Fifth Sun at the 88 Cities Summit: Building a Resilient and Equitable Los Angeles

Published Tuesday, October 21, 2025

By Marco Vargas, CEO of Fifth Sun Pictures

At the 88 Cities Summit, leaders from across Los Angeles County gathered to address one of our region’s most urgent challenges: how to power and grow a thriving economy while ensuring equity and opportunity for all communities. The event, convened by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), spotlighted the intricate balance between infrastructure growth, renewable energy transition, and inclusive economic development.

Key Takeaways

1. The Increasing Complexity of Energy Supply: From ports to data centers, energy demand across LA County continues to grow faster than supply. Experts from the Port of Los Angeles, Chevron, Amazon, and City of El Segundo highlighted the importance of grid modernization, permitting efficiency, and renewable energy investments. Conversations underscored the challenge of balancing environmental progress with job preservation and affordability.

2. Workforce Development as Economic Infrastructure: A recurring theme was that talent pipelines are as critical as energy pipelines. Programs like ETP funding and local partnerships were showcased as essential to building a skilled labor force that can support clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and logistics. The summit reinforced that equitable access to workforce development is foundational for long-term growth.

3. Revitalizing Communities Through Mission-Driven Investment: Panelists discussed innovative approaches such as the Commercial Acquisition Fund, which helps nonprofits and mission-led entities acquire and revitalize vacant commercial spaces. With corporate land ownership on the rise, such initiatives ensure that local stakeholders maintain a role in shaping neighborhood economies.

4. Collaboration and Public-Private Partnerships: Speakers emphasized the importance of economic clusters — from aerospace to design districts — as engines of collaboration and innovation. Cities that empower economic developers, track performance with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and engage community voices are better positioned to create sustainable and inclusive growth.

Fifth Sun’s Commitment

At Fifth Sun Pictures, we share this mission of inclusive economic development. In June 2025, we launched two cornerstone initiatives:

• Small Business Marketing Program, designed to empower local entrepreneurs with brand strategy and storytelling tools to compete and grow.

• Employer Partnership with LAUSD CTE-Linked Learning, providing youth access to real-world experience in creative, marketing, and technology careers.

  
  

It was a busy summer for our team—but these programs reflect our belief that thriving communities are built when small businesses and students have the opportunity to shine. We’re proud to stand among organizations championing innovation, workforce development, and equity across Los Angeles County.