The city of Lancaster has once again been named “Most Business-Friendly City” by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC). Lancaster is the first city in the history of the program to receive the award three times, with its initial win taking place in 2007.
“In addition to our business-friendly reputation, Lancaster is known as a city of firsts,” said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris. “We have repeatedly made history, thanks to our dedication to innovation and our ongoing efforts to say ‘yes’ to creative ideas. While some municipalities see themselves as regulators, we view ourselves as facilitators, looking for ways to remove roadblocks and cut red tape. With this award, Lancaster is once again making history by becoming a third-time winner of the Most Business-Friendly City award.”
Lancaster was previously named “Most Business Friendly City in L.A. County” in 2007 and 2013. This year, the City of Lancaster was up against a number of well-known cities for the honor in the large city category (population 50,000 and over), including finalists Bellflower, Gardena, Norwalk, Pasadena, and Rosemead. As for the smaller city category (population under 50,000), the city of La Mirada was recognized as the most business friendly. Both cities were honored on November 7 at the LAEDC’s 24th annual Eddy Awards ceremony.
“This year’s Most Business Friendly City awardees set a high bar for government leaders committed to helping employers create good jobs that help raise standards of living in their communities and across our region,” said LAEDC Chief Executive Officer Bill Allen, in a LAEDC press release.
A number of thriving businesses have made the city of Lancaster their home. Their success stories make tangible the results of the City’s ongoing efforts to grow Lancaster’s job market and assist the local workforce in obtaining employment.
“Whenever we need assistance, the city is there to help,” said Gabby Ratcliff, owner of The Modern Tea Room, located in Lancaster. “They assisted throughout the approval and startup process. Now that our business has continued to grow and we are exploring opportunities for expansion, the city has once again been there to provide assistance and support.”
Lancaster has been selected as a Business-Friendly City due to its demonstrated commitment to economic development as a priority, as well as a variety of programs and services designed to facilitate business entry, expansion, and retention.
Through constant collaboration and a unified vision, each City department works alongside the economic development team to ensure that developments happen on time and on budget. Lancaster’s innovative incentive programs, effective communication with businesses, and expedited approval timelines weighed heavily in the minds of LAEDC judges as well as the businesses who have located to Lancaster.
“The city of Lancaster has been with us every step of the way,” said BYD Motors President Stella Li, whose 550,000-square-foot electric bus manufacturing site employs over 800 local workers. “From collaborating with Los Angeles County to facilitate our investment in the United States to expediting approvals for each and every one of our several expansions, providing startup incentives that have assisted us when we needed it most, offering workforce development support, and serving as an advocate with transit agencies to help grow our business, Lancaster has time and again proven itself a strong ally to the private sector.”
For more information regarding the LAEDC and the Eddy Awards, visit laedc.org. To learn how to launch, relocate, or expand a business in Lancaster, call (661)723-6128.
