Foundations for the Future

Over the past decade, the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation (SCVEDC) has led a surge of economic development in this tightly knit community 30 miles (48 km.) north of Los Angeles. By all metrics and forecasts, those ten years were merely a glimmer as to what’s on the Santa Clarita Valley’s horizon.

“We are definitely the growth area of Los Angeles County. And most of that is well-planned growth, which is one of the things that I think is very unique about the Santa Clarita Valley,” says Holly Schroeder, SCVEDC’s president and CEO.

The Santa Clarita Valley’s population is nearing 300,000, up more than six percent since 2010. In perhaps the most telling measure of the SCV’s projected emergence, developers are prepared to deliver 30,000 new homes in the coming decades. The acceleration of housing is projected to result in continued population growth, which will help meet the demand of a vibrant jobs base that has surged by a staggering 25% since 2010, outpacing the growth of the SCV’s population.

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“We are definitely the growth area of LosAngeles County.”

— Holly Schroeder, President and CEO, SCVEDC

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Already, the Santa Clarita Valley has positioned itself as the lower-cost, higher-quality option for businesses in Southern California, which has made the SCV an increasingly attractive hub for technology innovation, advanced manufacturing, information technology, professional services and film and digital entertainment. SCVEDC has been at the center of shaping the pro-business environment that has fostered the region’s rise.

“EDC has established itself as a very, very credible and capable partner,” says Brian O’Connor, vice president of communications for Princess Cruises, Santa Clarita’s largest employer.

An aggressive approach to economic development has helped lure businesses from other parts of greater Los Angeles, including Logix Federal Credit Union, soon to relocate from Burbank. Logix chose the Santa Clarita Valley after getting “the red carpet treatment” from SCVEDC, says Ana Fonseca, Logix CEO.

“Holly and her team have been super, super, super supportive of us. They get very involved with helping the employers in the Santa Clarita Valley and future employers going in to make sure that they’re successful,” Fonseca tells Site Selection.

As ever, economic development is a team sport, one that yields steady dividends when local leaders can be persuaded to work toward a common vision. It’s a formula that has worked well for the Santa Clarita Valley during SCVEDC’s first decade.

“We bring together municipal players, the city and the county, academic players and the private sector business community to work collectively for economic development,” says Schroeder. “Our first ten years demonstrates that collaboration and integrated approach work and will continue to move the community forward.”

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For 10 things you need to know about the Santa Clarita Valley, please visit: santa-clarita.info

This Investment Profile was prepared under the auspices of Santa Clarita Economic Development Corporation. For more information, contact Holly Schroeder at (661) 288-4400, or visit scvedc.org.