Business
Development Plan
By Aurelio
Mattucci
Over the past two years I have personally visited over 3,800
businesses and about 1,500 residents. I
have asked the same question over and over, “What would you like improved in
the city?” Most answers started with, Oh Boy….
I am a commercial real estate broker and I specialize in
business relocation and startups. As a
council member, my focus will be in bringing new business to Torrance and help
the existing businesses thrive and not just survive. City Hall must become a working partner in
people’s lives and allow new business to flow in without any major red tape and
obstacles.
The plan is to simultaneously tackle the issues from all
angles.
Internally:
1. Lower the
business license tax to a flat $99 a year for businesses that have less than 5
employees or annual gross revenue not exceeding $500,000.
2. Waive the
business license tax for the first year on any new business.
3. Streamline the
permitting process and allow applications to initiate online.
4. Lower our
permit fees by 25% across the board
5. Eliminate
the annual “Fire Inspection Fee” on businesses under 5 employees or under 2,000
square feet of space.
6. Allow real
estate agents to install Open House signs on public property the day of the
open house, limited to 6 signs per day, per agent. Signs of course may not block or partially
block any public right of way. Current
ordinance does not allow for any open house signs.
7. “Gratitude
is the new Attitude” we must change our attitude at the counter. I have spoken to many residents and business
owners and the number one complaint is the attitude. Of course this can only be fixed if we find
the root of the problem, which usually points to work environment, poor
management and no clear understanding of the city’s vision.
Externally:
1. Our
Economic Development Department needs to reach out to business owners and not
wait for them to contact them. One thing
we need to keep in mind is that most self-employed have issues with time, not
enough of it. When I met with Fran
Fulton from this department I was happy to see that they were taking a
proactive approach to contacting business owners, but had very low turnouts. I
suggested a door to door campaign and workshops set up inside the business owners’
locations.
2. In addition
we need to tap into the multi-million dollar resource we have just a few miles
away, The Port of Los Angeles. We need
to reach out to the thousands of multinational companies that utilize the Port
of Los Angeles and invite them to our city. We have over 1 million square feet
of available space in Torrance. Filling
this space will generate the much needed revenue we’ve been waiting for. Incentives need to be put in place to induce new
growth. Most business growth is in
relocation and not new business. We need
to remind ourselves that it’s easier to lose a business than it is to attract
one. The incentives should include waiving permit fees and business licensing
fees for the first year. This will stir
up growth within the city and revenue will be balanced by the added jobs.
3. If we want
to be a business friendly city, we need to show the public the difference
between us and neighboring cities. Yes,
we have over 400 world headquarters in Torrance and that is remarkable, but
being number 1 takes constant efforts. Our reputation in the business
environment is not as favorable as public officials try to tell us.
Let’s bring back prosperity in our city and attract
shoppers from all over. Let’s make
Torrance a destination and not just a drive through city.
Aurelio Mattucci