IN THIS ISSUE:
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Winter 2008 >
The Edge at
Campus El Segundo--
14-acre business park
to open
March 2008 >
Douglas Street
Gap Closure--
Project completion
target date
As much as two-thirds of the water used in El Segundo is cleaned and recycled, making the city number one in California in water reclamation and conservation.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR
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As we welcome a new year, El Segundo looks back on a successful 2007 with many successes and exciting new opportunities for business.
Last year we celebrated our 90th anniversary as a city. Though much has changed since 1917, we have managed to maintain our small town roots while building a vibrant, diverse and thriving commercial environment.
During the year, we were proud to welcome a number of new arrivals and watched the launch of several major projects.
El Segundo continued as a strong lure for business relocation. Among the key firms moving into our community were Tesco, the world's third largest retailer, which established its West Coast headquarters here; Canadian-owned COM DEV USA, which produces space hardware subsystems; high-tech giant SAIC, our newest Fortune 500 company; and EVA Air, which opened its American headquarters in El Segundo.
We also cemented our reputation as the region's new co-location hotspot, as noted in the Los Angeles Business Journal. Our city's extensive fiber optic network, prime location and other amenities make it ideal for data centers to set up shop here.
Two wonderful community attractions opened last year. In March, the 28,000-square foot Automobile Driving Museum debuted on Lairport Street, showcasing a diverse selection of 70 antique, special-interest and historic automobiles and even allowing visitors to ride in the vehicles.
In August, the Campus El Segundo Athletic Facility, featuring two 100-yard by 65-yard synthetic turf athletic fields, a snack bar, restrooms, and raised seating, celebrated its grand opening at the site of the upcoming 46-acre mixed-office park on the east side of town.
On a related note, construction kicked off for the 220,000-square foot The Edge at Campus El Segundo, a mixed-use business park on the north end of the Campus site, offering office, research & development, technology and retail spaces for sale ranging in size from 3,000 to 20,000 square feet. The complex will be ready for occupancy in early 2008.
Meanwhile, our Planning Commission approved two new multi-use office condo developments west of Sepulveda, including one in our downtown, that will break ground in 2008.
Construction proceeded on two more phases of the landmark Plaza El Segundo retail center on Sepulveda Boulevard just north of Rosecrans Boulevard. Notable store/restaurant openings during the year included: Whole Foods Market, Swoozie's, Anthropologie, Smith & Hawken, Pinkberry, Salt Creek Grille, Starbucks, Marmalade Cafe, J. Crew, Banana Republic, BCBG Maxazaria, m. Frederic, La Sirena Grill & Cantina, Toy Jungle, and Antiqua, among others.
Finally, the city itself continued to provide unsurpassed services to both residents and businesses. Last year saw vital upgrades to our public safety equipment and infrastructure as well as a City Council commitment to "go green" on future projects in order to help the environment.
When we were named the "Most Business Friendly City" in Los Angeles County by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation in October 2006, El Segundo assumed a leadership role to spur other communities in the region to adopt a proactive approach to business recruitment and retention. We are honored to take the lead and hope that other cities in the region will follow in our footsteps.
In the meantime, when searching for a new home for your business, consider El Segundo - "The city that invests in you." Our capable staff is ready to assist you every step of the way, from permit pulling all the way to ribbon cuttings. You can also learn more about us by logging onto: http://www.elsegundobusiness.com
Our best wishes to you, your business and your family for a truly prosperous 2008!
Sincerely,
Mayor Kelly McDowell
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EL SEGUNDO WAGES HIGHEST IN SOUTH BAY
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According to 2006 data released in the recent Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation annual forecast, El Segundo ranks number one by far out of all South Bay cities with annual average wages of $81,621.
The South Bay itself boasts the third highest annual average wage ($51,689) among LA County's 14 regions, trailing only the Westside and Central/Downtown LA.
El Segundo's numbers are also among the highest overall in the region, thanks to the presence of the high-paying aerospace and technology sectors here as well as more than a dozen Fortune 500 companies.
Among industries, the professional/scientific/technical sector pays the most on average ($96,008).
The LAEDC forecast also credited El Segundo's strength in this sector for offsetting adverse economic effects of job losses in areas such as manufacturing and construction.
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MORE RETAIL COMES TO SEPULVEDA
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Though known for aerospace, IT and manufacturing firms, El Segundo has recently become a retail mecca, thanks to the arrivals of Plaza El Segundo and several major industry players on the high visibility Sepulveda superblock.
Construction of The Edge, the third phase of the immensely popular Plaza project is almost complete with a series of major new stores and restaurants opening this quarter.
The list of recent debuts includes Active Ride Shop, Antiqua, Aveda Vicara Salon Spa, La Sirena Grill & Cantina, Toy Jungle and Wrapsody.
Coming soon: Crepe Cafe, Milan Nails, Quari, Veggie Grill and Yogaworks.
About a half mile north, Walgreens, one of the world's largest pharmacy chains, has opened just off the corner of Grand Avenue.
Also of note, Tesco--the world's third largest retailer which established it US headquarters in El Segundo in 2006--officially opened its first "Fresh & Easy" small format grocery stores in the United States at the end of 2007.
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DOUGLAS STREET COMPLETION THIS WINTER
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The long awaited federal and state funded project to connect Douglas Street--a vital thoroughfare between Aviation and Sepulveda boulevards--through to Rosecrans Avenue will finally be completed by March 2008 and should help ease congestion in El Segundo's busy southeast commercial sector.
The new underpass provides 1,100 feet of new four-lane roadway under the existing railroad and Metro Green Line station to connect the two dead ends of Douglas between Park Place and Alaska Avenue.
Also included: a park-and-ride lot at the north end of the project.
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STAY IN THE KNOW
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We are pleased to report that "News Links"--the newest feature on our business-friendly website: www.elsegundobusiness.com--has been a resounding success!
The section is your one-stop shop for locating important news items about business in El Segundo.
From the latest aerospace contract details to Wall Street earnings and landmark commercial deals, News Links is a quick and convenient way to stay up-to-date and in-the-know on El Segundo.
The public is also invited to post its own News Links to be included on www.elsegundobusiness.com (subject to approval)
To top it off, we've included RSS capabilities to the page to add to your RSS or SML reader or as a feed to your own website.
So when a new article is posted, you or your audience will be automatically notified.
Check it out today and be sure to send us feedback to tell us what you think at: feedback@elsegundobusiness.com
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WE WANT YOUR INPUT
Let us know how we can best serve you.
Though we continually update our website and strive to provide you with the latest and most pertinent information about our city, there is always room for improvement.
We welcome your ideas.
What else would you like to see on elsegundobusiness.com?
Please feel free to submit feedback to: feedback@elsegundobusiness.com
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