The Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) offers incentives, such as demographic, economic and real-estate information, as well as customized site searches to businesses throughout the county and most municipalities. In addition, the LAEDC was a major force in developing the first-ever consensus-built Strategic Plan for Economic Developmentin Los Angeles County. The plan highlights the County’s role as a leader in advancing environmental innovation, in applying new clean technologies and products to “green” its more established industries such as manufacturing and international trade, and in the creation of green jobs, especially in the areas of renewable energy generation, energy efficiency and green transportation. The plan also outlines a goal to reduce the waste stream to landfills by encouraging the use of locally-manufactured products that are recyclable, have long life cycles, and use less packaging.

The California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) can provide information regarding incentives and tax credits. The GO-Biz Business Investment Services Unit works with companies to expand their presence in California by streamlining the site selection process and offsetting the cost of doing business with the use of local, state and federal incentives. The GO-Biz Permit Assistance unit provides permit streamlining for business owners with local, state and federal permitting for major job creating projects.

Los Angeles County possesses an abundant supply of materials available for recycling.  These materials include construction and demolition debris, food waste, green waste, paper, plastic, rubber, textiles, and used automotive tires.

Los Angeles County is the industrial hub of the southwestern United States, and contains a large inventory of available properties well-suited to accommodate recycling-based industries. A vast freeway system facilitates transport by truck throughout the region. For shipments across the nation, the area is supported by rail access provided by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and by Union Pacific Railroad.  For shipments overseas, the area is supported by access to ocean freight through the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles. This harbor complex is the nation’s largest, as well as the West Coast’s principal shipping gateway for international trade.  Shipments via the air are supported by Los Angeles International Airport, and regional airports at Burbank, Long Beach, and Ontario.

The Los Angeles region is the largest manufacturing center in the U.S., employing over 380,000 workers. The highest employed manufacturing sectors include apparel, fabrication, food products, aerospace products and parts, and  search, detection & navigation products.

Anita Yengibaryan