Help for local business

Moving to protect the region's job base and keep companies from fleeing to other states, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. will send postcards to 200,000 local businesses offering the services of an economic ombudsman. Gregory J. Wilcox in the Daily News.

The mailing will raise the profile of the six regional managers for the LAEDC who to help companies recruit skilled workers, secure financing and cut through bureaucratic red tape.

"There are a lot of programs that can help (businesses) bring down their costs and make them more efficient and that's important in this environment," said Jack Kyser, the LAEDC's senior vice president.