What Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation does

Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit economic development organization founded in 1981 and headquartered in downtown Los Angeles, serving all 88 cities in LA County and unincorporated areas — a region spanning 4,000+ square miles with 10 million residents and a GDP exceeding $886 billion. Its integrated five-pillar model combines Research (via the Institute for Applied Economics, producing economic and fiscal impact studies, the annual Economic Forecast, and the statewide FDI Report), Business Assistance (a no-cost, multi-lingual advisory program that has served 1,100+ companies annually and retained or created 250,000+ jobs since 1996), Workforce Development (including the Center for a Competitive Workforce integrating LA's 19 community colleges), International Trade (through its World Trade Center LA subsidiary, a USCIS-approved EB-5 Regional Center, and WTCLA franchise access), and Strategic Engagement (convening the LA Regional Collaborative's 700+ organizations and the Board of Governors with senior executives from Amazon, Cedars-Sinai, Kaiser Permanente, Bank of America, Boeing, NBCUniversal, Warner Bros., Verizon, Google, and JPMorgan Chase).

LAEDC's technology and product surface is centered on data and research assets rather than software: proprietary economic impact models, GIS-enabled site selection via locatelacounty.com, the LA Dashboard for economic indicators, California SmartMatch (a SoCal Aerospace Council supply-chain matching platform), Gladeo LA (a career exploration platform), and a Digital Engagement Infrastructure supporting stakeholder CRM and event tracking. Signature convening assets include the 30-year EDDY Awards, the annual Economic Forecast, the 88 Cities Summit, the Select LA Investment Summit (now in its 11th year), and the Future Forum series.

Revenue is generated through a diversified non-profit mix: annual membership dues from businesses, educational institutions, nonprofits, and local governments (quote-based, with Board of Governors representation); tiered event sponsorships ranging from $5,000 (Community Impact) to $75,000 (ICON); event ticket sales ($50-$75); restricted and unrestricted grants from corporate and philanthropic funders; fee-based commissioned research engagements for clients such as the LA Sports Council and Metro; EB-5 Regional Center administrative fees; and government contracts (notably the LA Regional Collaborative for California Jobs First with the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity). Many core services (Business Assistance advising, research report downloads, webinars) are free to the public.

Name

Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation

Legal name

Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation

Website

https://laedc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LAEDC is a 501(c)(3) economic development non-profit serving all 88 cities of Los Angeles County, integrating research, free business advisory, workforce development, international trade promotion via its World Trade Center LA subsidiary, and convening of 700+ partner organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Business assistance program
• Workforce development initiatives
• Foreign direct investment
• Industry cluster research

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Recurring annual membership fees paid by businesses, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and local governments seeking representation on the Board of Governors. Multiple membership tiers available; specific pricing not publicly disclosed.
2. Event Sponsorships: Tiered sponsorship packages for signature events. Listed tiers include Community Impact Sponsor ($5,000), Experience Sponsor ($7,500), ICON Sponsor ($75,000), and Wallet ($10,000). Sponsorship opportunities extend to 88 Cities Summit, EDDY Awards, Economic Forecast, and Select LA Investment Summit.
3. Event Ticket Sales: Ticket sales for signature events such as the 88 Cities Summit ($50–$75). Tickets represent a smaller per-transaction revenue stream relative to sponsorships.
4. Grants and Philanthropic Contributions: Restricted and unrestricted grants from corporate and philanthropic funders supporting specific initiatives (e.g., CTBC Bank $150,000 fire disaster relief grant). Donations solicited through buy.stripe.com storefront.
5. Commissioned Research and Reports: Fee-based research engagements for public-sector, private-sector, and nonprofit clients (e.g., the annual Sports in the Los Angeles Basin Economic Impact Study prepared for the Los Angeles Sports Council, and Metro corridor fiscal-impact studies).
6. EB-5 Regional Center Administration: LAEDC operates a USCIS-approved EB-5 regional center to facilitate jobs-creating projects in LA County and match foreign investors to opportunities. EB-5 administrative fees represent a specialized revenue stream tied to international investment.
7. Government and Public-Sector Contracts: Funding and contracts from public agencies to deliver programs (e.g., the LA Regional Collaborative for the California Jobs First program in partnership with LA County Department of Economic Opportunity, and the Business Assistance Program supported by workforce-development funding).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

