Santa Clarita and Pico Rivera have been named this year’s most business-friendly cities in Los Angeles County by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp at the 21st Annual LAEDC Eddy Awards on Thursday night.

Santa Clarita won the category for the city with a population greater than 68,000, while Pico Rivera won the category with a population less than 68,000.

Santa Clarita stood out for its programs and incentives aimed at specific industries, workforce development with the College of the Canyons, having a Film Friendly ordinance, and its Economic Development Element. Pico Rivera’s business friendly efforts included a new economic development division and developing strategies to attract new businesses and keep existing businesses in the city. Both cities were finalists last year.

When choosing finalists, the LAEDC looks at the city’s commitment to economic development, the programs designed to attract and retain businesses, economic development activity, and economic incentives the city provides such as tax rates and fee structures.

In addition to the city awards, the LAEDC awarded honorees for economic development efforts. Brian Lee, chief executive and co-founder along with actress Jessica Alba of the Honest Co., were awarded the best example of local entrepreneurial spirit. The Los Angeles engineering firm Aecom was awarded for best embodiment of corporate civic leadership, and California State University Long Beach was awarded for its programs aimed to increase graduation rates at local high schools.

The Eddy Awards are held each year aimed to encourage local cities to become more business-friendly.