PRESS RELEASE - Torrance Launches Breakfast with the Mayor Series

Torrance, Calif., December 18, 2025 - The City of Torrance launched the first in a "Breakfast with the Mayor" series that will continue into the new year, designed to bring together community leaders for focused, solutions-oriented conversations on key issues facing the Torrance area. The December breakfast centered on the theme "Building Housing Partnerships for the South Bay Workforce," addressing housing needs for educators, healthcare professionals, essential workers, and military service members.
Hosted by Mayor George K. Chen and City staff, the event brought together developers, property owners, employers, educators, workforce partners, and U.S. Air Force Base representatives. This first meeting was intended to create a forum for discussion of challenges, to seek collaboration, and to position the City as a bridge between housing providers and the institutions that depend on housing stability to sustain their workforce and talent pipelines.

During the breakfast, Economic Development Manager Fran Fulton welcomed everyone with Community Development Director Michelle Ramirez providing updates on the City's housing landscape, including current and planned housing developments, and the Housing Corridor Initiative, which aims to encourage thoughtful housing growth near employment centers and transit.

The key discussion focused on identifying workforce housing gaps and the challenges faced by major employers in attracting and retaining talent. Representatives from the Los Angeles Air Force Base, several other large employers, and workforce partners discussed housing needs for both military and civilian personnel, highlighting shared pressures across sectors. The conversation also explored how the City can play a facilitative role in encouraging redevelopment opportunities and partnerships between developers and major employers.

Attendees included: members of the City Council; local and regional developers and real estate professionals; owners of key Torrance properties; representatives from the Los Angeles Air Force Base; major employers such as Honda, Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center, Robinson Helicopter, the Torrance Refining Company, and Moog Aircraft Group; as well as education partners including Torrance Unified School District and El Camino College; in addition to the CEO of the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce.

Future Breakfast with the Mayor gatherings will continue to address key topics and industries through focused engagement in such sectors as Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing; Sports and Training; Innovation and Technology; and Bioscience and Biotech, reinforcing Torrance's proactive approach to, economic development and community sustainability. To learn more, visit the City's Office of Economic Development.