EDC's Year in Review

Return to Our Impact

Every year, EDC works with and through more than 150 investors and partners to drive inclusive economic development across the San Diego region. As we tie a bow on 2024, we celebrate the collective success of our team and programs, which aim to address the ever-changing needs of the region and economy.

Economic Development

In 2024, EDC worked hands-on with 138 total companies to offer more than 10 no-cost services to drive economic development across the region. Alongside the newly-launched Community Explorer, which generates data insights to aid with corporate site selection, it was our Talent Pipeline Development, Expansion and Site Section, and Strategic Partnerships services that were most utilized in 2024.

OUR SERVICES BY THE NUMBERS

138

companies supported

4.5K

total jobs impacted

30%

of businesses supported were small

55.8K

jobs impacted since 2019

2024 COMPANY WINS

Case Study

EDC convened Life Sciences Task Force, spurred creation of City of San Diego permit program

San Diego’s Life Sciences sector overcame permitting delays through EDC’s collaboration with the City, launching the Life Sciences Accelerator in 2023, which expedited project approvals, supporting growth and job creation.

Case Study

EDC supported NY-based fintech’s expansion into San Diego

New York-based fintech company Prism was looking to open a second office in a new market across the United States—and with EDC's help, San Diego took the cake.

Case Study

NOVO Brazil Brewing tapped EDC for permitting support for new Mission Valley site

Closely tied to the City of San Diego, EDC quickly connected NOVO to the City’s Economic Development Department and to a direct point of contact to clarify next steps in the permitting process for its new Mission Valley site.

Case Study

EDC and Cascade Energy partnered to help local businesses decarbonize, reduce utility costs

In partnering with EDC, Cascade Energy has been able to access a wider swath of regional companies and increase participation numbers for its Strategic Energy Management program.

MORE Case Studies

RESEARCH BUREAU

In 2024, EDC’s Research Bureau released quarterly economic analyses, composed nine research products, and produced new data tools to connect San Diego’s civic, business, and government decision-makers with the latest regional and global data-driven insights.

Manufacturing in San Diego: Local Impact, Global Reach

In October 2024, EDC celebrated Manufacturing Month with the launch of a report that quantified the $47 billion economic impact of San Diego’s Manufacturing sector, accompanied by a series of blogs exploring manufacturing talent and future growth.

Read the report

ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT

On a quarterly basis, EDC’s Research Bureau continued to analyze key economic indicators that provide valuable insights on understanding the San Diego region’s growing and changing economy. 2024 saw EDC highlight wins and challenges around housing and affordability, commercial real estate and space utilization, employment, and VC funding.

see Latest Snapshot

MAPPING TOOLS

To facilitate regional inclusive growth, EDC continued refining its San Diego Investment Map, helping inform strategic decision-making around childcare, housing, and corporate site selection. In 2024, EDC launched an accompanying District Insights dashboard, which was presented to the City of San Diego’s nine City Council districts, and the Community Explorer tool, which pulls geographical data to assist in site selection.

LEARN MORE

MORE FROM RESEARCH

Blog

EDC, SBDC research show talent acquisition is greatest challenge to small businesses

Small businesses are one of the cornerstones of San Diego’s regional economy. More than 61 percent of all jobs in the region are within a business that employs less than 100 employees, which is nearly double the national average. However, small businesses are also the most prone to economic downturns relative to their larger peers. […]

Case Study

EDC quantified economic impact of San Diego’s ship repair industry

The Port of San Diego Ship Repair Association (SRA), representing 150 member companies, supports Navy readiness through ship maintenance and repair. Partnering with EDC, SRA produced an economic impact report, revealing over 15,000 local jobs and above-average wages, strengthening their case for regional policies and permitting support.

