Los Angeles Economic Development Commission recognizes City

 

The City of Santa Clarita was just named one of the top five most business-friendly cities in Los Angeles by the Los Angeles Economic Development Commission (LAEDC) for 2007. Additionally, the City is a finalist for the prestigious EDDY Award, which will be presented to the top city at a gala awards ceremony and dinner on November 6, 2007 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.

 

The EDDY Award was introduced in 1996 by the LAEDC to celebrate organizations that demonstrate exceptional contributions to positive economic development in the region.

Santa Clarita’s business friendly practices including: no business license tax or fees; the start of a development one-stop to streamline city permitting; no utility user fee; a new designation for the state’s Enterprise Zone for 2007, a City/Sheriff Business Alliance program, providing city-based businesses with a Sheriff liaison, all contributed to Santa Clarita’s prestigious recognition for a second year in a row.

 

In late 2006, the City partnered with College of the Canyons to open the Small Business Development Center, which provides free consulting services for starting up or growing a business.

 

[view:node_ad=5]The City has had a number of economic development successes this year. The City of Santa Clarita Film Office was awarded the Grand Prize by the California Association for Local Economic Development for its outstanding and innovative approach to the strategic area of film production.

 

The City of Santa Clarita hosted over 800 days in Fiscal Year 2006/2007, with an estimated economic impact to local businesses of over $21 million. In addition, Santa Clarita was named one of the top 25 city retail marks in California by the California Retail Survey. The City has focused on improving its “Business-to-Business” sales tax revenue within the City of Santa Clarita and has seen an impressive 14.6% in 2006 as a result of this effort.

 

“We are very honored to be named as one of Los Angeles’ top five most business friendly cities for a second year. We work diligently to make sure our City’s practices help City-based businesses thrive, while providing our residents with a choice to work locally,” commented Mayor Marsha McLean.

 

Information about the economic development program can be found on the City of Santa Clarita website, santa-clarita.com, or by going directly to any of several direct website links targeted to specific industry including: locatesantaclarita.com; shopsantaclarita.com; film santaclarita.com and visitsantaclarita.com.