LOS ANGELES – Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today announced the launch of Los Angeles Business Solutions – business.lacity.org – a one-stop, easy-to-use platform for entrepreneurs to start, green and expand their business in Los Angeles.

 Business.lacity.org combines and streamlines content currently placed on more than 20 separate City websites, creating easy access to information in areas from permitting and licensing to incentives and job training centers, and much more. “Making Los Angeles business-friendly is a top priority,” Mayor Villaraigosa said. “Business owners don't necessarily work 9 to 5 and they don't have time to drive around town picking up forms. We’re making it easier so that business owners can focus on managing and growing their business.” One site feature, Start Up LA: Ten Key Steps to Starting a Business in LA, provides a simple and clear guide to the business startup process, including creating a business plan, registering a business and finding permits. Business.lacity.org also includes an interactive map – searchable by address – that shows whether a business is located in a Business Incentive Zone. The Mayor's Office launched business.lacity.org to overhaul the City's online business services based on recommendations from local business groups, including the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and the Los Angeles Economy and Jobs Committee. New Business Solutions website – business.lacity.org

“Last fall, the participants of Access L.A. City Hall presented the City with ideas on creating a more efficient website conducive to strengthening L.A.’s business climate,” said Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Gary Toebben. “The Chamber applauds the City for listening to the voice of business and providing our community with a resource of greater clarity and accessibility to doing business in the region.” “Small businesses and entrepreneurs are the backbone of L.A.’s economy, and this new website should help them cut through much of the red tape and confusion they have faced in the past,” said Russell Goldsmith, CEO of City National Bank and Chairman of the Los Angeles Economy and Jobs Committee. “It shows that the City of Los Angeles is committed to improving its business climate.” There are currently 390,536 registered businesses in the City of Los Angeles, 99,441 of which have taken advantage of the City's Small Business Exemption in 2008. In 2007, 33,005 new businesses were registered with the City of Los Angeles. Business.lacity.org addresses the full business cycle, from startup to greening to expansion. The website launch is the latest step in Mayor Villaraigosa’s effort to make Los Angeles a business-friendly city. In March, the Mayor and City leaders announced the new “12 to 2” Building Reform Plan, which streamlines the building process for businesses by reducing the number of departments with which a builder must directly interact from twelve to two.