Valley Cities Nominated as “Business Friendly”

The cities of Burbank, Lancaster, and Palmdale are among the six cities that have been selected as “Most Business-Friendly City” by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation. The winner will be presented Nov. 6 at the LAEDC’s annual Eddy Awards, honoring economic development leadership. Burbank was selected because it has no gross receipts business license tax and a streamlined permit process. Free “wifi” service in their downtown area and competitive utility user taxes are additional benefits of doing business in Burbank. Lancaster combines plentiful land at affordable prices, strong incentives including an Enterprise Zone and redevelopment project areas, a fast-track permit process and a dedicated project ombudsman to attract businesses to its city. Palmdale boasts affordable land for development and is a no-or-low property tax city. Palmdale also provides Enterprise Zone incentives, redevelopment project areas, streamlined permit processing, industrial development bonds, development deferrals and/or waivers, a business liaison and a foreign trade zone for those businesses involved in international trade.