Los Angeles County
Bioscience

In 2015, the County Board of Supervisors made economic development a priority to stimulate regional job growth and lift residents out of poverty. Seven industries were targeted based on their proven ability to create jobs and wealth. Bioscience is the first of the industry sectors selected by the County for focused support. The Los Angeles region generates cutting edge bioscience R&D and a trained workforce capable of launching and supporting enterprises emerging from local research institutions and incubators. Over past economic cycles including the Great Recession, bioscience jobs have proven unaffected by economic downturn.

The industry creates jobs for young and semi-skilled persons, as well as for scientists and entrepreneurs. The County manages a $10 billion budget to deliver health services to nearly 10 million residents. These expenditures can be directed to support new devices, processes, and therapies that can improve the public health of Los Angeles. The County has commissioned multiple studies, each identifying the appropriate investments to strengthen the regional life science ecosystem. Our goal is to facilitate translation of our world-class research into commercial enterprises and local job growth.

2020 BIOSCIENCE IMPACT IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY

99999
ATTIBUTABLE JOBS
999
BIOSCIENCE ESTABLISHMENTS
0
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

Los Angeles County Bioscience Initiative

Emerging Bioscience Hub

BIOSCIENCE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT

Los Angeles County is home to 2,890 life science establishments with direct and indirect employment of more than 190,000 jobs.

Three of the world’s most prestigious research universities (Caltech, UCLA and USC) are located in Los Angeles. Local colleges and universities award degrees to more than 5,000 new graduates annually in life sciences at all levels.

More than $53 million in annual Workforce Investment Act funds are allocated in Los Angeles to support key industry sectors such a bioscience. Federal and State guidelines require a demand-driven approach to ensure that industry has a skilled workforce to remain competitive.

Los Angeles County is working with the region’s community college system to roll launch pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs connected to life sciences.

BIOSCIENCE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT

Los Angeles County is home to 2,448 life science establishments with direct and indirect employment of more than 231,000 jobs.

Three of the world’s most prestigious research universities (Caltech, UCLA and USC) are located in Los Angeles. Local colleges and universities award degrees to more than 5,000 new graduates annually in life sciences at all levels.

More than $53 million in annual Workforce Investment Act funds are allocated in Los Angeles to support key industry sectors such a bioscience. Federal and State guidelines require a demand-driven approach to ensure that industry has a skilled workforce to remain competitive.

Los Angeles County is working with the region’s community college system to roll launch pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs connected to life sciences.

BIOSCIENCE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT

Los Angeles County is home to 2,448 life science establishments with direct and indirect employment of more than 231,000 jobs.

Three of the world’s most prestigious research universities (Caltech, UCLA and USC) are located in Los Angeles. Local colleges and universities award degrees to more than 5,000 new graduates annually in life sciences at all levels.

More than $53 million in annual Workforce Investment Act funds are allocated in Los Angeles to support key industry sectors such a bioscience. Federal and State guidelines require a demand-driven approach to ensure that industry has a skilled workforce to remain competitive.

Los Angeles County is working with the region’s community college system to roll launch pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs connected to life sciences.

BIOSCIENCE INVESTMENT FUND

On May 31, 2019, The County of Los Angeles completed a Request for Proposals process to solicit organizations that are interested and qualified to capitalize, launch, and manage an investment fund supporting bioscience startup companies in the County as well as the local ecosystem to which they belong.  MarsBio GP LLC (MarsBio) was selected from the evaluation process.

The County’s investment will be in the form of debt with patient repayment terms.  The County has earmarked up to $15 million towards the launch of the Bioscience Investment Fund (Fund).  While the County expects repayment of its capital plus a modest return, it also has core strategic interests in local economic development and public health as a social impact.

On June 23, 2020, the Board approves a loan of up to $15 million to invest in the Fund managed by MarsBio GP LLC.  The Fund will have a geographic focus on Los Angeles County, and would target early-stage companies with Seed and Series A investments.  An Economic Development Subsidy Report was prepared pursuant to CA Government Code Section 53083.  More information can be found in the links below.

BIOSCIENCE VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT

The County of Los Angeles Chief Executive Office is releasing this Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit organizations that are interested and qualified to capitalize, launch, and manage an investment fund supporting bioscience startup companies in the County as well as the local ecosystem to which they belong.

Based on sectoral research and responses from the Request for Information for Los Angeles Bioscience Investment Fund issued in May 2018, the County CEO has concluded that there is sufficient capital demand and investment expertise to issue this RFP. Upon completion of the RFP solicitation process, selected proposers will enter an exclusive negotiating period with the County. The County intends to place a lead investment in up to two funds. The fund(s) will then make investments in local early stage bioscience firms and work to support the bioscience entrepreneurial ecosystem. The County Board of Supervisors has approved $15 million that can be allocated directly to the Fund.

Proposals are due Tuesday, November 13, 2018. See the RFP for more details.

