LBPOST.com: Long Beach Named Most Business Friendly In LA County

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Long Beach Named Most Business Friendly In LA County

by Ryan ZumMallen | Long Beach News | 11.13.09 |

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The City of Long Beach was named the Most Business Friendly city in Los Angeles County � with population over 60,000 � at the Eddy Awards last night, beating out six other cities for the distinction.

The winner is selected by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC). This year marked Long Beach�s fourth straight nomination and first victory. The city was chosen over Downey, Whittier, El Hambra, Lakewood and Torrance.

�It�s a very prestigious award for this city,� said Robert Swayze, manager of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs, last night as he was leaving the award ceremony.

�Long Beach is an employment center and makes an investment in infrastructure that allows these [other] cities to thrive.�

The LAEDC offered no explanation for their decision, but Swayze pointed to the Port of Long Beach, which employs people not only within the city but the entire region, and its operation allows businesses in other cities to operate.

But 2009 has not been the best year for Long Beach, with an unemployment rate now over 12% and tough times for some local businesses.

�Unemployment is high throughout all of California,� Swayze countered. �We�re going to come through this. The investment that we�re making in infrastructure now will pay great dividends in the future.�

When Long Beach was announced as a finalist for the award in September, Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Randy Gordon said that the city has a long way to go in regards to being business friendly, but pointed out that new tax breaks and enterprise zones have helped that cause.

�Without those changes, I don�t think we�re a finalist this year,� Gordon said in September.

Swayze acknowledged last night that the permitting process in Long Beach can be challenging.

�We�re not a city of 15,000, so we can�t do permits in 30 minutes,� he said.

"The annual recognition for this coveted award came down to six finalists for the Large City category", said Dennis Lord, public affairs manager for So Calif. Gas Company and one of a dozen judges for this award. "In the end, Long Beach prevailed and the build up included some friendly competition from the City of Downey. Following the dinner, Downey Mayor Mario Guerra graciously congratulated Vice Mayor Val Lerch for their win."

Disclosure: LBPOST.com co-founder Shaun Lumachi is a government affairs advisor to the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

Comments

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12 Comments so far.

Bianca
I hope those awarding the city actually have a business here. Anybody seen the rates for business licenses compared to neighboring cities? Humm?

Not at all convinced
Really? Biz-friendly? Then why didn't we get the movie studios? Why did the car dealers move to Signal Hill? Why didn't we get either of 2 Home Depot stores - 3 if you count the one proposed for Loynes@Studebaker? Bet we don't get the Tesla plant either. And why do so many of my colleagues choose to take their trade events elsewhere because they assert the permitting and regulation process in Long Beach is SO much more challenging than our surrounding communities? I don't like to take a negative tone but let's call it what it is. Giving awards for such a business-UNfriendly environment as Long Beach (where I live) is certainly sending the wrong signals and won't do much to get Mr. Swayze and company to improve things.

JR Salazar
Too bad the article of the armed robbery suspect you reported contradicted the plaudits the LAEDC gave the LBC.

Reeverse
The LAEDC offered no explanation for their decision (huh? by what standards or measurements?), but Swayze pointed to the Port of Long Beach, which employs people not only within the city but the entire region, and its operation allows businesses in other cities to operate. Ha ha ha. Are you serious? So, in other words, the Port is the most business friendly city, right? Gotta love how Swayze snipes on that. Randy Gordon is right, long way to go. Show me the economic development in business growth not hollow awards.

Bret
When Long Beach forced Acres of Books to close down so that it could confiscate the land, I thought to myself, Gee! What a business friendly city!

LB Resident
Great comments. Swayze heads Economic Development Commission which is an advisory agency. He has little or no influence over City Manager or Councilmembers which are motivated by polical factors, especially unions and other interest groups. Other smaller cities are more efficient: Torrance guarantees two week turn around on project approvals and provides over the counter approval for minor projects; it has a one stop permit center and same day inspection service; and is 2-3rd in lowest crime rates. One needs to complain to the City Manager or Councilmember as to why we don't meet those standards. What Swayze has done is to create the largest Enterprise Zone in So CA whereby firms in 66% of the city can essentially eliminate payment of state income taxes if they properly manage hiring of new employees.

debwills
This is an absolute farce. This city does not deserve the award in any way shape or form. This city is the least business friendly by far. And have to agree with Bianca, do those awarding have a business here, they would roll over in disgust.

Greggory
Sean Hitchcock will tell you how friendly we are. Hey, knowingly commit potentially dangerous violations of our laws? No big whoop - and we look forward to more business with you in the future.

richie
It is the most ..??? MMM well we do have a lot of empty Land that the city pays big moeny for closed them down and never builds. I am sure someone paid this company for that award

CHARLIE
Never mind, Randy, you always get the negatives out of the woodwork whenever an earned positive is given; You, The Chamber, and The City of Long Beach officials - just keep doing what your doing, and especially The Port of Long Beach!

TSOL
Silent Majority, When Are You Going to Wake Up?

Mike Ruehle
I wonder where Long Beach would rank if an award was given for most resident friendly city. I'm guessing somewhere near the bottom.

Long Beach News

LBPOST.com Managing Editor Ryan ZumMallen keeps up on all the current and breaking Long Beach news.

Ryan ZumMallen has served as the managing editor of the LBPOST.com since 2007. He graduated from CSULB with a degree in Print Journalism in 2008 and is a member of the 2009 class of Leadership Long Beach. You can find him on various basketball courts around the city.

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