BizFed Launches with 44 Business organizations, representing over 70,000 businesses, employing over 1.2 million people and reveals Legislative Priorities
LOS ANGELES – Today the Los Angeles County Business Federation (BizFed) announced the arrival of their new large scale, grass roots alliance of LA County business organizations. The BizFed, whose goal is to mobilize the collective voice of the Los Angeles County business community, boasts 70,000 members at the outset of their mission to support and improve the economic vitality of the region.
“We believe that a strong business community, which creates jobs and keeps our economy growing, benefits everyone – business and working families alike,” said BizFed Chairman David Fleming. “Our priority will be to support and advocate for strong economic policies which incentivize Los Angeles businesses to stay here, expand here and to attract new companies to bring their jobs to our backyard.”
From the Antelope Valley to San Gabriel, Long Beach and Claremont, BizFed members operate in all corners of Los Angeles County.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has also expressed his enthusiasm regarding the creation of the BizFed.
"The momentum for this new business coalition is fantastic. A vibrant economy begins with a job. By creating jobs and growing the economy, the Los Angeles County Business Federation will be setting the stage to effect immeasurable improvements in transportation, education, healthcare and crime prevention in California. I congratulate all its member organizations for coming together to help build and expand our economy."
The BizFed has expanded the scope of traditional advocacy organizations by creating a unique set of internet based tools.
"A key component of the BizFed’s outreach will be their groundbreaking creation of highly powerful web tools," said BizFed’s member Tim McCallion, Chairman of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. "These web tools and action alerts allow BizFed members to communicate their opinions instantaneously to decision makers from throughout the region and provide them with the most information about elected officials and their districts."
The BizFed doesn’t operate as “business as usual,” rather their members consist of large trade groups, chambers of commerce both large and small in addition to Business Improvement Districts and businesses with anywhere from one employee to tens of thousands.
“Just like NAWBO, the BizFed is a diverse organization,” said Helen Han, CEO, of the National Association of Women Business Owners, Los Angeles Chapter. “We believe that our partnership with the BizFed will allow our members greater access to the information they need to operate and grow their businesses while also helping to secure quality jobs for their employees.”
By announcing the results of their first in-depth member survey, the BizFed established that lowering commute time, curbing gang violence and improving the quality of our neighborhood schools as their top priority issues.
“You will notice that tax incentives or tax reform are absent from our list, and that’s because the BizFed stands for more than increasing profit margins,” said Holly Schroeder, CEO of the Building Industry Association and Chairwoman of the BizFed’s Advocacy Committee. “We believe that strong, vibrant communities are the foundation for a healthy economy.”
The initial survey of BizFed members provides interesting insight in to the diversity of this newly formed grassroots organization.
“In addition to revealing top priority issues, our survey showed that over 61% of BizFed members are small businesses with just 1-19 employees,” said Juan Garcia, BizFed research director from the Employer Group – an independent third party who performed and assessed the survey results. “The BizFed allows for businesses large and small to stand on a level playing field.”
“The BizFed has clearly shown that they are ready and able to take the pulse of businesses throughout the County,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe. “By working together this new and innovative organization will have a clear influence over critical issues impacting our economy.”
“Our economy is at a critical juncture where Los Angeles could stand to lose jobs from both small businesses and large alike,” said Tracy Rafter, CEO of the BizFed. “From providing jobs, to increasing investment in housing and creating a better sense of community, the BizFed wants to be an active part of every discussion.”
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The Los Angeles County Business Federation acts as a grass roots alliance of existing business organizations whose goal is to effectively mobilize the collective voice of the Los Angeles business community. For more information please visit http://www.bizfed.org