BIOSCIENCE REPORTS

Bioscience Reports

June 23, 2020 – Economic Subsidy Report Bioscience Fund Loan Agreement

2020 – Economic Impact Report Los Angeles County -Biocom

2020 – Economic Impact Report California -Biocom

August 2019 – Los Angeles County Bioscience Incubators

2019 – Economic Impact Report Los Angeles County -Biocom

2019 – Economic Impact Report California -Biocom

October 22, 2018 – Bioscience Investment Fund RFP – Proposers’ Conference Questions & Answers

October 10, 2018 – Bioscience Investment Fund RFP – Proposers’ Conference Informational Webinar

September 20, 2018 – Los Angeles County 2018 Bioscience Summit

September 17, 2018 – Bioscience Investment Fund – Request for Proposals (RFP)

May 10, 2018 – Bioscience Investment Fund – Request for Information (RFI)

April 2018 – Bioscience Industry Update – Avivar

2018 – Talent Integration CA Workforce Trends in Life Sciences Industry Key Findings – CLSI

2018 – Talent Integration CA Workforce Trends in Life Sciences Industry Report – CLSI

2018 – Life Science Workforce Trends Report – CSBI

May 31, 2017 – LA County Support for Bioscience Cluster – Avivar

January 13, 2017 – Bioscience Cluster Development Initiative – CDC

2017 – Impact of Life Science in CA – Biocom

October 18, 2016 – Bioscience Implementation Plan – LAEDC

2016 – Talent Integration CA Workforce Trends in Life Sciences Industry Report – CLSI

August 5, 2014 – Countywide Biotechnology Partnership Program – Battelle Report

Oct. 17, 2019 – Urbanize LA

Former Culver City Courthouse to be Repurposed as Offices for BioLA 

Oct. 7, 2019 – Wall Street Journal

Soylent Co-Founder Seeks to Raise Biotech Venture-Capital Fund 

Sep. 12, 2019 – Los Angeles Business Journal

Biotech Sees VC Cash Flow 

Jun. 27, 2019 – Becker’s Hospital Review

Cedars-Sinai backs Los Angeles bioscience organization 

May 9, 2019 – Park LaBrea News Beverly Press

Increasing Los Angeles County’s investment in bioscience

Mar 30, 2019 – Daily Breeze

LA BioMed cuts ribbon on new 78,000 square-foot, 4-story, facility 

Mar 15, 2019 – State of Reform

California’s next life sciences powerhouse: Los Angeles

Feb 15, 2019 – Daily Breeze

L.A. BioMed to be renamed Lundquist Institute following $70 million gift

Feb 11, 2019 – PR Newswire

SoCal Philanthropists Richard and Melanie Lundquist Make $70 Million Unrestricted Gift to LA BioMed, Will Be Renamed Lundquist Institute

Feb 10,2019 – Los Angeles Times

South Bay couple donate $70 mllion to LA Biomedical Institute

Jan. 4, 2019 – Los Angeles Business Journal

Bioscience LA Expects Early 2019 Launch

Dec. 12, 2018 – The Eastsider

Betting on Bioscience: New El Sereno lab space seeks high-tech startups

Dec. 6, 2018 – East West Bank – Reach Further

Los Angeles: Famous for Big Screens, Beaches and Biotech

Sept. 21, 2018 – FierceBiotech

Amgen backs Los Angeles as new Golden State bio hub

Sept. 20, 2018 – Los Angeles County Bioscience Initiative

Bioscience Gets a Boost in LA County

Sept. 20, 2018 – MyNewsLA

Amgen, L.A. County Announce Collaboration to Support Life Science Innovation

Sept. 7, 2018 – Los Angeles Business Journal

County Backs New Bioscience Hub

Sept. 5, 2018 – EndPoints

Partnering with Amgen vet Sean Harper, veteran VC Beth Seidenberg unveils a $320M fund and a unique focus on…wait for it…LA

Aug. 28, 2018 – Los Angeles Business Journal

LA BioMed Closes $50 Million Bond Sale to Fund New Biotech Research Lab

Aug. 15, 2018 – Cal State LA

Cal State LA recognizes Los Angeles biotech leader, emerging bioscience entrepreneurs

Aug. 7, 2018 – Los Angeles Business Journal

Los Angeles County Aims to Fast-Track Bioscience in Unincorporated Areas

Aug. 6, 2018 – San Fernando Valley Business Journal

Local Doctor Stops Cancer in Canine

Jul. 30, 2018 – Los Angeles Business Journal

Dina Lozofsky named to LA500-LA’s Most Influential People

Jul. 26, 2018 – San Fernando Valley Business Journal

Thousand Oaks Biotech Sells Drug Portfolio for Up to $562 Million

Jul. 20, 2018 – The Signal

County looks to increase bioscience industry’s footprint in L.A.

