Incorporated in 1922, the City of Hawthorne currently has a population of nearly 80,000 within a six square mile area. The City is surrounded by three major freeway systems: the San Diego (I-405), the Harbor (l-110) and the Glen M. Anderson (I-105) Freeways. In addition, located in the southwest area of the City is a Metro Line station for the light rail public transportation system (Green Line) which provides convenient transportation to Los Angeles International Airport, downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach. The Los Angeles International Airport is four miles northwest of Hawthorne, offering scheduled passenger and cargo service. Furthermore, the Hawthorne Municipal Airport, with a control tower that is staffed, equipped, and operated by the Federal Aviation Administration, serves businesses and visitors to the City. The Port of Los Angeles, one of the largest man-made ports in the nation, is 15 miles to the south, making transportation of goods to millions of customers extremely practical. With a shared vision toward the future to create a great city and build an economy which supports the community's desire for a high quality of life, the City of Hawthorne is fortunate to have the following partners in economic development:

• The Hawthorne Redevelopment Agency whose mission is to revitalize commercial, industrial and residential areas of Hawthorne.
• The Economic Development Committee who advises the City on matters affecting economic development, the creation of employment opportunities and business ventures.
• The Commercial Rehabilitation Program which utilizes Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to provide rehabilitation assistance to commercial businesses throughout the City's commercial target areas.

Betty Ainsworth Sports Center

Most recently, the Hawthorne Recreation and Community Service Department has added a 25,000 square foot "state of the art" Sports Center to its assortment of facilities. The Betty Ainsworth Sports Center contains a gymnasium with a tournament size basketball, volleyball, and racquetball courts, a fitness/exercise room, dance studio, and a classroom/activity room. This facility will house the majority of the city's Sports and Fitness Classes, Youth and Adult Sports Leagues, many different types of dance classes, and a wide variety of special events. It is the goal of the Recreation and Community Services Department to ensure that everyone in the community can make use of this brand new facility. This project was paid for using no general fund money. All of the 4.2 million dollars in funding came from outside sources that include the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Bond Fund and Community Development Block Grant monies.

Major Developments

Hawthorne Plaza Village
In August 1998, Regency Realty (formerly known as Pacific Retail Trust) began construction on the $16 million Hawthorne Plaza Village at the corner of Hawthorne and El Segundo Boulevards. The development was completed and welcomed into the community September 1999. Situated on 10 acres and encompassing 101,000 square feet, Plaza Village is the first major community center to be developed in downtown Hawthorne in nearly twenty years. Anchored by Albertson's Supermarket and a Sav-On Drug Store, the development also includes such popular retailers as Starbuck's Coffee, Hollywood Video, Radio Shack, Subway, Taco Bell and Cal Fed Bank. Because of its convenient location, the Plaza Village is a handy stop for shoppers, commuters and the local business workforce. Even more importantly, the development means significant new jobs and revenues for the entire community.

Hawthorne Gateway
The Hawthorne Gateway is a 24 acre mixed-use development anchored by a new enlarged full service Costco with gas station, three new car AutoNation dealerships, and a 254 room, six story Countryside Inn with attached restaurant/coffee shop and banquet facilities for 250 people. Two other major retailers include an office supply store and Bed, Bath & Beyond. The North side of the development will contain a McDonald's along with a Starbucks, Aaron Brothers, a juice bar and a full service sit down Mexican restaurant. A camera store, shoe store and retail cellular phone store will round out the list of smaller shops. An Arco gas station will remain on the corner of Hindry and Rosecrans Avenue. AutoNation will be located on the South (Marine Avenue) side of the development and plans to offer a variety of new car brands through three different dealerships. "Hawthorne Gateway" development is situated on the southwest corner of Rosecrans Avenue next to the San Diego (405) Freeway. A Green Metro Line station is located immediately to the south of the development.

Aviation Center
A 16 acre triangle at the southeast corner of Aviation Boulevard and Rosecrans Avenue is now host to the TRW Credit Union's Headquarters. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Federal Credit Union has broken ground and is scheduled to open their 30,000 square foot headquarters in September 2000. The public self-storage facility should open in Summer, 2000. Two Marriott extended stay hotels are currently planned with the first opening in December of 2000 and the second opening sometime in the first quarter of 2001. Also planned is a 25,000 square foot medical office headquarters/office building.