Blog

Manufacturing in San Diego: More vital than you think

This blog post is a part of a larger series in celebration of Manufacturing Month, sharing key trends from our report on San Diego’s Manufacturing sector. READ THE full REPORT San Diego is known for its sunny coastlines, vibrant tourism, and thriving biotech industry, but its Manufacturing sector is equally as diverse and dynamic. Manufacturing […]

Blog

Building a bright future: The faces of San Diego Manufacturing

This blog post is a part of a larger series in celebration of Manufacturing Month, sharing key trends from our report on San Diego’s Manufacturing sector. READ THE full REPORT San Diego’s Manufacturing sector is not just a cornerstone of the local economy; it also provides unique and well-paying career opportunities for San Diegans with […]

Blog

Harnessing the power of cross-border manufacturing in San Diego

This blog post is a part of a larger series in celebration of Manufacturing Month, sharing key trends from our report on San Diego’s Manufacturing sector. READ THE NEW REPORT Cross-border manufacturing in San Diego has significant untapped potential. With five ports of entry, the Baja California region is one of the most accessible and […]

see more about the region

world trade center san diego

As EDC’s international arm, World Trade Center San Diego (WTCSD) cultivates export-ready firms, maximizes foreign direct investment, and enhances San Diego’s global connectivity. In 2024, WTCSD hosted 100+ international delegates, executed its Singapore trade mission, launched its seventh MetroConnect export accelerator cohort, and supported 52 companies in expanding internationally.

Read WTCSD’s Annual Report

Singapore Trade Mission

Led by Congressman Scott Peters over three days, WTCSD’s 2024 trade mission to Singapore played host to 40 public and private leaders. Both gateway regions with shared expertise in tech, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing, Singapore is a natural partner for San Diego.

our reflection

Metroconnect vii LAUNch

In February 2024, WTCSD launched its seventh cohort of MetroConnect, San Diego’s comprehensive export assistance program, which helps 15 growing companies accelerate their international growth via grants, consulting and workshops, economic incentives, and more.

Meet the cohort

Invest in san diego breakfast

EDC and WTCSD showcased San Diego’s Life Sciences strengths to 100+ international delegates at its ‘Invest in San Diego’ breakfast hosted during the 2024 BIO International Convention.

LEARN MORE

SAN DIEGO TO THE WORLD

$96M+

new international sales growth since 2015

56%

increase in MetroConnect cohort exports since 2019

95

businesses supported by Export SBDC

WTCSD’S IMPACT IN 2024

Case Study

Following WTCSD trade mission, SAN launches direct flight to Amsterdam

Following WTCSD's 2022 trade mission to the Netherlands with San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, San Diego International Airport will launch a new direct flight to Amsterdam, helping San Diego strengthen relationships with European markets.

Case Study

EDC, regional partners cut ribbon on new Samsung Semiconductor sales office

Samsung Semiconductor leveraged EDC for support and participation in its March 2024 sales office ribbon cutting.

Case Study

WTCSD, EDC supported Nano PharmaSolutions in securing $17K in grants, FTE, and global connectivity

WTCSD and EDC helped life sciences startup Nano PharmaSolutions access nearly $20K in grants, talent, and global connectivity.

Inclusive growth

In 2024, EDC completed seven years of work in advancing our region’s 2030 Inclusive Growth goals. These goals require unwavering commitment from regional employers, stakeholders, and decision-makers—it’s a business and economic imperative.

Learn More

SAN JOSE LEADERSHIP TRIP

EDC’s San Jose Leadership Trip saw 35 San Diego civic, education, business, and community leaders re-commit to our region’s goals and learn from a California peer metro facing shared challenges.

OUR REFLECTION

INCLUSIVE GROWTH ROUNDTABLES

In 2024, EDC led a series of quarterly roundtable discussions, each covering one of our 2030 Inclusive Growth goals. The events convened more than 140 regional leaders and generated nearly 20 new endorsers.

join the movement

PERSPECTIVES ON INCLUSIVE GROWTH

Blog

Small, localized commitments mean huge economic impacts in San Diego

Op-ed originally published by San Diego Business Journal Authored by Eduardo Velasquez, Sr. Research & Economic Development Director at San Diego Regional EDC, and Jennie Brooks, EDC Board Chair and Executive Vice President at Booz Allen Hamilton Hosted in San Diego last month, the Department of the Navy Gold Coast Small Business Exposition brings together […]

Blog

San Diego nearly surpasses Inclusive Growth goal for quality jobs, and why the work isn’t over yet

On August 14, EDC hosted its second Inclusive Growth Roundtable of the year, convening 40 regional stakeholders, service providers, and small business leaders to share the latest data on quality small business jobs and ground-truth our findings. The 2030 Inclusive Growth goals focus on three key pillars core to any strong regional economy: quality small […]

Blog

Op-ed: Employers can bolster the local talent pipeline. Here’s how.

