How has Burbank sustained interest for companies seeking new locations given the challenges of the past few years in the economy and daily work life?
The City of Burbank is the media capital of the world, home to media giants like Warner Bros. Discovery, Walt Disney Company, Nickelodeon and Net ix. With a population of 105,000 residents, 182,000 jobs and its close proximity to Los Angeles, Burbank is the ideal location to live, work and play. Burbank has a resilient economy, while it has felt its dips over the past few years, it has come back even stronger. The major factor in Burbank’s resiliency is our strong media and entertainment industry, the world continues to desire media content, and Burbank’s companies are ready to create and distribute it. Burbank’s resiliency is also a result of our economic development efforts to facilitate job growth, create vibrant neighborhoods, enhance tourism and support businesses while also anticipating headwinds in an evolving and changing economic environment.
How does Burbank differentiate itself?
Burbank is a safe, beautiful and thriving community and where the creative industry lives. More than 76,000 of our jobs are in entertainment and we are still growing. Burbank offers unique neighborhoods with hundreds of restaurants, shops, and attractions that make it the ideal location for investment. Burbank has a strong reputation as a dynamic business destination with:
• A proactive city government that provides exceptional services with a dedicated utility;
• More than 1,000 entertainment, media and post-production companies call Burbank home;
• ONEBurbank Fiber Optic Network offering businesses ultra-high-speed and reliable internet services;
• The Hollywood Burbank Airport, served by ten airline carriers and 29 non-stop US destinations; and
• A robust tourism industry with 19 hotels, a conference center and three million visitors annually.
Which industries are demonstrating the most interest in Burbank?
Burbank continues to diversify and experience growth within the entertainment sector in areas such as visual effects, animation, post-production, music, design and more. This is most evident with the approval of 16 new sound stages at the Warner Bros Ranch Studios Lot. Burbank has also seen an increase in demand in the healthcare, hospitality and technology sectors. Specfically, for healthcare, there is additional demand for urgent care and medical of ce uses and for hospitality there are currently 19 hotels in Burbank with an additional 4 hotels in the queue adding a total of 920 hotel rooms.
What incentives or other programs have been created to help Burbank attract business?
The City of Burbank is a business forward city providing several incentives that are attractive for new business looking to locate in Burbank as well as for the more than 12,400 existing businesses that continue to thrive here. One of the major reasons businesses choose Burbank is because we have no city income tax, no gross sales receipt tax, and a competitive business application fee. Additionally, economic development provides businesses with site selection and business concierge services guiding and helping businesses navigate through the City’s entitlement process.
The City also offers a variety of programs to help businesses succeed including our ‘Business Visitation Program,’ facilitating business visits with various industry sectors to build relationships with the business community and ensure that businesses are satis ed with City services. And the ‘Welcome to Burbank’ program, which offers an opportunity to introduce new businesses to the resources and programs that the City of Burbank offer. But most importantly the City of Burbank prides itself on customer service and responsiveness. We have heard over and over that City staff is responsive and always willing to help.
