Chamber VOICE Fall 2011 · VOLUME 10 · ISSUE 3 A publication of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce TURNING CHALLENGES Cleantech takes INTO OPPORTUNITIES: off in L.A. Cleantech is on the rise in L.A., with more than 700 cleantech companies already located in the area. People all over the country are looking for ways to The L.A. Area Chamber believes that this region has the This October, the City will launch the Los Angeles do more with less. From small business owners to power to lead the country in an economic revival, and has Cleantech Incubator (LACI) to accelerate the policymakers, Americans are finding that in this new been working with business and civic leaders to promote development of cleantech start-ups and to help build a economic climate, the conventional ideas and old innovative solutions to some of the nation’s most pressing stronger green economy in L.A. LACI will offer office methods no longer work. problems. Following is an overview of some of the sectors space, mentoring, commercialization help, networking where the L.A. area is leading the nation in innovation. opportunities and financing to eligible cleantech Enter “innovation,” which quickly became a buzzword in startups. December 2007, in sync with the start of the recession. Though broadly used, it generally refers to the invention LACI is a nonprofit organization hatched from the of products and processes that introduce positive change to society. Harvard Economist Michael Porter calls it “the CleanTech L.A. alliance between the Mayor’s office, the TRANSPORTATION L.A. Area Chamber, local research institutions, and central issue in economic prosperity.” other business and government organizations. In Southern California, the region that brought the L.A. is pioneering an innovative transportation plan that Want to hear more? nation the space shuttle, the Internet and the Mars Rover, President Obama has called a “template for the nation.” Join us at the LACI launch! innovation is more than a buzzword; it’s our bread and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s 30/10 Initiative, Thursday, October 6, 2011 butter. The L.A. area is home to two of the top five patent- strongly endorsed by the Chamber, has the potential to generate economic growth, create tens of thousands 5 – 8 p.m. producing universities in the nation (The University of California and California Institute of Technology); of jobs, improve public health, reduce greenhouse gas 411 S. Hewitt St. dozens of Nobel Prize-winners; a vibrant startup scene; emissions, ease traffic congestion and reduce government Los Angeles, CA 90013 a booming tech sector; and one of the most cutting edge, spending. busiest and most profitable port complexes in the world. The event will feature a showcase of new technologies This year, national leaders adopted the local plan as from local cleantech companies, tours of LACI, food and Suffice it to say, Southern Californians know a little a model for the country, America Fast Forward. “We drinks from local restaurants and live music. The program something about innovation, and with the world hungry know one thing without a doubt—government has to do will include remarks from local political leaders and a for cleaner, more efficient and cheaper ways of doing more with less, and the innovative financing model of presentation about LACI and the La Kretz Innovation things, our ideas have never been more in demand. The 30/10 can serve as a model for smart investment in U.S. Campus by LACI Executive Director Fred Walti. ability to find creative solutions to big problems is part of infrastructure,” said Mayor Villaraigosa in a column in what has grown L.A. from a sleepy pueblo to a massive The Huffington Post. “By leveraging local funds, we can RSVP now at laci.eventbrite.com. metropolis in less than 125 years. Thinking big and build 21st century regional transit projects and create For more information, visit laincubator.org. partnering across industry lines have enabled City leaders hundreds of thousands of jobs, all at a low cost to the to overcome L.A.’s unique challenges, and has made the U.S. Treasury.” City a world leader in multiple industries. Continued on page 4 Join us for ACCESS L.A. City Hall Join business leaders from throughout the region for a networking breakfast and a special City Council meeting on issues vital to L.A.’s businesses. Topics include job creation, prioritizing essential city services, pension reform, fixing the budget deficit and lowering L.A.’s business tax. This event is free and open to the public. SPEAKERS INCLUDE SCHEDULE 7:45 a.m. Registration & Continental Breakfast 8:30 a.m. Plenary Session with L.A. Mayor and City leaders 9:45 a.m. Break 10 a.m. L.A. City Council meeting on jobs and business Mayor Antonio City Controller growth and presentation of the Beacon Villaraigosa Wendy Greuel