Long Beach was one of six cities to be named a finalist for the 2009 Eddy Award, which celebrates the most business-friendly cities in Los Angeles County each year. It is the fourth straight year that Long Beach has been named a finalist for the award given by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC). The other cities nominated are Whittier, El Hambra, Downey, Lakewood and Torrance.
Four cities were also nominated in the “Small City” category, which includes cities with populations smaller than 60,000.
In a press release today, the LAEDC pointed to business retention efforts and employment development strategies that made Long Beach stand out.
“We’re delighted that we have once again been honored as a finalist,” said Robert Swayze, Manager of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs for the City, in the press release. “We’ve worked closely with the LAEDC on many initiatives, and to be again named as a finalist by this premier organization is a great honor all by itself.”
Long Beach leaders have made several attempts to revive business in the city this year, but with a 12.5% unemployment rate and many companies struggling to survive, 2009 has been far from perfect. Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Randy Gordon says that the city faces difficulties when it comes to being business-friendly.
“Cities that win this every year have no business license fees. We’re middle of the pack relative to development fees, construction fees and other fees,” Gordon said in a phone interview today. “It’s hard to compete with other cities who don’t have those fees.”
In today’s press release, Swayze too alluded to Long Beach’s four consecutive honorable mentions.
“Of course, we hope this year Long Beach can be the bride, not the bridesmaid,” he said.
“We’re always a finalist, but never a winner,” Gordon said. “We were a finalist because we’ve improved how we deal with enterprise zones. Without those changes, I don’t think we’re a finalist this year.”
The changes Gordon referred to included tax breaks given to businesses that retained employees and hired new ones. That move, Gordon said, was just the first of many that need to be made as Long Beach continues attempts to attract and retain businesses.
“But I am happy that we’re a finalist,” he said.
Disclosure: lbpost.com co-founder Shaun Lumachi is a government affairs advisor to the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.