Gateway Cities

Los Angeles County's Gateway Cities cover a crescent of land along the southeast edge of the County, bordering nearby Orange County. This diverse collection of 27 cities and communities represents some of the area's most delightful neighborhoods as well as many thriving industrial and manufacturing areas.

LA at night

Doing Business in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County is the entertainment, manufacturing, and international trade capital of America. With $500 billion in annual output, Los Angeles County ranks among the world's largest economies. Its GDP is larger than Switzerland, Sweden, even Saudi Arabia. The County's population of nearly 10 million would make it the 8th largest state in the U.S.

20 Reasons to Locate Your Business in Los Angeles County [PDF]
Learn all about L.A. County in 5 Five Minutes [PDF]

 

Helping businesses thrive in Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County offers a variety of financial and technical assistance programs that can improve your company’s bottom line.

Business Incentives

Los Angeles County has a variety of incentive programs available to both small and large businesses. Incentives should not be the only reason why one should consider a location, but could be one of many factors that could help lead to a final location decision.


2012 Los Angeles County Business Incentives >> Download the PDF here!

Enterprise Zones

Businesses can take advantage of 8 Enterprise Zones within L.A. County. These areas provide special tax advantages to companies that locate within a Zone. Tax credits for qualified new hires can add up quickly, totaling over $37,000 per employee over five years. Other benefits include sales and use tax credits for certain purchases, business expense deductions for items that otherwise might be capitalized, and net operating loss carryovers to extend the benefits into future years.

  • Compton »
  • East Los Angeles [PDF map]
  • Hollywood [PDF map]
  • Long Beach »
  • Pasadena »
  • Santa Clarita »
  • South Gate and Lynwood »

Foreign-Trade Zones

There are seven designated Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) within Los Angeles County. These areas offer special treatment of goods imported, exported, or trans-shipped through the Zone, which can defer, reduce, or eliminate duties and tariffs.

Recycling Market Development Zones (RMDZ)

Thinking green can have cost advantages. Businesses involved in recycling and reuse of materials taken from the waste stream who locate in one of 12 RMDZs in L.A. County can benefit from attractive loan programs, technical assistance, and free marketing support. Individual cities can add to these incentives. LAEDC Regional Managers can help your company identify sites within an RMDZ and provide information on additional incentive opportunities offered by the individual cities.

 

Resource Links

Business Incentives

  • California Association of Enterprise Zones »
  • California Foreign Trade Zones (via CalBis) [PDF]
  • Foreign Trade Zone (via Port of Los Angeles) [PDF]
  • Los Angeles County Recycling Market Development Zone »

Economic Development

  • Governor's Office of Economic Development (GoED) »
  • The California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) »
  • California Business Portal »
  • California Department of Industrial Relations »
  • ZIMAS: Zone Information and Map Access System for City of Los Angeles »
  • Economic Development Toolkit: PG WIN - Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network »(Lomita, Long Beach,, Signal Hill, Torrance)
  • Economic Development Toolkit: SASSFA - Southeast Area Social Services Funding Authority » (Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, Whittier, La Mirada)

Financing Resources

  • Where's the money in L.A.? »

Housing and Land Use

  • Department of Housing and Development »
  • Urban Land Institute »

Public Policy

  • Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) »

Utility Information

Workforce Development

  • California Employment Training Panel »
  • California Manufacturing Technology Consulting »
  • California Workforce Investment Board »
  • Economic and Employment Enforcement Coalition (EEEC) »
  • Los Angeles City: JobsLA.org »