Economics Los Angeles City Council Districts 2011 Economic Report 11 a.m. City Council Discussion ACCESS 11:30 a.m. Public Comment & Adjourn L.A. City HALL Wednesday, October 5, 2011 City Council President City Attorney For more information contact Shannon Cooper, 213.580.7565 Eric Garcetti Carmen Trutanich or [email protected]. Follow the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce on and at lachamber.com. A better L.A. is our business The power of innovation Calendar of Events Want to know what’s coming up at the Innovation is the ability to see change as an Chamber? Visit lachamber.com/events or scan this code using a QR scanner on opportunity, not a threat. Throughout history, the your mobile phone to view and register leaders of business and industry in California have for upcoming events. Below are some key embraced that philosophy; and in today’s climate of signature events you don’t want to miss: continuous change, there’s no other way to ensure our area’s future prosperity than to seize the opportunity to innovate once again. Event Highlights In this issue, we’ve explored innovations throughout Los Angeles, Southern California and the State. As WED | SEPT 28 you’ll read, innovation is not only a part of the culture THE The Connection Point Series, Session in our region; it is also the answer to our many of our CONNECTION Three: Twitter and Blogs for Business current challenges. POINT Learn how Twitter can be an information accelerator with the power to produce real bottom line results. From America Fast Forward, in which L.A. is a model for the nation in Also, find out how blogs can increase customer discovering innovative ways to finance transportation projects, to the growing engagement and help establish you as a thought- cleantech industry, the Chamber is working to utilize our area’s entrepreneurial leader. For more information on the Connection Point spirit to put Californians back to work. Series, “Social Media: The New Way to Connect with Customers,” visit lachamber.com/connectionpoint. For the past year, the Chamber has been planning a new state-wide leadership development program, California Connections, to build a cadre of leaders across the State that know each other, respect each other and share a common desire to break down the barriers that exist between different geographic areas. This WED | OCT 5 November, the Southern California Leadership Network will launch the program, ACCESS L.A. City Hall giving executives throughout the State an opportunity to study important issues and create pathways to successful statewide leadership. Join business leaders from throughout the region for a networking breakfast and a special City Council meeting A key to leadership development and continued innovation is education. As on issues vital to L.A.’s businesses. Topics include job home to some of our nation’s top higher education and research institutions, the creation, prioritizing essential city services, pension L.A. area owes much of its world-class status to its universities. These research reform, fixing the budget deficit and lowering L.A.’s institutions employ more than 100,000 people and fuel our economy through business tax. This event is free and open to the public. their excellence in innovation, teaching and public service. Through the L.A. For more information, contact Beverly Kenworthy, Compact, the Chamber has engaged our universities in a focused effort to support 213.580.7531 or [email protected]. innovations that will ensure a strong 21st century workforce for our region. The past three years have been very challenging and full of change for businesses in L.A. and throughout the State, but our members have used collaboration to TUES | DEC 6 sustain their business as and set the stage for growth in the future. I thank you Southern California for your continued support of the innovative efforts of the Los Angeles Area Visionaries Awards Luncheon Chamber of Commerce. In times of change, your time, talent and resources have helped us identify ways to make L.A. a better place to live and work. The Southern California Leadership Network annually Collaboration and Innovation are powerful tools. recognizes leaders who are inspiring positive change in the region at this pinnacle leadership event in Southern California. For more information, contact Taleen Ananian, 213.580.7526 or [email protected]. Gary L. Toebben President & CEO DEC 7 - 8 Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce 10th Annual Cash for College: College & Career Convention The two-day College & Career Convention features college life seminars, interactive career demonstrations, Chamber VOICE is a quarterly publication of the financial aid presentations and an exhibit hall with Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce college and university representatives from throughout 350 S.