White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley visited Los Angeles to discuss the Obama Administration's commitment to harnessing clean energy opportunities to create American jobs on Friday, July 22. She met with business leaders, city officials and top educators from UCLA and other institutions for a lunch and tour of the new LA Cleantech Incubator (LACI), at the future site of LA Cleantech Corridor. It was a wonderful opportunity for us to connect with Chair Sutley, for her to hear from the founding members of LACI personally about our work.
Years in the making, Los Angeles has launched its new cleantech business incubator to accelerate development of startups focused on sustainable solutions that can create both efficient clean technologies and green jobs. The incubator offers flexible ready-to-go office space, lab facilities, and a supportive environment where startup teams can share ideas with other entrepreneurs and fuel innovation. LACI also gives each startup the chance to work with a dedicated mentor, as well as access to a growing network of cleantech and business experts and introductions to prospective investors. LACI is the business equivalent of baseball’s farm system: it identifies local talent, nurtures it, and helps it get to market, resulting in more jobs and a bigger green economy in Los Angeles and beyond.
LACI is a non-profit organization funded by the CRA/LA and the DWP for the City of Los Angeles. In partnership with the City's exceptional educational and research organizations – UCLA, USC, Caltech and Jet Propulsion Laboratory – LACI will help accelerate the commercialization of clean technologies in addition to championing and nurturing the growth of local entrepreneurs who can effectively take on the many challenges we face in creating a more sustainable society. LACI is a result of the CleanTech Los Angeles (CTLA) alliance, which includes the Mayor's office, the City's universities, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, the Los Angeles Business Council, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, LADWP and the CRA/LA.
