SCVEDC Blog

Celebrating Economic Development Month

Honoring Santa Clarita Valley's Largest Employers

The Santa Clarita Valley is a growing region with significant opportunities for businesses including available, state-of-the-art industrial and commercial buildings in master planned developments. Despite the challenges, 2020 was a successful year for many companies, and there were several attractions and expansions across our target industry clusters. Through our research for the Economic Outlook Forecast, we compiled the Santa Clarita Valley Largest Employer’s List illustrating some remarkable growth this past year.

Keeping Your LA County Project On Track Through LA County Connect

One of the primary keys to a Commercial Development project is staying on track and maintaining the proposed schedule. This can be challenging when navigating the many agencies and departments in Los Angeles County. Now through LA County Connect, Santa Clarita developers and design professionals can receive expert advice and guidance – tailored specifically for Commercial Development projects in Plan Review. Developers can preview plans, discuss process and timing, and get the answers needed from LA County departments in a timely manner!

2020 Annual Report

The COVID-19 pandemic brought both health implications and serious economic ones. In 2020, the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation celebrated its 10th anniversary, and the work of the organization has never been more vital! SCVEDC continues to focus on business assistance, business attraction and retention, community marketing, and information and data. Despite the numerous obstacles of the past year, there are many bright spots; most notably, the incredible support, innovation, and resiliency of our business community, including the many SCV companies that quickly pivoted to manufacture PPE and sanitizers, or offered their teams in volunteer capacities.

Printful Relocates North to the SCV

The Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation is pleased to announce that Printful, a print-on-demand service based in Charlotte, N.C. is relocating its California facility from Chatsworth to the Santa Clarita Valley, in the Valencia Commerce Center. This new location is triple the size of the Chatsworth site, which will accommodate their increased production demands.

Industrial Market in SCV Never Missed a Beat 

While the COVID-19 crisis initially gave many companies pause for good reason, 2020 was an exceptionally good year for industrial real estate across the board, the Santa Clarita Valley included. In 2020, the SCVEDC was pleased to announce that several new companies chose to locate in the Santa Clarita Valley including two Amazon fulfillment centers, DrinkPAK, a beverage manufacturer, and a state-of-the-art medical testing lab. Several SCV companies expanded as well, including P3 Inc., LA North Studios, Lief Labs, 24/7 Events and Mellady Direct Marketing.

Santa Clarita Valley’s Medical Professionals Rise to the Challenge 

There is no doubt that 2020 was a challenging year for all, but most especially those on the front lines caring for those who are gravely ill with COVID-19. It was hard to predict in March how our region would be affected, but those heading up the medical response had been preparing for something like this for a long time.

Santa Clarita Valley Chapter Aerospace & Defense Forum Announces New Steering Committee Chair

Eric Jensen, Director of Manufacturing Ramp and Transition at Fralock Inc., steps in as Chair of the Steering Committee of the Santa Clarita Valley Chapter of the Aerospace & Defense Forum as of January 2021. The SCV Chapter was launched in October of 2019 to expand local business collaboration, networking, and information sharing by A&D executives relevant to the business of aerospace, commercial space and defense industries. This eighth chapter of the A&D Forum, sponsored by the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation (SCVEDC), has been well received by the SCV aerospace community with strong engagement and event attendance, even through transition to virtual meetings in 2020 due to COVID.

Minimum Wage Increases for Businesses in the City of Santa Clarita on January 1

Are you confused about the minimum wage increases? You’re not alone! The Santa Clarita Valley is in an especially unique situation in that the City of Santa Clarita and the County of Los Angeles have two different minimum wage increase schedules which has caused confusion and challenges for many of our local employers and residents alike.

GO-Biz Hosting Webinars for Businesses Interested in Applying for
 $80 Million in Tax Credits

Have you heard about the California Competes Tax Credit? It’s a state income tax credit supporting growth of high quality jobs in California, available to businesses who want to come to, stay in, or grow in our state. Through a two-phase process, businesses apply and compete for this credit during three application periods each fiscal year.

Three Important Online Resources Offered by SCVEDC 

The Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation is an organization dedicated to attracting, retaining, and growing business opportunities for the Santa Clarita Valley. That mission is more important than ever. While most of our usual face-to-face meetings are temporarily on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic, SCVEDC has many online resources to help your company with a variety of issues you may face. Here are just a few free resources to help your business:

The City of Santa Clarita and SCVEDC Award Local Small Businesses with COVID Relief Grants

The City of Santa Clarita and Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation (SCVEDC) are excited to announce that 149 small businesses within the Santa Clarita Valley were approved to receive a one-time financial reimbursement for COVID-related expenses of up to $5,000 per individual business, as a part of the Santa Clarita Small Business COVID Relief Grant.

Interested applicants began receiving their approval or denial letters beginning on Thursday, November 19. Verified eligible businesses that have met all specified grant qualifications and requirements can expect to receive grant funds by the end of the year.

LA North Studios to Add Soundstages at The Center at Needham Ranch

Trammell Crow Company (TCC) and Clarion Partners, LLC announced Wednesday that LA North Studios, one of Santa Clarita’s newest and largest soundstage facility and studio operators, has signed a five-year lease to take over 113,640 square feet at Building 5 at The Center at Needham Ranch. LA North plans to convert the space into a fully functioning satellite soundstage hub when it opens in early 2021.

Developers Trammell Crow Co. and Clarion Partners have announced that DrinkPAK, an alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage manufacturer, has inked a deal to occupy space at the joint venture's The Center at Needham Ranch industrial park in Santa Clarita.

Filming is Back in the Santa Clarita Valley 

Hollywood North has become a common moniker of the Santa Clarita Valley in reference to the large amount of filming that takes place here. And it’s true – there are many TV shows, feature films, music videos and commercials shot in our region. After an industry-wide shutdown affecting film and television productions and thousands of workers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, filming is finally back, and SCV sound stages are filling up quickly. 

