Editing Lancaster, California (section)

==Economy==
The Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance describes five areas as [[business park|business and industrial parks]] in the city of Lancaster: Fox Field Industrial Corridor (adjacent to the [[General William J. Fox Airfield]]) along Avenue G, North Valley Industrial Center, Lancaster Business Park, Enterprise Business Park, Centerpoint Business Park, and the Southern Amargosa Industrial Area. The former Lancaster Redevelopment Agency is credited with attracting major business operations to the area such as SYGMA, Rite Aide, Micheals, Bank of America, and many more. In 2012 the state of California abolished all local redevelopment agencies. The city's economic development department is now responsible for recruiting large employers and is involved in attracting [[retail]] and dining to Lancaster Town Center, Front Row Center, and other retail centers throughout the city.

Another focus of the Agency and the city was the revitalization of Downtown Lancaster. With historic buildings interspersed with modern amenities such as a library<ref>[http://www.colapublib.org/libs/lancaster/ "Lancaster Library"] ''[[County of Los Angeles Public Library]]'' Official Website</ref> and performing arts center,<ref>[http://www.lpac.org/ "Lancaster Performing Arts Center"] Official Website</ref> downtown businesses formed the Lancaster Old Town Site (LOTS). LOTS has resulted in the renovation of business facades and attraction of new businesses, including [[boutiques]] and restaurants in the Old Town Area.

In 2009, Lancaster had 17% unemployment.<ref name=Deaton2017>{{cite web|url= https://thinkprogress.org/how-a-republican-mayor-turned-his-struggling-california-city-into-a-clean-energy-powerhouse-2bac7dc24bff/ |title=Republican mayor transforms California city into 'the solar capital of the universe'|website=Thinkprogress.org |first=Jeremy |last=Deaton |date=October 13, 2017 |access-date=October 17, 2017}}</ref> Given the strength of China's economy in the face of the global recession, Mayor R. Rex Parris identified recruitment of Chinese manufacturing firms as a high priority in 2009. In early 2010, Mayor Parris led a delegation to explore trade opportunities with China.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dailybreeze.com/20100907/asian-trips-aim-to-woo-trade-here |title=Asian trips aim to woo trade here |access-date=June 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627043846/http://www.dailybreeze.com/20100907/asian-trips-aim-to-woo-trade-here |archive-date=June 27, 2015 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> An essential component of this trade mission was a stop in [[Shenzhen]], China to meet with representatives of the battery, alternative energy, solar panel, and vehicle manufacturing firm [[BYD Company|BYD]]. BYD was looking to break into the United States vehicle manufacturing market, and was introduced to the City of Lancaster by Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich and his wife, Christine.

Lancaster's partnership with BYD began with the "Home of the Future", in which KB Home utilized BYD's energy efficiency and storage technology to construct some of the first affordable near net-zero homes in the U.S. Through the success of this project, a working relationship was born, which BYD and Lancaster continued to cultivate as [[BYD Auto]] prepared to enter the U.S. market. Once the firm was ready to establish its manufacturing facility, Lancaster was its first stop. In May 2013, [[BYD Auto]] announced two manufacturing facilities to be located in Lancaster. These include a 120,000-square-foot [[BYD electric bus]] manufacturing facility, as well as a separate 44,000-square-foot energy storage system (large scale battery) manufacturing facility.<ref>Li, Shan (May 1, 2013) [https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2013-may-01-la-fi-mo-china-bus-green-lancaster-20130501-story.html "Chinese carmaker to open first U.S. plant in Lancaster in October"] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://gas2.org/2017/10/07/byd-triples-size-california-bus-factory/ |title=BYD Triples Size of California Bus Factory - Gas 2 |access-date=October 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018072144/https://gas2.org/2017/10/07/byd-triples-size-california-bus-factory/ |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> By April 2019, BYD Lancaster had produced over 300 electric buses for US and Canada.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://insideevs.com/news/343785/byd-produced-its-300th-electric-bus-in-lancaster-california/ |title=BYD Produced Its 300th Electric Bus In Lancaster, California |access-date=July 24, 2019 }}</ref> Lancaster has the highest [[Solar power in California|solar production]] per capita in California.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://icma.org/sites/default/files/307440_Sunshot%20Solar%20Outreach%20Partnership%20Case%20Study_Compilation.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=October 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018072533/https://icma.org/sites/default/files/307440_Sunshot%20Solar%20Outreach%20Partnership%20Case%20Study_Compilation.pdf#page=12 |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

{{as of|2017}} unemployment is around 6%.<ref name=Deaton2017/>

===Shopping centers===
* Valley Central Way<ref>{{cite web|title=Merlone Geier Partners - Properties|url=http://www.merlonegeier.com/PropertyInfo.aspx?Id=1804|website=Merlonegeier.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115124513/http://www.merlonegeier.com/PropertyInfo.aspx?Id=1804|archive-date=November 15, 2011|access-date=March 29, 2018}}</ref>
* Lancaster Boulevard (The BLVD)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theblvdlancaster.com/index.php|title=TheBLVD - The New Lancaster Boulevard|first=AV Web|last=Designs|website=Theblvdlancaster.com|access-date=March 29, 2018}}</ref>
* Lancaster Commerce Center Shopping Center
* West Lancaster Plaza Shopping Center