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LAEDC brings countywide economic summit to Torrance Cultural Arts Center
Summary
The Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation held an 88-city summit in Torrance attended by about 300 people, featuring panels on foreign direct investment, workforce development and small-business support, a showcase of a new electric vehicle and a local nonprofit employment program.
The Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation brought its annual 88-city summit to the Torrance Cultural Arts Center for a day of panels, breakout sessions and exhibits that drew about 300 attendees from across Los Angeles County, organizers and participants said.
Organizers said the summit gave economic developers and local leaders a chance to coordinate planning after what panelists described as a turbulent year for the region. Sessions addressed issues including foreign direct investment, the digital divide, workforce development and small-business assistance.
Christine Lee, Economic Development Manager, City of Torrance, said she moderated a panel about friendship cities and turning those relationships into economic opportunities, and highlighted Torrance's history of international business investment. "I'm the economic development manager for the city, so I partner with a lot of the other organizations that are here," Lee said.
A representative for the City of Monterey Park said the city attended to share programs after being recognized in LAEDC's EDI Awards cycle; Monterey Park was identified at the event as the prior year's winner for "most business friendly city." Local nonprofit I CAN operated a coffee service at the summit; an I CAN representative described the program as an employment-empowerment initiative that helps people with disabilities build customer-service and workplace skills.
Industry exhibits included Torrance-based Sony Honda Mobility, which displayed a new electric vehicle model, Afila 1. Attendees described the event as an opportunity to see innovations and seek new public-private partnerships.
Breakout sessions and fireside chats covered a range of topics, organizers said, from closing the digital divide to workforce development and small-business assistance, and participants said they left with new contacts and ideas for local programs.
To learn more about business resources and why companies choose Torrance, organizers directed attendees to torranceca.gov/ytorrance, Lee said.
