CITY HALL AMONG FINALISTS FOR AWARD LOCAL GOVERNMENT EAGER TO BOOST AREA ECONOMY.

Byline: CHARLES F. BOSTWICK Staff Writer

BURBANK -- Santa Clarita is among five finalists named by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. for a new award, The Most Business-Friendly City.

The award was created to encourage city officials to recognize their role in helping businesses create jobs for Los Angeles County, which over the past 25 years has gained 2.5 million residents but added only 500,000 new jobs, Bill Allen, chief executive of the LAEDC, said.

``We have heard from businesses over the last 25 years that some cities do a great job facilitating business success,'' Allen said. ``Other cities don't do a good job.''

The winner will be named Oct. 5 at the LAEDC's annual Eddy Awards dinner at the Century Plaza Hotel.

Santa Clarita has no business license fee or utility user tax. The city offers businesses site location assistance and expedited plan reviews and permits, and the community possesses an educated work force and available land, the LAEDC said.

Santa Clarita officials put a priority on retaining and attracting businesses in order to create jobs for the city's residents, spokeswoman Gail Ortiz said. More than half of Santa Clarita residents who work must commute outside the city.

``We want to attract businesses that are clean, that have high-paying jobs, to help with our jobs-housing balance,'' Ortiz said.

The other finalists are Burbank, Lancaster, Long Beach and El Segundo. They all share low taxes and fees, high-quality services for businesses, and rapid processing of permits, Allen said.

The organization in years past has honored businesses but rarely officials in government, Allen said. But he said it is important for city officials to think about how they can attract and retain businesses and jobs, particularly manufacturing and other high-paying jobs.

``You can no longer expect quality jobs will just fall in your lap. There's too much competition around the world,'' Allen said.