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Why LA - Business

A captial of the Pacific Rim, Los Angeles is in a unique position for global innovation expansion. Los Angeles has the advantage of international investment and innovation industries. LA is home to a large and globally influential market, a strong investment community, and strong complementary clusters in entertainment, aerospace, digital media, and logistics.

Robust CleanTech Workforce

From pipe-fitters and electricians to engineering PhDs and nobel laureates, the business and labor communities are teaming up to make Los Angeles the most productive place for your cleantech business.

  • Los Angeles universities, design schools, and community colleges are leading the way in energy, sustainability, climate change, and water -- Los Angeles produces world-class talent solving relevant world issues.
  • With 198 colleges and universities offering 65 different degree programs related to cleantech development, the future of Los Angeles green collar workforce is strong.
  • Los Angeles has a large and growing pool of workers (226,000) engaged in technology jobs in the largest manufacturing region in the United States
  • Prominent unions are joining in the transition to a green economy and are engaged in programs for unions to become the leading experts of green building practices

Strong Regional Industry Clusters

Regional industry clusters including aerospace, entertainment, health care, and tourism provide a strong base to establish a proactive cleantech industry here in Los Angeles.

Large Supportive Education and Training Community

The Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (LATTC) is collaborating with large energy employers and trade unions to create the highest level of training for a new generation of green employees. Los Angeles Trade-Technical College has a range of green-related courses and programs that range from alternative fuels and emissions reduction in the Diesel Technology Program to a Supply Water Technology AS degree with an emphasis in water purification. Currently the college has 52 green-integrated courses and four green-related degree and certificate programs in career-technical, science, health, and liberal arts programs.

For more information about LATTC click here.



The City’s New Cleantech Business Incubator

Los Angeles has launched its new cleantech business incubator to accelerate development of cleantech start-ups by offering flexible office space, CEO coaching and mentoring, and access to a growing network of experts and capital. LACI is the business equivalent of baseball's farm system: it identifies local talent, nurtures it, and helps it get to market, resulting in more jobs and a bigger green economy in Los Angeles.

Make Locally and Sell Globally

The world is in transition and is offering possibly the biggest economic opportunity of the 21st century. The question is: Can we grab it?

President of Originoil, Inc. Talks Algae With KCRW

Los Angeles-based Originoil, Inc. is a company that aims to transform algae, a promising source of renewable oil, into a petroleum substitute. President Riggs Eckelberry discusses the benefits, commercialization process, as well as the future of the algae industry.

Water Use Efficiency and Jobs 2011

At the peak of California’s most recent drought in 2009, the Los Angeles economy was in severe recession, with unemployment above 12%. These twin crises identified a policy opportunity to tackle both challenges together. Public investments in water use efficiency provide economic and job benefits alongside the environmental benefits from using less water. This report quantifies the economic and job benefits that result from investments in water use efficiency in Los Angeles.

Risk Capital

Southern California Investors

Academia

UCLA, USC, and Caltech have a combined 42 Nobel Laureates and more PhDs granted than any region in the country.

Government

Los Angeles City government is developing a cleantech industrial park, business incubator and research center in Downtown LA's Cleantech Corridor. Local agencies will spend billions of dollars on cleantech infrastructure like clean energy, green construction, and expanded transit by 2020.

News

Port of LA Pollution Declines for 4th Straight Year

LA Rated #1 Water-Friendly City

Make Locally and Sell Globally

The Top Ten Reasons LA is a Leading Clean Tech City

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