News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 10, 2022
LAEDC Honors Local Community Leaders
at 27th Annual Eddy Awards®
El Segundo, Gardena and Santa Clarita Recognized as Most Business-Friendly Cities
LOS ANGELES – November 10, 2022 – Last night, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) hosted its annual Eddy Awards® on the field of SoFi Stadium with 700 guests in attendance to recognize the work of local governments, education and business leaders during the past year. 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.
“As we celebrate on the field of SoFi Stadium, where the LA Rams became Super Bowl Champions, we are reminded that economic development is a team sport and the Eddy Awards® help to recognize those who work to ensure that the LA Region remains strong and open for business,” said Bill Allen, CEO of LAEDC. “Our Most Business-Friendly City award winners 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. As we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Most Business-Friendly City winners have shown the ability to make adjustments and help their small businesses operate under any conditions.”
During the Eddy Awards®, LAEDC presents local cities with the prestigious Most Business-Friendly City Award based on the city’s population size. The 2022 Most Business-Friendly City Awards recognized the City of El Segundo for a population under 60,000 and both the City of Gardena and the City of Santa Clarita for population over 60,000 for winning the Most Business-Friendly Award. This is the first time in its history that two cities with more than 60,000 residents were recognized as Most Business-Friendly City winners.
Each year, the LAEDC also recognizes individuals, educational partners and business leaders for their tireless efforts to improve our regional economy.
“The Eddy Awards® celebrate honorees who contribute to the growth of our regional economy and its recovery from the pandemic while becoming more innovative, resilient and sustainable,” said Stephen Cheung, President of the LAEDC and World Trade Center Los Angeles. “This year is also special since we are recognizing the three decades of work and grit that Bill Allen has put into creating a regional economy that is equitable, resilient and growing.”
- Bill Allen, CEO of LAEDC – After 30 years of dedicated work toward growing and diversifying the regional economy and 17 years as leader of the LAEDC, Mr. Allen announced his retirement in August 2022. Mr. Allen 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 LA. During Mr. Allen’s tenure, 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. LAEDC became the most trusted thought leader and convener on economic development in the region and has been the home of the Southern California Leadership Council and is now the lead convener in the California Community Economic Resilience Fund planning process for the Los Angeles Region.
- Santa Monica College Opening in 1929 with just 153 students, Santa Monica College (SMC) serves more than 27,400 students each year. 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. A pioneer of the uniquely American community college movement, SMC fulfills the educational needs of the broadest possible cross-section of its community.
- Stan Kroenke, alongside the LA Rams, SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park. Since 2016, 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, it 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 for the region to host the largest national and global events, ensuring future economic development for decades to come.
About the LAEDC LAEDC drives action in support of a reimagined Los Angeles regional economy that is growing, equitable, sustainable and resilient and provides a healthy and high standard of living for all. A public-benefit non-profit celebrating its 40th year of working collaboratively to improve the lives of people through economic inclusion, LAEDC is a trusted leader working on behalf of the Los Angeles County region. Visit www.laedc.org or call (213) 622-4300.