PARAMOUNT, CA / ACCESS Newswire / October 13, 2026 / Gateway Cities Council of Governments (Gateway Cities) is celebrating its 30th Anniversary, serving 27 cities and 11 unincorporated areas in southeast Los Angeles County with over two million residents. Over the decades since its creation in 1996, Gateway Cities has obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in grants from LA County, LA Metro, Southern California Association of Governments, state of California, and various Federal agencies to benefit communities and residents throughout the region.
"I am grateful to lead the Gateway Cities Council of Governments at this time for all of the resources it brings to our cities," said Mayor Kevin Lainez, serving as president of the Board of Directors of Gateway Cities. "Working together, our cities are focused on meeting Gateway Cities' mission: to improve the quality of life of our residents."
Launched by founding Executive Director Dick Powers, Gateway Cities was authorized by the federal government (along with other councils of governments) to support regional transportation and air quality needs. Over time, the issues addressed by Gateway Cities expanded to include Economic Development, Housing and Homeless, and most recently, Health and Wellness.
To recognize the advances led by Gateway Cities and this longevity milestone, the joint powers authority is unveiling a new logo (attached) that reflects the region - looking inland from the Pacific Ocean, homes, schools, businesses, and hills.
Some of the highlights of projects and programs spearheaded by Gateway Cities over 30 years include:
- Truck-impacted intersection improvements
- The Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers and Mountains Conservancy
- Bus stop improvements
- Polluting heavy duty truck buyback/retirements
- Homeless services
- Promoting regional economic development
- The Gateway Cities Affordable Housing Trust
- The Regional Climate Collaborative
- The Gateway Cities Energy Working Group'
- emPower Gateway sustainability grants
- Equitable Building Decarbonization grants
- Gateway Cities Fiber Optic Network
- Workforce Development Collaborative
- 710 Corridor Investment Plan
- Southeast Gateway Line light rail project
- Eastside Line light rail project
- Health and Wellness Initiatives
- Partnership with South Bay and San Gabriel Valley COGs, with over five million combined residents and 73 of 88 cities in Los Angles County
Gateway Cities is comprised of Artesia, Avalon, Bell, Bellflower, Bell Gardens, Cerritos, City of Industry, Commerce, Compton, Cudahy, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, Huntington Park, La Mirada, Lakewood, Long Beach, Lynwood, Maywood, Montebello, Norwalk, Paramount, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, Signal Hill, South Gate, Vernon, and Whittier. For more information go to www.gatewaycog.org
Media Contact:
Hector De La Torre
(562)663-6850
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About Gateway Cities Council of Governments
Gateway Cities Council of Governments is a joint powers authority of 27 cities and 11 unincorporated areas in southeast Los Angeles County, with over two million residents. We are over 5% of California's population but have over 14% of the disadvantaged community census tracts in the state. In fact, if it were one city, Gateway Cities would be the fifth largest in the United States; if it were one state, Gateway Cities would be the 38th most populous in the country. Gateway Cities convenes and collaborates with its jurisdictions on issues that cross city lines: transportation, housing and homelessness, environment, economic development, and health and wellness.
SOURCE: Gateway Cities Council of Governments
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
