Business View Magazine | December 2019

310 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2019 grants and small business loans,” she states. “We have a beautification façade program; we have something called Stock Full of Produce, which addresses our food deserts. We have a lot of corner markets that don’t currently offer fresh fruits and vegetables, so we’ve come up with a program to offer a grant that can be used to purchase the refrigeration units or make necessary infrastructure improvements needed to offer fresh fruits and vegetables and build a more healthy community.” “If you’re considering a headquarter move, I think Stockton is the perfect location,” Wright adds. The city is committed to expediting all business projects and provides a one-stop- shop permitting, inspection, and plan review service that enhances customer experience and streamlines permit processing for all types of development. “Our goal is to say, ‘Yes. How can we make what you want to do work here in Stockton?’” Finally, Stockton has a quality of life that makes it an ideal place to live, work, and play. “There are a lot of places that can’t offer its residents the lifestyle they’re looking for because of the cost of living in California,” Wright notes. “Stockton offers the affordability for those looking for that opportunity.” The city’s amenities include the Stockton Events Center, an entertainment project that includes a baseball stadium, waterfront, multi-use arena, hotel and conference center, retail space, and a seven-level parking structure. The 5,200-seat Stockton Ballpark at Banner Island is home to the Stockton Ports, a Class-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. The Stockton Arena is a state-of-the-art, 220,000-sq.-ft. facility hosting various conventions, concerts, and basketball games for the Stockton Kings. The city-owned and operated downtown waterfront marina has 48 covered slips and ample guest or day docks. Two regional parks within the City; over a dozen public and private golf courses in the region; a quaint county-owned zoo; a skateboard park; an indoor ice rink; and numerous other parks, baseball diamonds, soccer