LAEDC Strategic Plan.Indd
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LOS ANGELES COUNTY Strategic Plan for Economic Development ENSURING A STRONG, DIVERSE AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY FOR L.A. COUNTY’S RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITIES. 2010-2014 MAKING A MESSAGE FROM THE L.A. COUNTY LOS ANGELES BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Los Angeles County covers over 4,000 square miles and is the nation’s most diverse MORE and populous county with more than 10.4 million residents representing more COMPETITIVE than 220 languages and cultures from around the world. Home to some of the world’s leading consumer markets, the largest labor force of any county in the Los Angeles County and its 88 cities United States, three world-class research universities and 117 other college have underperformed in job creation and university campuses, the two largest seaports in America, and one of the in recent decades, due in part to the busiest origin and destination airports anywhere, Los Angeles County has one of the world’s largest and most dynamic economies with annual economic lack of a strategic plan for economic activity in excess of $500 billion in 2008. development to guide decision making. There are many risks associated with To guide job and business retention, expansion and attraction in this nation- not having a proactive strategic plan sized economy, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors wholeheartedly for future economic development, endorses this fi rst-ever, ground-up, consensus strategic plan for economic development in Los Angeles County. including reduced quality of life, social inequity, disinvestment and a corroding The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation facilitated the economic environment that undermines creation of the plan through a series of public meetings with a diverse array of job growth, impairs business attraction participants from education, labor, business, government, and the environmental and environmental justice communities. This distinctive group of leaders from and retention, and depresses overall regions throughout the County was united in their commitment to a brighter economic well-being and wealth economy, a cleaner environment, and a more broadly shared prosperity. creation. In the age of globalization, a strategic plan is an essential guide Now it’s time for all of us to come together, carry out and realize what’s to long-term regional prosperity. contained in the “four corners” of this plan. To do so, we need champions to help implement the plan; and, there are roles for everyone in the public, private A better connected world will bring and non-profi t sectors to play. We invite local residents and the best and greater demands for resources and brightest leaders from the most creative fi rms from around the world to products and increase location options participate and help us reach our goals. for companies seeking a competitive advantage. Rapid development will unleash a fl ood of qualifi ed and educated workers, increasing the need for local workers to attain higher skill levels and improve Gloria Molina Mark Ridley-Thomas Zev Yaroslavsky Don Knabe Michael D. Antonovich productivity in order to maintain 1st District 2nd District 3rd District 4th District 5th District and improve current living standards. Our response to these competitive pressures must be shaped by a clear, comprehensive, collaborative strategy that guides job and business retention, expansion and attraction. Having good quality, stable jobs is the only path to a stronger, more sustainable economy and a better quality of life for our current and future residents. INTRODUCTION The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), a private, non-profi t public benefi t organization with more than 200 members representing leading private sector employers in the County, two dozen academic institutions, more than 20 cities from across L.A. County, six regional economic development corporations, the County CEO and appointed representatives of all fi ve County Supervisors, identifi ed, assembled and mobilized a diverse group of public, private, business, education, labor, environmental and other community-based participants to shape, build support around and help implement the fi rst-ever comprehensive, consensus strategic plan for economic development in L.A. County. CONSENSUS STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS The strategic planning process was con- with industry leaders to confi rm the representing government, education, ceived to design and build consensus needs, opportunities and growth potential business, environment, non-profi ts, com- around the need to implement a com- in key sectors. Then, we surveyed munity and labor organizations. Their prehensive, collaborative plan for eco- and cataloged best economic develop- feedback was used to shape, refi ne and nomic development to strengthen the ment planning practices and strategies continuously advance the general plan economy, improve the environment and among selected U.S. cities and counties, from an outline to a consensus-driven invigorate communities. With generous as well as major international cities. blueprint for economic development. support from the Morgan Family Foun- From these different research inputs, dation, this strategic planning effort we identifi ed fi ve key components Implementation and delivery on the differs markedly from other outwardly central to economic development success: strategies is ultimately what will make similar plans in the high level of stake- Educated Workforce, Business-Friendly this plan dynamic, purposeful and holder involvement at each step of the Environment, Attractive Quality of Life, relevant versus one that merely “sits process. The animating idea has been to Smart Land Use and 21st Century on the shelf.” During this phase, we develop consensus around a common Infrastructure. We prepared a “straw- will identify champions to guide imple- vision that serves the community’s long- man” document complete with a key mentation of the plan. In particular, the term interests and encourages broad aspirational goal for each compo- champions will develop an action list of community participation, engagement nent, and a series of sample objectives specifi c implementation tasks, decide and ownership to help guarantee the and strategies for meeting each goal. on appropriate measurements of plan’s success. success and delineate performance- Public input was a central element based timelines. Many of the Research began with a survey of of the plan’s development. While the stakeholders will be drawn from more than 5,000 businesses operating “straw-man” document served as a among the participants at the 26 in Los Angeles County to determine critical starting point, it was during public forums. We also invite the broad- the health and concerns of industry. 26 public workshops held across L.A. er public and other key civic stakehold- Next, we conducted an in-depth study County that the plan was molded and ers to join us in committing to imple- of major industry clusters driving the its consensus vision was developed. ment these strategies in the years ahead Los Angeles County economy. This was We solicited input from 1,070 to sustain and expand our region’s eco- followed by a series of focus groups individual stakeholders (see back cover) nomic prosperity. LOS ANGELES COUNTY www.LACountyStrategicPlan.com 1 LOS ANGELES COUNTY – BUILDING ON OUR STRENGTHS Los Angeles County is made up of 88 vibrant and diverse cities whose population of over 10.4 million would make it the 8th largest state in the United States. As the entertainment, manufacturing and international trade capital of America, and with over $500 billion in annual economic activity spread across these and other key areas of expertise, L.A. County’s gross domestic product is larger than Taiwan or Hong Kong. L.A. County is most famously known that technology-based businesses are big for its entertainment industry. Billions of here, as are engineering, fi nancial, and people around the world enjoy the fi lms, professional services. The County’s major television shows, music and new media research universities (Caltech, UCLA and created here. Entertainment, in turn, is a USC) have also spawned great growth in major draw for one of the area’s primary the life sciences, engineering and digital imports–tourists. Each year, millions of technology. people fl ock to the County to visit famed studios, enjoy the attractions, relax on Home to the nation’s largest port com- one of the region’s popular warm water plex, municipally-owned power utility, beaches and browse the chic shops along and many leading export-oriented Rodeo Drive and other famous streets in industries transitioning to environmental the region. sustainability, L.A. County has also been a leader in advancing environmental But there is more to the County than its innovation, in applying new clean tech- sunny skies and movie stars. Los Angeles nologies and products to “green” its more County is also the creative capital of established industries such as manufac- the world and home to 15 dynamic turing and international trade, and in the export-oriented industry clusters, ranging creation of green jobs, especially in the from fashion and automotive design to areas of renewable energy generation, en- materials and machinery to technology, ergy effi ciency and green transportation. health services and biomedical. With 120 institutions of higher learning As the nation’s #1 gateway to the global and an abundance of well-educated economy, via the Ports of Los Angeles workers, it should come as no surprise and Long Beach and Los Angeles 2 LOS ANGELES COUNTY Strategic Plan for Economic Development International Airport (LAX), one of the recognized as the Capital of the Pacifi c world’s busiest origin and destination Rim. The County’s cultural and economic airports, international trade is the force diversity, educational opportunities, behind much of the region’s vitality. The extensive infrastructure and thriving continuous stream of goods fl owing into industry clusters have created unparal- and out of the region’s ports sustains other leled opportunities for all its residents key segments including warehousing and helped to establish L.A.