LOS ANGELES, CA – Culver City won the 2026 Most Business-Friendly City Award in the small-city category Wednesday, while West Hollywood was among the seven finalists in that category, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation announced.
The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, known as LAEDC, presented the honor on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at its 31st Annual EDDY Awards at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena. An independent Blue-Ribbon Committee selected 14 finalists, seven in a large-city category and seven in a small-city category.
Culver City won the small-city award ahead of Calabasas, Commerce, Signal Hill, South El Monte, South Pasadena and West Hollywood. Torrance won the large-city award.
West Hollywood Vice Mayor Danny Hang congratulated Culver City on the win while celebrating his own city’s recognition as a finalist.
West Hollywood recognized for market intelligence and broker engagement
West Hollywood was recognized as a finalist for its work on market intelligence, broker engagement and accelerated review for qualifying projects. LAEDC described the city’s recognition in those terms.
The city did not take the small-city award. West Hollywood won the same award in 2021.
Hang wrote on social media, “Proud to see West Hollywood recognized as a finalist for LAEDC’s 2026 Most Business-Friendly City Award!” He did so while also congratulating Culver City on its win.
Culver City cited for ombudsperson help and permit reimbursement
Culver City’s city manager said Oct. 20 in the City Manager’s Desk update for October that the city was a finalist for the award. The update said Culver City was one of 14 finalists across Los Angeles County.
According to that update, the city was recognized for ombudsperson assistance, permit reimbursement, technical assistance and placemaking. It also said the honorees would be announced Nov. 4 at the 31st Annual EDDY Awards.
Culver City Vice Mayor Bubba Fish accepted the award for the city at the Rose Bowl. In his remarks, Fish highlighted the city’s film-production incentive pilot program, permit-fee relief for small businesses and educational workshops.
Fish also cited collaboration with neighboring cities and regional partners as part of the city’s approach.
Torrance wins the large-city category
Torrance won the 2026 Most Business-Friendly City in Los Angeles County award in the large-city category, the city said in a news release published Nov. 5. The award was presented at the Nov. 4 ceremony in Pasadena, and Torrance was selected from seven finalists.
Torrance Mayor Sharon Kalani said the win was an incredible honor and a reflection of the city’s partnerships with its business community. The city also cited more than 13,000 active business licenses and no local gross receipts tax.
Santa Clarita, Santa Monica and Burbank among large-city finalists
Santa Clarita was one of the seven large-city finalists, according to a city post published Oct. 9. The city said it was recognized for integrated retention and recruitment, workforce alignment and one-stop permitting, and Mayor Laurene Weste called the recognition a tremendous honor.
Santa Monica was named a finalist for the second year in a row, the city announced Oct. 6 in a press release. The city said its Realignment Plan, adopted in October 2025, “further lowered costs and sped up approvals for business owners.”
Santa Monica Mayor Caroline Torosis said a city is business friendly when someone with a good idea can get a permit, open their doors and hire their neighbors. Santa Monica did not win in the large-city category.
Burbank also announced on its own newsroom that it was a finalist for the 2026 Most Business-Friendly Large City Award.
Finalists chosen by an independent committee
Finalists in each category were chosen by the independent Blue-Ribbon Committee. According to initial reports, the committee reviewed applications across five equally weighted categories: overall business-friendly approach, support for existing businesses, strategies to attract new businesses, partnerships advancing regional economic growth and efforts to reduce red tape.
The award recognizes cities that create environments where businesses can start, stay, grow and invest. Santa Monica’s release described the EDDY Awards as “an annual celebration of economic development, leadership and opportunity in Los Angeles.”
West Hollywood last won the award in 2021
West Hollywood’s finalist recognition leaves Culver City as the 2026 small-city winner, and the city’s most recent win of the award remains the one in 2021. The City of West Hollywood had not published a release on the 2026 recognition on its official website as of Tuesday.