Jul. 18, 2018 – CoStar

Larry Ellison and USC’s Cancer Research Institute Could Grow LA Life Science Cluster

Jul. 10, 2018 – Los Angeles Business Journal

Anonymous Donor Gives $20 Million to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to Expand ER

Cedars-Sinai Accelerator Welcomes Nine New Digital Health Startups

July 21, 2020 – Bioscience Technology Park at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Campus

Statement of Proceedings – Item 51-A

Motion MRT/JH

June 23, 2020 – County Representative on the Bioscience Investment Fund Advisory Committee

Statement of Proceedings – Item 21

Motion MRT/JH

June 23, 2020 – Hearing to Approve Loan Agreement, Bioscience Investment Fund Managed by MarsBio GP LLC

Statement of Proceedings – Item 9

Board Letter

Motion KB/HS

April 28, 2020 – Los Angeles County Roadmap to Economic Recovery

Statement of Proceedings – Item 20

Motion KB/HS

Revised Motion MRT

Report

March 10, 2020 – Bioscience Investment Fund – ENA Amendment

Statement of Proceedings – Item 22

Board Letter

October 15, 2019 – Facility Lease with Bioscience Los Angeles County, Inc.

Statement of Proceedings – Item 4

Motion MRT

September 3, 2019 – Los Angeles-Focused Bioscience Investment Fund ENA

Statement of Proceedings – Item 20

Board Letter

April 30, 2019 – Developing a Bioscience Overlay Zone

Statement of Proceedings – Item 10

Motion MRT/HS

Revised Motion

Report DRP

Report

December 11, 2018 – Support for Bioscience Los Angeles County, Inc.

Statement of Proceedings – Item 16

Motion

Report

August 14, 2018 – Advancing Economic Development Strategies

Statement of Proceedings – Item 10

Motion

Report – Citizen’s Economy & Efficiency Commission

Report

August 7, 2018 – Developing Land Use Tool to Cultivate Bioscience Industry

Statement of Proceedings – Item 8

Motion

Report

March 27, 2018 – ENA with LA Biomed for Bioscience Tech Park at Harbor-UCLA

Statement of Proceedings – Item 13-D

Motion

April 18, 2017 – Bioscience Revolving Loan Fund Transitioned to CEO, Repositioned as a Bioscience Investment Fund

Statement of Proceedings – Item 7

Motion

Revised Motion

Report

April 18, 2017 – LA BioMed Negotiations for Developing a Bioscience Tech Park on the Harbor-UCLA Campus

Statement of Proceedings – Item 6

Motion

Report

March 14, 2017 – CEO to Initiate Health Innovation Community Partnership at LAC+USC Medical Center

Statement of Proceedings – Item 47-B

Motion

Report

November 22, 2016 – County Grant Application to Department of Commerce EDA, to Fund LA BioMed Campus at Harbor-UCLA

Statement of Proceedings – Item 23

Motion

October 4, 2016 – Funding Agreement with LA BioMed Incubator at Harbor-UCLA Campus

Statement of Proceedings – Item 16

Motion

Report

March 22, 2016 – DHS Quarterly Report on the Pre-planning Activities for the Harbor-UCLA Medical Campus / Bioscience Technology Park

Statement of Proceedings – Item 11

Motion

Report

January 5, 2016 – Economic Development Policy Committee is Formed / Scorecard Created to Measure County Programs

Statement of Proceedings – Item 14

Motion

Report

December 15, 2015 – Assessment/Feasibility of County Assets for Bioscience Innovation Hubs

Statement of Proceedings – Item 1-D, 6

Item 1-D Revised Motion

Item 1-D Report

Item 6 Revised Motion

Item 6 Report

October 20, 2015 – Funding the Bioscience Revolving Loan Fund from Redevelopment Funds / Consultant to Develop Plan for Countywide Bioscience Partnership Program

Statement of Proceedings – Item 1-D, 7

Item 1-D Revised Motion

Item 1-D Report

Item 1-D, 7 Amended Motion

Item 7 Revised Motion

Item 7 Report

November 5, 2014 – Working Group to Develop Implementation Plan for Countywide Bioscience Partnership Program

Statement of Proceedings – Item 1-D, 3

Item 1-D Motion

Item 1-D Report

Item 3 Motion

Item 3 Report

September 30, 2014 – Funding Agreement for LA Bioscience Hub and BioSpaceLA Incubator (Cal State LA)

Statement of Proceedings – Item 15

Motion

September 23, 2014 – Feasibility of Creating a Biomed Park at a Department of Public Works Site (Alcazar) / BioSpaceLA Incubator (Cal State LA)

Statement of Proceedings – Item 6, 28-A

Item 6 Motion

Item 6 Report

Item 28-A Motion

July 10, 2012 – Battelle Report – Feasibility Study and Master Plan for Biotechnology Partnership Program

Statement of Proceedings – Item 16

Report

Battelle Report

July 19, 2011 – RFP for Feasibility Assessment and Develop a Master Plan for Los Angeles Biotechnology Cluster (Phase 2)

Statement of Proceedings – Item 41

Motion

Report

February 8, 2011 – Feasibility Assessment for a Biotechnology Partnership Program (Phase 1)

Statement of Proceedings – Item 5

Motion

Report

April 20, 2010 – Gratis Lease with Momentum LA to Operate a Biotech Incubator at LAC+USC Hospital

Statement of Proceedings – Item 4

Motion

Report

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