Glendale Named 2025’s Most Business-Friendly Large City
Award highlights Glendale’s long history of innovation, strong local economy, and support for small businesses.
For nine decades, the city of Glendale has been a proving ground for major retailers. Small businesses such as Bob’s Big Boy, Baskin-Robbins, Panda Express and Dave’s Hot Chicken all started in Glendale before becoming national success stories.
It’s no surprise that the city and its economic development team have earned multiple awards for fostering a strong business climate. In November, at the 30th annual Eddy Awards, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation once again named Glendale the 2025 Most Business-Friendly City in the large city category.
Photo Credit: IG: ChooseGlendale
“Glendale has a strong economy that’s powered in no small measure by city government staff dedicated to making it desirable and pleasant to do business in our city,” said Community Development Director Bradley Calvert.
In recent years, the city has expanded several economic development programs, including a free human resources hotline, concierge development services, tech startup growth initiatives and the Let’s Grow Glendale Small Business Summit.
Building on its legacy as a retail innovator, Glendale has invested $8 million to revitalize a stretch of commercial space along Artsakh Avenue and launch the Artsakh Creative Program, a small business incubator that offers free workspace to artists, makers and startups. The program aims to generate foot traffic along the corridor and provide emerging businesses with a low-risk way to launch.
Known as the Jewel City, Glendale is the fourth-largest city in Los Angeles County, with a population of nearly 200,000. The city is recognized for its cultural diversity, historic neighborhoods and thriving commercial districts.
Major national brands have also found opportunity in Glendale. Disney, Apple, Samsung and Amazon all opened some of their earliest brick-and-mortar locations there, particularly at the Glendale Galleria and the Americana at Brand.
With its latest recognition as the Most Business-Friendly City, Glendale has cemented its reputation as one of the best places in the Los Angeles region to start and grow a business.