Monrovia Contending for Most Business-Friendly Small City in the County Tonight

Monrovia officials are hoping to snag the trophy for the in the county when the award is announced during a gala event Wednesday night.

The event, hosted by the by the nonprofit Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp., begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Beverly Hilton. Monrovia is one of six finalists for the nonprofit's small-city "Eddy Award," which is given to municipalities with fewer than 60,000 residents.

Mayor Mary Ann Lutz, City Manager Scott Ochoa and Darlene Sanchez, a management analyst with the Monrovia Redevelopment Agency, will all be in attendance for the $300 per ticket affair.

Ochoa said the award would be a huge boon for the city and its ability to attract business.

"It's important to us because when we market the city of Monrovia, one of the things that resonates strongly with business is that we understand business and we are cost efficient in doing business," Ochoa said.

The award would reinforce the city's reputation for being very business friendly, Ochoa said.

Created by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in 1981, the LAEDC is charged with facilitating economic development in the county by helping to attract, retain and grow businesses and jobs in the county through the use of financial assistance and advisory programs.

Judges chosen by the corporation consider a variety of factors in determining finalists for the award.

Carrie Rogers, vice president of business assistance and development for the LAEDC, has cited Monrovia's lack of a utility user tax or city sales tax as two contributing factors, along with the city's streamlined permit and business licensing processes.

Monrovia is competing with Duarte, Azusa, Cerritos, Commerce and La Mirada in the small city category. The cities of Alhambra, Carson, Downey, Torrance, West Covina and Whittier are the finalists in the large city category (municipalities with populations of more than 60,000).

Ochoa said the city has been trying to find out who the winner is beforehand but the LAEDC has remained tight-lipped. Lutz has prepared a victory speech just in case, he said.

"You've got to think positive, right?," he said.