Santa Fe Springs City Manager Rene Bobadilla speaks Oct. 17 at an event that introduced a business-friendly alliance between the cities of Santa Fe Springs, Commerce, Industry and Vernon to strengthen the area’s business climate. The four cities, while small in size, contain almost 25% of Los Angeles County’s total industrial square footage.
Courtesy photo
Wave Staff Report
SANTA FE SPRINGS — The city hosted a high-profile luncheon last month to announce its newly developed Business Growth and Attraction Program. The event brought together city officials, state leaders, real estate experts and corporate executives who highlighted how Santa Fe Springs is positioning itself to lead California’s next chapter of business and industrial innovation.
Santa Fe Springs will advance its business growth plans while working in close coordination with the newly announced “Big 4” partnership, a coalition of business-friendly cities that includes Vernon, the city of Commerce, and the city of Industry. The partnership establishes a unified voice to advocate for the shared interests and needs of the four cities, which serve as economic engines of Southern California. Combined, the Big 4 cities represent only 0.69% of Los Angeles County’s footprint, yet they contain almost 25% of its total industrial square footage — a concentration unmatched anywhere else in Southern California.
Santa Fe Springs Mayor William K. Rounds and City Manager René Bobadilla kicked off the event, held at the historic Clarke Estate, by underscoring the city’s unique and competitive business advantages that have allowed it to become an economic powerhouse, home to more than 54.7 million total square feet dedicated to industrial and commercial space.
Rounds then introduced the city’s comprehensive package of new business incentives aimed at further expanding economic growth, as well as the city’s plans for a vibrant new downtown district that will bring new mixed-use housing, retail, office, hospitality, and public spaces to the community. The city’s suite of nearly two dozen business incentives includes low-interest loans for scaled capital expenditure, buildouts, etc.; sales tax rebates; lease rent subsidies; corporate relocation subsidies; fast-tracked planning reviews; and enhanced infrastructure financing districtfinancing.
“With our new business incentives and downtown plan in motion, developers in both the commercial and residential sectors will find fresh opportunities in our city,” Rounds said. “Together with our Big 4 partners … we’re moving collaboratively to shape the future of economic development in Los Angeles County for generations to come.
“Our shared vision is to make Santa Fe Springs a vibrant live-work-play environment, a city defined not only by its industrial strength, but also as a premier destination and community hub within the region.”
“Santa Fe Springs is already the densest industrial hub in Los Angeles County, yet there are still promising areas for growth,” City Manager René Bobadilla added. “Working in concert with the other Big 4 cities, we’re leveraging our collective strength to attract new industries, create jobs and maintain California’s competitive edge.
“Our new business incentives unlock opportunities by streamlining regulatory processes and offering innovative public-private financing options. These tools will allow the Big 4 to compete directly with states like Texas, Arizona and Tennessee while shaping a stronger, more resilient economic future for Southern California,” Bobadilla added.
The luncheon also featured a virtual keynote address by U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez, who emphasized the importance of Santa Fe Springs’ local leadership in strengthening California’s business climate.
“When cities, businesses and local partners collaborate, we create opportunities, including better jobs, thriving industries and stronger neighborhoods,” Sanchez said. “Across our region, we are seeing growth in areas like clean energy, technology and advanced manufacturing. With strong local leadership, like what we see in Santa Fe Springs, we can make sure that the growth benefits everyone.”
A panel of industry leaders, including executives from Amazon, Primestor Development, and the Orden Company, discussed the challenges and opportunities shaping California’s business landscape. The conversation was moderated by Wesley Yin, former chief economist for the White House Office of Management and Budget and professor of public policy and management at UCLA.
“There are many competing narratives when it comes to our regional economic growth, which is why I’m excited to hear from all the leaders gathered today,” Lin said. “Despite the challenges we face, from the cost of living to policy hurdles, California remains a national leader in innovation, job creation, and overall economic output.”
“Many businesses operate here because of the state’s size, scale, and incredible talent base, but that doesn’t mean they have to stay,” said Ron Frierson, Western U.S. director of economic development for Amazon. “Maybe the impact isn’t always immediate to the bottom line, but when we see leaders actively incentivizing business and growth, it’s a step in the right direction. What we need now is strong leadership that can articulate a clear, holistic vision for where we want to be and work backwards from there.”