LAEDC provides no-cost business advisory, site selection, and layoff aversion services to companies across LA County's 88 cities, delivered through a multi-lingual field team. The organization also produces economic and fiscal impact research through the Institute for Applied Economics, drives workforce development via the Center for a Competitive Workforce across 19 community colleges, attracts foreign direct investment through the World Trade Center LA franchise, and convenes 700+ organizations through the LA Regional Collaborative for California Jobs First. Revenue is generated through membership dues, event sponsorships and tickets, commissioned research, government contracts, and philanthropic grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LA is Open: A post-disaster community engagement and economic recovery initiative promoting Los Angeles as open for business, visitors, and investment.
• California Jobs First
• SoCal Aerospace Council

Products and services

• Business Assistance Program (BAP) Free, no-cost, confidential, multi-lingual business advisory services to companies across LA County's 88 cities. Includes permit assistance, layoff aversion, site selection, access to capital, and tax incentive identification. Has assisted over 1,100 companies annually and retained or created 250,000+ jobs since 1996.
• Institute for Applied Economics (IAE) Research and Reports
• Center for a Competitive Workforce (CCW) Partnership Workforce development partnership integrating LAEDC research, industry cluster work, business assistance, and employment development across LA's 19 community colleges. Aligns regional workforce training with industry demand across LAEDC's priority clusters.
• World Trade Center Los Angeles (WTCLA) Foreign Direct Investment and Trade Promotion Operates as the first point of entry for foreign businesses and trade delegations seeking to establish or expand in LA County. Connects international companies with LA service providers for site selection, utilities, legal, financial, and business development. Affiliated with the global World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) network.
• EB-5 Regional Center Administration USCIS-approved EB-5 Regional Center that facilitates jobs-creating projects in LA County and matches foreign investors to opportunities. EB-5 administrative fees represent a specialized revenue stream tied to international investment.
• LA Regional Collaborative for California Jobs First Regional convening of 700+ organizations developing and implementing a regional economic development plan under California's California Jobs First program, co-convened with the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity.
• locatelacounty.com Real Estate Listings and Site Selection Portal Self-serve, free real estate listings feed and site selection portal with filters for zoning, square feet, proximity, demographic and workforce data within a selectable radius, competitor/supplier overlays, and side-by-side property comparisons. Daily updates.
• LA Dashboard Interactive data dashboard for tracking Los Angeles County economic indicators and regional performance metrics. Free, public-facing tool.
• LAEDC Membership Program Multi-tier recurring annual membership for businesses, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and local governments. Includes Board of Governors representation and access to LAEDC programming. Pricing is quote-based and tier-specific.
• 88 Cities Summit LAEDC's signature annual convening event serving as the primary gathering of the 88 cities of LA County. Held October 14, 2026 in Montebello. Tickets $50 (Early Bird) to $75 (standard); multi-tier sponsorship packages from $5,000 to $75,000.
• EDDY Awards LAEDC's signature annual recognition event honoring economic excellence and regional impact in LA County, with a 30-year legacy. Includes the Most Business Friendly City Award category. Multi-tier sponsorship packages available.
• Select LA Investment Summit LAEDC's annual international investment summit (11th edition held in 2026) attracting foreign direct investors, site selection consultants, and corporate expansion leaders to LA County.
• Economic Forecast and Future Forums LAEDC's annual economic forecast release and recurring Future Forum webinars and virtual briefings covering regional economic conditions, industry trends, and post-disaster impact.
• California SmartMatch (SoCal Aerospace Council) A SoCal Aerospace Council offering that helps OEMs solve needs in the supply chain and other areas by matching aerospace supply-chain opportunities with regional suppliers in Southern California.
• Gladeo LA Career Exploration Platform Career exploration platform used by LAEDC's Workforce Development team to translate complex job market data into actionable insights for students, industry partners, workers, and educators, with a focus on underserved neighborhoods.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,100 companies assisted annually through the Business Assistance Program
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• VisacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLAEDC's Workforce Development team partnered with Visa to host Financial Football at NFL headquarters for high school students (February 11, 2022 and later recurrences). Co-branded financial-literacy program for youth workforce development.
• Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-convener of the LA Regional Collaborative for California Jobs First (700+ organizations); co-publisher of the quarterly LAEDC Wildfires Economic Update series. DEO is also represented on LAEDC's Board of Governors (Kelly LoBianco, Executive Director).
• Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional planning partner and listed Strategic Partner of LAEDC; SCAG releases analyses that LAEDC supports and disseminates.
• Los Angeles Area Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed Strategic Partner; collaborates on regional business policy, advocacy, and convening activities in Los Angeles.
• Biocom CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed Strategic Partner supporting LAEDC's bioscience industry cluster work. Biocom California is the state's leading life-science association, enabling cross-region collaboration.
• British American Business CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed Strategic Partner; supports transatlantic business engagement and WTCLA-aligned international trade activities.
• Japan America Society of Southern CaliforniaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed Strategic Partner; supports Asia-Pacific business engagement and WTCLA-aligned international trade.
• Japan Business AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed Strategic Partner; supports Japanese business engagement with LA County.
• Asia Society of Southern CaliforniaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed Strategic Partner; supports Asia-Pacific cultural and business engagement.
• California Fashion AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed Strategic Partner; supports LAEDC's creative and apparel industry cluster.
• National Association of Women Business Owners, Los Angeles (NAWBO LA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed Strategic Partner; supports women-owned business development and procurement access.
• BizfedcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBizFed (LA County Business Federation) — listed Strategic Partner and broad business-advocacy coalition. Co-advocates on regional business policy.
• California Stewardship Network (CSN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed Strategic Partner; supports landscape stewardship and economic-environmental alignment.
• Latino Business Chamber of Greater Los AngelesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed Strategic Partner; supports Latino-owned business development and inclusive economic growth.
• Los Angeles Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed Strategic Partner; supports small business, workforce, and community programming.
• San Gabriel Valley Economic PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed Regional Economic Development Partner; coordinates subregional economic development and policy across the San Gabriel Valley.
• Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed Regional Economic Development Partner; coordinates economic development in the Santa Clarita Valley subregion.
• The Valley Economic AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed Regional Economic Development Partner; coordinates economic development in the San Fernando Valley.
• Vermont Slauson Economic Development CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed Regional Economic Development Partner; coordinates local economic development in the Vermont-Slauson area of South LA.
• LA Regional Collaborative (700+ organizations)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAEDC leads and supports the LA Regional Collaborative for the California Jobs First program, which convenes 700+ organizations to develop and implement a regional economic development plan.
• LA Region's 19 Community Colleges (Center for a Competitive Workforce)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAEDC leads the Center for a Competitive Workforce (CCW) partnership integrating LAEDC research, industry cluster work, business assistance, and employment development across the region's 19 community colleges.
• Los Angeles Sports Council (LASC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned relationship: LAEDC's Institute for Applied Economics produces the annual Sports in the Los Angeles Basin Economic Impact Study for the LA Sports Council (2024 and 2025 editions). Sports is a signature LAEDC industry cluster.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce: LA-based business membership organization that overlaps with LAEDC on regional policy advocacy, member services, and convening of LA business leaders. Directly comparable as a member-supported economic development and business advocacy body serving the same LA County geography.
• Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation: Subregional EDO for Santa Clarita Valley within LA County. Offers business attraction, retention, and workforce programs analogous to LAEDC's Business Assistance Program but at smaller scale, competing for sponsor and member dollars in LAEDC's footprint.
• San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership: Subregional EDO that operates within LAEDC's geography, providing business assistance, advocacy, and convening services across San Gabriel Valley cities. Directly comparable in business model and target customer (LA County businesses and municipalities), but at subregional scale.
• The Valley Economic Alliance: San Fernando Valley-focused EDO offering business assistance, workforce development, and policy advocacy within LA County. Comparable service mix (business assistance + convening + workforce), competing for the same corporate and municipal members in overlapping geography.
• Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corporation: Local South LA economic development corporation providing small business assistance and workforce programming. Comparable nonprofit EDO model targeting underserved LA County businesses, but operating at neighborhood rather than county scale.

