| The focal point of downtown Los Angeles is | | | | railroad car filled with the state's |
| the Financial District, situated near to the | | | | agricultural products, and visited every |
| construction at Bunker Hill. The district is | | | | major town in the Midwest and South. During |
| mostly comprised of corporate office | | | | the two-year tour, more than a million people |
| skyscrapers, hotels, banks, law firms, and | | | | viewed the exhibit and took home products |
| real estate companies. | | | | offered by the Chamber. |
| | | | |
| On of the most notable groups historically | | | | The group also assisted in boosting |
| involved in bringing investment to the city | | | | grassroots investments in some important |
| is the LA Chamber of Commerce, which is | | | | manufacturing businesses. The beet sugar |
| supported by over 1,600 local businesses. By | | | | industry profited from advancements in energy |
| promoting local businesses, the Chamber's | | | | sources that helped its growth. Among these |
| main goal is to increase investment to the | | | | advancements was the discovery of oil and the |
| city and surrounding region. It prides itself | | | | new utilization of electric power generated |
| on advocating for economic growth, prosperity | | | | from water. The Chamber also brought aircraft |
| and quality of life. | | | | manufacturing to the region in 1920 by |
| | | | supporting international air meets at the |
| In its early days, the group promoted the | | | | local Dominguez airfield. The region's |
| West Coast region's many opportunities in the | | | | livestock market got a boost when the Chamber |
| agriculture and international trade | | | | helped to construct the Central Manufacturing |
| industries. As the city developed into a | | | | District, serviced by the LA Junction |
| major metropolitan area, the Chamber turned | | | | Railway. |
| its focus to civic and political activities, | | | | |
| involving trade, education, transportation | | | | In the aftermath of the Second World War, the |
| and advocacy. | | | | Chamber turned from being an organization |
| | | | that tried to attract new business to Los |
| At that time the organization had two major | | | | Angeles to one that began to address modern |
| objectives: to stimulate migration to the | | | | issues associated with a large industrial |
| region and to broadcast its products. They | | | | area. The organization moved from a |
| attempted to woo Midwestern farmers to LA | | | | county-sponsored group to a private business |
| because of their demonstrated expertise in | | | | organization financially supported only by |
| that field. To satisfy the second goal, the | | | | its members. Moving into the modern era, the |
| Chamber embarked on an ambitious 'California | | | | Chamber took on the name of the Los Angeles |
| on Wheels' expedition, which consisted of a | | | | Area Chamber of Commerce. |