information about the Hesperia RMDZ, please contact the Zone Administrator, Steven J. Lantsberger at 760/947-1906.