Santa Clarita Tops L.A. for Business

The City of Santa Clarita tied with the City of Los Angeles for the top spot in BizFed’s 2026 Pulse Poll, giving Santa Clarita a fourth straight year at or near the top of the Los Angeles County business survey. The Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation, or SCVEDC, said the result was published on Aug. 5 and described it as the city’s fourth consecutive year leading the county’s business-friendly ranking. BizFed’s poll has run since 2008 and surveys member associations on business conditions and local policy concerns. Santa Clarita has ranked in the top three in nine of the past 10 polls and finished No. 1 seven times, including six outright wins and this year’s shared finish. ### Why did Santa Clarita place at the top again? SCVEDC said Santa Clarita’s pitch to employers starts with taxes and operating costs. The organization said the city has no business license tax, no gross receipts tax, no payroll tax and no utility users tax, which it said gives companies immediate cost advantages. SCVEDC also said Santa Clarita was the only Los Angeles County city in the lowest-cost tier of the 2024 Kosmont-Rose Institute Cost of Doing Business Survey. (scvedc.org) The City of Santa Clarita says its economic development team helps businesses navigate permitting, planning and city services. On the city’s economic development pages, Santa Clarita describes itself as one of the most business-friendly cities in Los Angeles County and says staff can guide companies through a one-stop permit process and connect them with resources. ### What exactly is the BizFed poll measuring? (scvedc.org) BizFed describes itself as a coalition of 240 business organizations representing 420,000 employers and 5 million employees across Southern California. The annual Pulse Poll asks member associations about their operating concerns and policy priorities, and it also asks respondents to identify cities they see as business-friendly. The 2026 poll drew 427 participants from more than 35 industries, according to SCVEDC and a posted copy of the BizFed presentation. (santaclarita.gov) SCVEDC said 59% of respondents identified themselves as the top decision-maker in their organization, and 70% said they selected a city because they do business there or know people who do. The presentation says 83% of respondents represented companies with 50 or fewer employees. (bizfedlacounty.org) ### How large is the business base Santa Clarita is talking about? SCVEDC said the local environment supports more than 10,000 businesses across aerospace and defense, advanced manufacturing, medical devices, entertainment, technology and professional services. The group also says the Santa Clarita Valley has nearly 30 million square feet of industrial and commercial facilities. (scvedc.org) SCVEDC’s largest-employer data shows a broad mix of public and private payrolls in the valley, including schools, logistics, utilities, retail and manufacturing. In a 2024 employer roundup, the organization said 28,731 workers were employed among the 50 largest employers for which complete information was available. ### Why does the tie with Los Angeles matter? (scvedc.org) The 2026 result was a tie, not a sole first-place finish. SCVEDC said that still preserved Santa Clarita’s streak at the top while adding the City of Los Angeles as a co-winner this year. Los Angeles County cities and economic development groups use rankings like the BizFed poll and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation’s separate “Most Business Friendly City” awards in recruitment materials and investor outreach. (scvedc.org) Santa Clarita’s own economic development website highlights the BizFed recognition as part of its case to companies considering expansion or relocation. (scvedc.org) ### What comes next for businesses watching this? Santa Clarita’s next public touchpoint on business policy is through City Council meetings, which the city says are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at City Hall in Valencia. The city’s economic development office and SCVEDC are also continuing to market Santa Clarita to employers with assistance on site selection, incentives, workforce development and expansion planning. (santaclarita.gov) (laedc.org)