LAEDC Announces Most Business-Friendly City Finalists and Honorees for 27th Annual Eddy Awards®

LAEDC Announces Most Business-Friendly City Finalists and Honorees for 27th Annual Eddy Awards®
Winners will be Announced LIVE on November 9th at SoFi Stadium 

LOS ANGELES – September 1, 2022 – Today, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) announced the finalists for its Most Business-Friendly City Award and honorees for its Individual, Educational and Corporate recognitions. Since 1996, the LAEDC Eddy Awards® celebrates individuals, organizations, and educational institutions that demonstrate exceptional contributions to inclusive economic development in the region. LAEDC also recognizes local cities in categories based on their population size for creating environments that foster the creation and growth of enterprises that provide good jobs and build wealth for our communities.  

“Economic development is a team sport, and for 27 years, the Eddy Awards have highlighted some of the most valuable players in our region,” said Bill Allen, President and CEO of LAEDC. “This year, our most business-friendly cities have really gone above and beyond in their work to attract, support and retain businesses in our region, 94 percent of which employ 20 individuals or less. These businesses fuel our regional economy, and we are continually awed by the support our finalist cities provide these businesses and businesses of all sizes.” 

“Each year, the Eddy Awards recognize the incredible work that often happens behind the scenes throughout Los Angeles County. Thanks to our finalists and honorees’ commitment, the Los Angeles region continues to grow as a powerhouse economy, not just in California but across the nation and the globe. These honorees are part of a network that tirelessly moves our regional economy on an equitable and sustainable path,” said Stephen Cheung, COO of LAEDC, who will succeed Bill Allen as CEO in 2023. “We look forward to celebrating our important partners and recognizing the massive work done for our economy and its recovery from the pandemic while becoming more innovative, resilient, and sustainable.” 

This year’s finalists for Most Business-Friendly City are: 

Most Business-Friendly City, population over 60,000 (alphabetical order) 

  • Carson 
  • Gardena 
  • Norwalk 
  • Santa Clarita 

Most Business-Friendly City, population over 60,000 (alphabetical order) 

  • Beverly Hills 
  • El Segunda 
  • Lomita 
  • Monrovia 
  • Vernon 

Cities that have won within the last five years were ineligible to be nominated. 

Each year, we honor one individual, one business, and one educational organization that has been a champion for regional equitable economic development. LAEDC will also present additional Eddy Awards® to: 

  • Bill Allen (Individual Honoree) – In his 17 years as President and CEO, Bill transformed the LAEDC’s mission and programs, establishing partnerships with key public and private stakeholders to advance a more robust, equitable, sustainable and resilient economy for Los Angeles County. Among many innovations during Bill’s tenure, he led the creation of the County’s first-ever community-driven, consensus-built Strategic Plan for Economic Development, the Most Business-Friendly City Awards, the Center for a Competitive Workforce, the LA Digital Equity Action League, and LAEDC’s award-winning Business Assistance Team reached the milestone of attracting or retaining more than 250,000 jobs for area residents through direct services to small businesses.  A civic leader through the past four decades who helped lead the San Fernando Valley recovery from the Northridge Earthquake and still serves on numerous philanthropic and non-profit boards in the region, Bill is retiring from the LAEDC at the end of the year.  
  • Santa Monica City College (Education Honoree) – Opening in 1929 with just 153 students, Santa Monica College (SMC) serves more than 27,400 students yearly. Excelling as California’s #1 transfer college for over 31 consecutive years, Santa Monica College also provides over 110 career education-focused degrees and certificates, maintaining the largest student support network in California to ensure that each student – including and especially those from historically marginalized groups—achieves their goal of transferring, entering a career or upgrading their skills. Above all, the college has demonstrated its core mission of “Changing Lives in the Global Community Through Excellence In Education,” with an unrelenting focus on providing the most equitable, accessible education possible to a diverse student population. Santa Monica College is the 2022 Eddy Awards® education honoree for its continuous delivery of higher education, career training, and cultural enrichment to its community of students.   
  • Stan Kroenke and The Kroenke Group (Corporate Honoree) – With the January 2016 decision by the NFL Owners to return the Rams home to Los Angeles, Los Angeles Rams Owner/Chairman E. Stanley Kroenke engaged in developing the largest sports and entertainment development in the country in Inglewood, California, leading to the opening of SoFi Stadium in 2020. This development not only brought two NFL teams to Los Angeles but also provided billions of dollars in investments and created thousands of jobs in the Los Angeles County region. The development of SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park further solidified the ability of the region to host the largest national and global events, ensuring future economic development for decades to come. Stan Kroenke, alongside his Los Angeles Rams and SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park, are the 2022 Eddy Awards® corporate honoree for their powerful commitment to, and impact on, the future of Los Angeles County. 

The Eddy Awards® is a cocktail reception, dinner, and awards gala to support the fulfillment of the LAEDC’s mission of reinventing our economy to collaboratively advance growth and prosperity for all. The winning cities of the Most Business-Friendly City competition will be announced live at the Eddy Awards® on November 9, 2022, at Sofi Stadium. The event is generously sponsored by Caruso, Chevron, Citi, City National Bank, Kaiser Permanente, Cal State Northridge, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Southern California Edison, and more than 40 other major supporters committed to the economic health and well-being of our region and its residents. 

About the LAEDC
The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, a non-profit organization, champions equitable economic growth across the Los Angeles region. Through collaboration with community, government, business and education partners to inform and advance our data-driven and evidence-based approach, we endeavor to achieve a reimagined regional economy – growing, equitable, sustainable, and resilient – that provides a healthy and high standard of living for all. LAEDC staff and our members represent the diversity of Los Angeles County and act as trusted conveners, thought partners, valued service providers, regional stewards, and catalysts for transformational change. Visit www.laedc.org or call (213) 236-4847 

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