Northern California in particular (Sacramento, the Central Valley, and all the counties between the Bay Area and the Oregon-California border) is a promising region for Foreign Direct Investment since it has more recently picked up speed in economic development and already contains the vast infrastructure, resources, and population to sustain further growth. Combine low cost and reliable utilities, abundant water supplies, high-capacity telecommunications technology, and generous state and local incentives, and companies have all the necessary ingredients for long term prosperity should they expand into the area.[1]

The city of Sacramento, the center of Northern California business activity, was ranked 19^th on the “Best Cities for Doing Business List” by Inc. Magazine in May 2006, outranking cities like San Diego. Organizations such as the Sacramento Metro Chamber actively promote regional economic development to “…transform the area into an international center for commerce, learning, culture and recreation.”[2] Other important community-specific organizations dedicated to the same local cause are the Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, the Black Chamber of Commerce, and the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.