Burbank Economic Development Receives Two 2023 CALED Awards of Excellence
BURBANK, CA (June 23, 2023) — The City of Burbank’s Economic Development Division has been awarded two California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) Awards of Merit for the City of Burbank Untapped Future of Work Accelerator and Visit Burbank’s Monumental Superhero Statue Program. The awards celebrating excellence in economic development were presented during this year’s CALED Annual Conference at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles on Thursday, June 22, 2023. Details of the two awards are as follows:
AWARD OF MERIT FOR ECONOMIC RESILIENCY & RECOVERY
The City of Burbank and Untapped Future of Work Accelerator
The Economic Resiliency and Recovery awards category recognizes innovative projects, programs, and collaborations implemented between 2020-2022 as a response to economic disruption.
The City of Burbank and Untapped Future of Work Virtual Accelerator was created in January 2021 to ensure that entrepreneurs were provided with resources to address the challenges facing the future of the Burbank workforce. In partnership with Untapped Ventures, a local Los Angeles-based startup/venture studio and Venture Capital firm, the City of Burbank launched the pre-seed virtual Accelerator which was designed to stimulate economic development and advance innovation for startups and small businesses. The Virtual Accelerator was the next step for entrepreneurial programming for the City, which currently includes the Burbank Tech Talks event series and the award-winning startup, Burbank Pitch Festivals.
AWARD OF MERIT FOR COLLABORATION/PARTNERSHIP
Visit Burbank’s Monumental Superhero Statue Program
The Collaborations/Partnerships awards category honors development projects exemplifying the spirit of collaboration in economic development between 2020-2022.
Visit Burbank’s Monumental Superhero Statue Program is a multi-year collaboration among Burbank Economic Development, DC Comics, and Visit Burbank to brand Burbank as an appealing destination for visitors. The collaboration has led to the creation of two DC Universe Superhero statues, Batman and Wonder Woman, placed in prime tourist locations with more planned for the future. The statues have become popular tourist attractions and increase social media awareness and buzz about Burbank, ultimately boosting tourism and solidifying the city’s reputation as the Media Capital of the World.
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About Burbank
Burbank is a diverse community of 105,000 residents. Billed as the “Media Capital of the World”, numerous media and entertainment companies are headquartered in Burbank including Warner Bros. Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company, Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Netflix Animation, and Cartoon Network Studios. With the Hollywood Burbank Airport located within the City, Burbank is a go-to destination for business and tourism. Additionally, Burbank is known for its walkable and safe neighborhoods, well-run school district, and “small town" charm.
ABOUT CITY OF BURBANK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The mission of the City of Burbank Economic Development Division is to advance sustainable job growth, enhance commercial activity, and maintain the quality of life for residents, businesses, and visitors to Burbank. Economic Development in Burbank is a collaborative effort encompassing every City department. Working from a shared commitment to customer service, proactive initiatives, and super efficiency, economic development takes center stage in citywide communications and outreach. Visit https://econdevburbank.com to learn more.
ABOUT VISIT BURBANK
Visit Burbank is the official tourism marketing association for Burbank, the Media Capital of the World. Formed in 2011 and funded by a 1% assessment on overnight stays in Burbank hotels with more than 25 rooms, the non-profit tourism-based business improvement district is managed by Burbank Economic Development to create long-term strategies enhancing visitation, awareness, and visitor spending. Visit Burbank’s mission is to boost hotel occupancy by positioning Burbank as a regional, national, and international tourism destination. Learn more at http://www.visitburbank.com
ABOUT UNTAPPED VENTURES
Untapped Ventures is a venture studio and pre-seed fund in Los Angeles on a mission to help people achieve the best version of themselves, personally and professionally. Leveraging our powerful network and unique methodology, we found and fund companies at the intersection of Web3, Fintech, and AI. Visit https://www.untapped.ventures/ to learn more.
ABOUT CALED
The California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) is the premier statewide professional economic development organization dedicated to advancing its members’ ability to achieve excellence in delivering economic development services to their communities and business clients. CALED’s membership consists of public and private organizations and individuals involved in economic development: the business of creating and retaining jobs. Learn more at www.caled.org.