Council Adopts Motion To Create A Jobs And Economic Development Incentive Zone In Reseda

For Immediate Release: November 4, 2022

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LOS ANGELES — Today, the Los Angeles City Council voted to establish a Jobs and Economic Development Incentive (JEDI) Zone in a commercial area of the Reseda neighborhood of Council District 4, as proposed by Councilmember Nithya Raman. JEDI Zones are intended to lift up small, locally-owned businesses in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods of Los Angeles through technical assistance, case management, permit fee reductions, and grants for façade improvements.

“I recently welcomed parts of Reseda to my district and have so enjoyed getting to know the diverse array of businesses that make this neighborhood so unique,” said Councilmember Raman. “By establishing a JEDI Zone here, we’ll be able to step up our support for the small businesses that define this community, many of which are immigrant-owned and support neighboring low-income communities.” 

Following the redistricting process that took place in 2021, Council District 4 now includes the commercial avenues of Reseda Boulevard and Vanowen Street, which are home to several child care businesses, a diversity of family-owned restaurants, and unique small enterprises that contribute to neighborhood vitality and community, ranging from a boxing studio to a bar serving LGBTQ Angelenos. 

Councilmember Raman’s motion designates the area bounded by Gault Street to the north and Vanowen Street to the south, as a City of Los Angeles JEDI Zone – the Reseda JEDI Zone – for a period of five years. The Economic and Workforce Development Department (EWDD) will implement a Business Incentive Plan for the area (as detailed in the EWDD report) including providing permit subsidies of up to $10,000 for up to 20 businesses within the Reseda JEDI Zone, with a total allocation of up to $200,000 from previously appropriated JEDI Program funds.

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