Op-ed originally published by the San Diego Union-Tribune. Authored by Sidd Vivek, President and CEO at Junior Achievement of San Diego and Imperial Counties; Mark Cafferty, President and CEO at San Diego Regional EDC; and Dr. Sunita Cooke, President and Superintendent at MiraCosta College The success of our regional economy hinges on more than the […]

Blog

Inclusive Growth Spotlight: Booz Allen Hamilton

To celebrate and inspire the efforts of regional employers, EDC’s new Inclusive Growth blog series will highlight San Diego companies helping to drive progress on the 2030 Inclusive Growth goals. Launched in 2018 and informed by a partnership with the Brookings Institution, the Inclusive Growth initiative sets 2030 goals for San Diego related to increasing: […]

Talent Initiatives

In 2024, EDC’s Talent Initiatives team quantified the region’s demand for business talent, celebrated newly designated Verified Programs, recruited businesses to host 300+ interns, and strengthened our region’s brand through San Diego: Life. Changing.

ADVANCING SAN DIEGO WINS

28

Verified Programs recognized

358

summer interns placed across SD and IV

104

intern host companies in SD and IV

$2M

in payroll to interns via EDC program

reaching tomorrow’s talent

After meeting with applicants and vetting curriculum during November’s ‘Reaching Tomorrow’s Talent’ event, EDC and more than 80 industry representatives recognized the latest slate of Verified Programs: 28 education programs across 15 institutions best preparing students for jobs in business, computing, and engineering.

MEET THE PROGRAMS

talent demand Report: Business

Following an Employer Working Group of six leading San Diego employers and a survey of 120 businesses, Advancing San Diego released its latest talent demand report in 2024, providing a real-time picture of the region’s demand for entry-level business roles.

Read the report

Talent Dashboard

EDC’s Talent Initiatives team debuted its Talent Data Dashboard to assist employers, educators, and community organizations in tracking talent and socio-economic data.

Explore the dashboard

San Diego: life. changing.

EDC’s long-standing talent attraction brand San Diego: Life. Changing. continued to act as a resource in attracting high-demand STEM talent. In addition to launching a social media campaign with the Downtown San Diego Partnership targeting BIO International Convention attendees, San Diego: Life. Changing. profiled 389 local job opportunities through its monthly newsletter, The Lead.

ACCESS TALENT SUPPORT

Blog

EDC designates San Diego’s top computing, engineering, business programs

To fill talent gaps, regional employers vet training curriculum aligned to industry needs Together with more than 80 industry representatives, San Diego Regional EDC is proud to announce Advancing San Diego’s newest Verified Programs of 2024: 28 education programs from 15 different institutions that are best preparing students for jobs in computing, engineering, and business. […]

Blog

Host summer interns at no cost

Funded summer internship program 2025 In conjunction with the Border Region Talent Pipeline K-16 Collaborative, companies in San Diego and Imperial Counties are invited to apply to host funded computing, engineering, and/or business interns for the summer of 2025. Internship applicants will be sourced through Advancing San Diego’s Verified Programs, ensuring they are learning the industry’s […]

Case Study

EDC supported City of San Diego’s Development Services Dept. in strengthening internal talent pipeline

EDC partnered with San Diego Mesa College to help the City of San Diego’s Development Services Department address staffing shortages by creating a talent pipeline, boosting retention, and ensuring timely permit processing.

Blog

How Advancing San Diego funded internships help students and businesses

Advancing San Diego: Bridging education and industry EDC’s Advancing San Diego (ASD) internship program, run in partnership with the Border Region Talent Pipeline K-16 Collaborative and Imperial Valley EDC, has transformed how students across San Diego gain early career experience, while helping local businesses address talent needs. In summer 2024, the ASD program placed 358 interns […]

celebrating san diego

EDC’s bread and butter is bringing regional leaders together—to solve hard problems, to celebrate our successes, and to make the region a better and more inclusive place. With and through our investors and partners, we can move mountains.

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OUR 2024 REACH

72

Board of Directors

154

investors in 2024

31+

opportunities to engage with EDC network

1.5K+

event attendees