s you approach Mann Biomedical Park in Santa Clarita one thing is clear – this world-renowned company is not part of your typical business park or industrial area. Rolling hillsides rest beside the park's structures, while decades old trees line shaded pathways throughout the complex. Alfred Mann purchased the property in 2002, relocating Mannkind Corporation to Santa Clarita to provide a distinctive setting for his companies.
      Mann was in good company. Home to the largest master-planned industrial park in Los Angeles County, Santa Clarita has attracted a number of industry clusters including biomedical, technology, aerospace, and film/entertainment. In the last decade alone, other biomedical companies such as Advanced Bionics, Apex Medical, Specialty Laboratories, Costech, Ultra Violet Devices, Utak Laboratories, and Neotech Products, among others, have opened headquarters in Santa Clarita, transforming this one-time bedroom community into one of Southern California's most sought after biomedical communities.
      There are several reasons why businesses have headquartered in Santa Clarita. First, the City of Santa Clarita has embraced a "what's good for business is good for Santa Clarita" philosophy, working hand-in-hand with companies to ensure financial success. The City does everything it can to make working in Santa Clarita "pencil out" through incentives such as:
      • No Business License Fees
      • No Utility Users Tax
      • No Gross Receipts Tax
      The City of Santa Clarita is also one of the state's 42 Enterprise Zones offering a variety of tax credits, which could equal thousands of dollars in savings each year. The Santa Clarita Enterprise Zone designation covers 97 percent of all commercial, business, and industrial-zoned land in the City, making it easy for companies to take advantage of these savings.
      One of the things the City of Santa Clarita does best is collaborate. The City's non-bureaucratic approach to business and close relationships with industry leaders and local education facilities has created a unique opportunity for bio-medical related business.
      College of the Canyons recently created the 13Advanced Technology Incubator to help existing and start-up technology related businesses. The 13Advanced Technology Incubator is the only facility of its kind in California that incubates tenant companies on campus and focuses on biotechnology. College of the Canyons is now home to a 2,900 square foot clean room with both wet and dry lab capabilities, adding critical laboratory capacity to meet the needs of this growing industry cluster.
      Santa Clarita's innovative practices, incentives for business, and close proximity to Los Angeles have captured the attention of industry watchers nationwide, leading to prestigious rankings by major banks, publications, and research authorities as one of California's strongest markets.
      "Santa Clarita offers all the amenities we need to attract top people to work in our high-tech environment … the future looks bright as the bio-med cluster continues to grow [in Santa Clarita]," said Jeff Griener, CEO Advanced Bionics.