SCVEDC is Your One-Stop Resource for Business Needs 

The Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation’s (SCVEDC) overarching goals are to support the creation of high-paying jobs for our trained workforce, stimulate economic activity that grows the regional tax base, and strategically position the Santa Clarita Valley (SCV) and its businesses to better compete in the global economy. SCVEDC offers many services and resources to local businesses to help the access tax credits and incentives, workforce development and training, provides vital data and information, and connects companies for networking and peer support. 

City Council Approves 2020 SCV Small Business COVID Relief Grant Program; SCVEDC Key Partner

Applications are open now through Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.

The City of Santa Clarita is thrilled to announce that the City Council has approved the Santa Clarita Small Business COVID Relief Grant program to help local small businesses impacted by COVID-19. Approval was given during the October 13 City Council meeting. SCVEDC is partnering with the City in order to allow companies across the SCV to apply.

Holly Schroder named Chair of the Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board

Holly Schroeder, President and CEO of the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation (SCVEDC) has been selected by fellow Workforce Development Board Commissioners to serve as Chair of the Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board (WDB).

Lief Labs Expands Again in SCV

Lief Labs, a nutritional supplement manufacturing company, leased a 52,000 SF industrial building at IAC Commerce Center, adding to their 112,000 square-foot facility that houses their corporate headquarters, manufacturing, and distribution center that they leased in October of 2018.

The NEW 2020 Economic Outlook Forecast 

The economic shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic coincided almost perfectly with the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation’s previously scheduled, and ultimately canceled, Economic Outlook Forecast on March 12. In the six months that have ensued, SCVEDC's economist, Dr. Mark Schniepp of California Economic Forecast has been keeping a close eye on the rapidly evolving economic impacts of the shutdown on a national, state and local level.  On September 17, 2020, Schniepp presented a revised Economic Outlook Forecast at our rescheduled virtual conference. Though an economic recovery is underway, he predicts it will proceed slowly for the rest of the year and that full recovery will be out of reach until a vaccine or cure for COVID-19 is widely available. 

Applications are now open for Startup Boost Los Angeles Fall cohort and will close on September 16th, 2020. 

Startup Boost, a mentorship driven program aimed at guiding pre-seed/seed stage startups to accelerators, investment, and/or revenue (AIR), is now accepting applications for participants in their fall cohort.

New Testing Lab to Open in Santa Clarita Valley

The Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation is pleased to announce that the State of California plans to open a new medical testing lab in the Santa Clarita Valley. The state is in final lease negotiations on a property in the Livingston Technology Park that features 12,000 square feet of Class 7 and 8 clean room space in the 134,287 square foot facility.

New Brain Stimulation Center to Open in SCV

Santa Clarita, CA -- The Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation (SCVEDC) has announced the opening of BrainStim Centers, Inc., in the Santa Clarita Valley. Brainstim Centers, Inc., focuses on supporting brain health through the process of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Local and innovative neurosurgeon Dr. Mark Liker, who initiated and leads the center, anticipates that it will be the first of several such state-of-the-art therapeutic centers in California.

Southern California Edison's Wildfire Mitigation Plan

Since many businesses experienced SCE power shutoffs last year, SCVEDC has been communicating with officials at the organization about its fire prevention and mitigation plans.

Earlier this year, Southern California Edison announced plans to inspect thousands of miles of power lines, remove trees as necessary in high-risk areas, and segment certain components of power lines as part of a $582 million Wildfire Mitigation Plan. These improvements greatly reduce the likelihood of wildfires and preemptive, public safety power shutoffs (PSPS) in SCV business parks. 

Five Reasons Why the ‘Burbs are Better than Ever

Covid-19 has considerably altered daily life in the United States and around the Globe. These changes have upended the way we shop, how we educate our children, and how we work; this pandemic is also likely to affect where we live.

 Riedel Communications Brings North American Headquarters to SCV 

The Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation is pleased to announce that Riedel Communications is relocating its North American headquarters to the Santa Clarita Valley. Riedel Communications designs, manufactures, and distributes innovative real-time networks for video, audio and communications. Its products are used for broadcast, pro-audio, event, sports, theatre and security applications worldwide. 

New Commercial and Industrial Development Will Help Spur Economic Recovery in SCV

The Santa Clarita Valley is growing, and that's a good thing. According to Dr. Mark Schniepp of California Economic Forecast, new commercial and industrial development and construction will help spur the economic recovery in our region.

California Competes Tax Credit Application Starts July 27

Have you heard about the California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC)? It’s a state income tax credit supporting growth of high quality jobs in California, available to businesses who want to come to, stay in, or grow in our state. Through a two-phase process, businesses apply and compete for this credit during three application periods each fiscal year.

Save the Date - SCV Economic Outlook Forecast is Rescheduled for September 17, 2020

Are you wondering how the Covid-19 crisis has impacted the economy of the Santa Clarita Valley, the state of California, the United States, and the world? Does your company rely on accurate and up-to-date demographic data for the region? Are you interested in how growth and development will shape Santa Clarita in 2020 and beyond? If you answered yes! to any of these questions, you need to attend our Virtual 2020 Economic Outlook Conference.

SCVEDC BOD Members and CEO Named to Valley 200

Several members of the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation’s Board of Directors have been named to the San Fernando Valley Business Journal’s Valley 200 list announced on July 20. Holly Schroeder, President & CEO of SCVEDC has also been recognized as a Valley 200 Icon of Influence, along with SCV business owner Cheri Fleming, CEO of Acura of Valencia and SCVEDC Board Member Tamara Gurney, President of Mission Valley Bank.