Broad incumbents

• Greater Houston Partnership: Houston's leading regional business membership organization, producing economic research, conducting business attraction, and convening executives. Comparable as a multi-pillar nonprofit EDO with international trade, research, and workforce programs serving a major U.S. metro.
• Greater Phoenix Economic Council: Regional EDO serving Greater Phoenix with business attraction, workforce, and research programs. Closely comparable to LAEDC across all five pillars (research, business assistance, workforce, trade/international, convening), operating at similar scale in a major Sun Belt metro.
• New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYC EDC): City-owned EDO serving NYC with real estate, infrastructure, and business attraction programs. Comparable mission and service portfolio (research, business assistance, international trade, workforce) but operates as a city-funded authority at much larger scale than LAEDC's nonprofit model.
• Bay Area Council Economic Institute: Bay Area-based research and convening organization producing regional economic reports and policy advocacy. Comparable to LAEDC's Institute for Applied Economics and Strategic Engagement pillars, with similar member-supported nonprofit business model serving a major U.S. metro.
• San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation: San Diego-based EDO offering business assistance, research, international trade, and workforce programs. Closely comparable peer in California — same nonprofit EDO model, similar service pillars, but serving a smaller, adjacent regional economy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/laedc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/laedc
• Facebookfacebook.com/LAEDC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/104986
• Instagraminstagram.com/laedc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation