The City of Santa Clarita is the most business-friendly city in Los Angeles County, according to the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC). The award was presented to the City of Santa Clarita at the 13th annual Eddy Awards last night at the Hilton Beverly hotel.

The City of Santa Clarita was recognized among a highly-competitive group of cities with populations over 50,000, including Pasadena, Glendale, and Long Beach.

“We are very honored to be named Los Angeles County’s most business friendly city for 2008. In today’s complex, competitive business climate, Santa Clarita is doing everything it can to ensure that companies are successful here in our community. We will continue to 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 Santa Clarita Mayor Bob Kellar.

Businesses that locate in Santa Clarita have a competitive advantage over other businesses due to the policies and programs of the City of Santa Clarita that create “The Santa Clarita Advantage.” These advantages include:

As a business friendly City, Santa Clarita does not assess a business license fee nor does it assess a utility user tax, allowing businesses to save up to five percent or more on their electric, telephone, water, and gas bills.

In addition, businesses located within the Santa Clarita Enterprise Zone enjoy state income tax savings that can reduce or virtually eliminate their state income tax altogether.

Santa Clarita offers its businesses a highly educated workforce, available land for development, site selection assistance, and expedited plan reviews and permit processing.

Additionally, the Newhall area of Santa Clarita has been designated as a Redevelopment Project Area providing opportunities for innovative financing and improvements.

Sheriff’s Business Alliance program provides proactive training and response specifically for businesses at no cost.

Also this year the City of Santa Clarita has been recognized regionally, nationally and internationally as a best-in-class organization for the economic development program this year, including:

• Named Best Economic Development Program in California for the City’s Tourism program by the California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED)
• Named Best City for Industrial Development in LA County by the Los Angeles Business Journal
• Awarded the Helen Putman Award for the Film and Tourism programs as specialized economic development by the League of California Cities
• Awarded the first place Savvy Award for Top Creative Marketing for the Film and Tourism programs by City, County, Communications and Marketing Association (3CMA)
• Recognized as one of the top 25 retail markets in California by the California Retail Survey

The City of Santa Clarita Film program represents an industry that has experienced tremendous growth over the past few years and one that finds great success in the City of Santa Clarita. In Fiscal Year 2007/2008, the City of Santa Clarita issued 335 permits for location filming that resulted in an estimated economic impact to local businesses of $18.9 million. This increase in filming is particularly noteworthy considering the writers strike that began in 2007 negatively affecting film production industry wide for several months. In addition to the success of the film industry in Santa Clarita, the City has become a thriving center for industry clusters such as aerospace manufacturing, bio-medical, and technology.

“Congratulations to the City of Santa Clarita on being selected as the Eddy Award’s 2008 “Most Business Friendly City.” Los Angeles County appreciates Santa Clarita’s successful efforts to create a positive environment where businesses can grow, prosper and provide jobs and economic vitality for the Santa Clarita Valley and our region,” commented Michael D. Antonovich, 5th District Supervisor for Los Angeles County.

Santa Clarita’s successful Enterprise Zone has yielded tremendous success in the year that it has been in existence. In a letter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger earlier this month, the City reported that in its first year of existence the Santa Clarita Enterprise Zone has helped more than 60 City-based businesses benefit from tax credit incentives, with vouchers for the Hiring Tax Credit, representing a potential savings of $5.6 million to local businesses within the City of Santa Clarita.

A blue ribbon panel of business, government and economic development leaders was assembled for the nomination review process and to determine the ultimate winner. 2008 marks the third consecutive year the City of Santa Clarita was named as a finalist for the award.

Information about the many economic development programs offered by the City can be found on the City’s main website at santa-clarita.com, or by visiting any one of several direct websites targeted to specific industries including: worksantaclarita.com; shopcityofsantaclarita.com; scenterprisezone.com; filmsantaclarita.com and visitsantaclarita.com.

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