By Jorge Casuso
November 14, 2025 -- Glendale has been named LA County's most business-friendly large city by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) besting Santa Monica and three other finalists.
The prize was awarded at LAEDC's 30th Annual EDDY Awards hosted at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena on November 5.
Glendale, a city double the size of Santa Monica with a strong economy, was recognized as a "regional hub" that has launched innovative programs to help small businesses and activate vacant storefronts.
According to City officials, over the past several years, Glendale has "implemented and expanded a variety of economic development tactics" and streamlined processes for businesses.
The initiatives include offering concierge development services to "efficiently shepherd" projects through the system and launching a Human Resources Hotline that has provided hundreds of Glendale small businesses with "essential guidance."
The City also launched the Artsakh Creative Program, an award-winning initiative that "transforms vacant storefronts into vibrant, short-term retail and cultural activations."
The program -- which offers free space to artists, makers and start-ups -- "helps generate foot traffic, enliven commercial corridors, and provide emerging businesses with a low-risk launchpad," officials said.
Like Santa Monica, Glendale is a key participant in LA Tech Week, which brings together startups, venture capital firms, corporations, creators and residents "to showcase the region’s thriving innovation ecosystem."
Santa Monica was named a finalist this year for "championing sustainability and economic resilience" as part of the City's "ethos" and "utilizing programs that balance business attraction, equity and community-driven development."
Unlike Glendale, Santa Monica has been struggling to kick-start its economy, which has been suffering from declining revenues from sales taxes, hotel bed taxes and parking revenues. It also has one of the highest commercial vacancy rates in the LA area.
In September, the City Council approved a "fiscal distress" resolution to "articulate and capture in one place all of the different challenges the City is facing from a financial situation," City Manager Oliver Chi said at the time.
On October 28, the Council approved an ambitious plan to revitalize the City's economy that includes enhancing public safety, tackling an entrenched homeless problem with a carrot-and-stick approach and expanding the Downtown entertainment zone to other business districts.
Other large cities competing for LAEDC's business-friendly award were Burbank, Palmdale and Pasadena.
Burbank, which is "home to global entertainment leaders," was recognized for cutting permit review times, launching a business concierge program and investing in major developments, including a new terminal at Hollywood Burbank Airport.
Pasadena was recognized for "driving inclusive growth through streamlined permitting," investing in workforce development and forging "bold partnerships across education and industry."
The Antelope Valley City of Palmdale was recognized for "advancing aerospace and film through targeted incentive programs while engaging residents with initiatives like Palmdale Eats and the city’s first Restaurant Week."
Santa Monica, by far the smallest city among the five finalists, had been nominated for the prize before the COVID shutdown, while Glendale has been ranked in the top five business-friendly large cities for multiple years in a row.