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LAEDC awards one large and one small city in L.A. County for business development and creating economic opportunities.
On September 22, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) announced the finalists for the 2025s Most Business-Friendly City Award, a cornerstone of the milestone 30th annual EDDY Awards. This honor recognizes one small city and one large city in Los Angeles County that exemplify innovation, strong partnerships and best practices in fostering economic opportunity.
Now in its 30th year, the award underscores the vital role cities play in driving inclusive economic growth. While all 88 cities across Los Angeles County are working hard to support residents and businesses, finalists stood out for their innovative approaches that not only strengthen their local economies but also serve as models other cities can learn from.
An independent blue-ribbon committee of judges selected the finalists. The process was highly competitive, with voting closer than ever, all reflecting the impressive economic efforts throughout Los Angeles County.
The winners will be selected November 5 at at The Rose Bowl, during an event which will bring together some of the region’s top business, government, civic, education, non-profit, philanthropic and community leaders for an annual celebration of economic development in the Los Angeles region.
Here are 2025’s EDDY finalists.
Most Business-Friendly Small City Finalists:
Azusa: Leveraging a lean team and partnerships to activate downtown spaces like the 609 Community Space, Azusa also introduced community-driven events such as Azusabor Culinary Festival.
Gardena: The South Bay city is supporting local businesses through a one-stop Concierge Program and revitalizing commercial districts with initiatives like the Gardena Boulevard Façade Improvement Program.
Glendora: Engaging directly with businesses through “Mobile City Hall” visits, Glendora incentivized new dining and retail growth through forgivable loans and a “Shop Local” rewards program.
Montebello: The multicultural city of 63,000 is charting a bold path with a new General Plan that prioritizes revitalizing commercial corridors and reimagining downtown with smart mixed-use development, setting a long-term vision for growth that stands out across the region.
Pico Rivera: Building on its strong industrial base, Pico Rivera has modernized zoning and infrastructure to attract new investment, while supporting small businesses with targeted outreach and streamlined services.
San Fernando: The north county city is championing small business resilience through façade improvements, bilingual business support and strong community engagement.
Most Business-Friendly Large City Finalists:
Burbank: Home to global entertainment leaders, Burbank has cut permit review times, launched a business concierge program, and invested in major developments like the new Hollywood Burbank Airport terminal.
Glendale: The central city is a regional hub, blending concierge-level permitting with innovation programs such as Glendale Tech Week, Tech on Tap and the Artsakh Creative storefront activation initiative.
Palmdale: In the Antelope Valley, Palmdale is advancing aerospace and film through targeted incentive programs while engaging residents with initiatives like Palmdale Eats and the city’s first Restaurant Week.
Pasadena: Driving inclusive growth through streamlined permitting, investments in workforce development, and bold partnerships across education and industry, Pasadena leads large business centers in the San Gabriel Valley.
Santa Monica: Championing sustainability and economic resilience is part of the ethos of Santa Monica, utilizing programs that balance business attraction, equity and community-driven development.