Category: News

EDC, WTCSD host international delegations for Invest in San Diego event

By Emily Irion,

Kicking off this year’s BIO International Conference, San Diego Regional EDC and World Trade Center San Diego (WTCSD) hosted an Invest in San Diego breakfast event together with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Biocom. The regional ‘pitch’ event played host to more than 100 attendees representing international delegations including South Korea, Canada, Taiwan, France, and more.

With idyllic views of the harbor and downtown, City of San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria kicked off the program highlighting the Life Sciences industry as a crucial pillar of San Diego’s economy. He underscored the region’s commitment to fostering industry growth through initiatives such as the Life Sciences Industry Accelerator, designed to streamline permitting for Life Sciences projects within San Diego.

EDC SVP and Executive Director of WTCSD Nikia Clarke then presented on San Diego’s competitive advantages:

  • San Diego is a top three Life Sciences market with a robust research and development hub and a growing manufacturing sector. With more than 60,000 total Life Sciences jobs countywide, 33 percent are dedicated to manufacturing.
  • The region boasts more than 80 research and 25 post-secondary institutions. Conferring approximately 17,000 STEM degrees annually, San Diego is growing its degree-holding population at a faster rate than any other California metro.
  • San Diego’s proximity to Mexico provides dynamic cross-border economic opportunities for businesses to access additional skilled talent and Baja California’s manufacturing expertise in medical devices and more.

The event concluded with a panel moderated by Miguel Motto, Vice President, Strategic Operations and San Diego Office Head of Biocom, together with panelists Matt Abernethy of Neurocrine Biosciences, Sarah Boyce of Avidity Biosciences, Alison Budelsky of Eli Lilly, and Jeff Labbadia of Element Biosciences. With representation from Life Sciences companies of all sizes, the panelists shared why they continue to expand in San Diego. Although their individual stories are unique, they all made one thing clear: they invest in San Diego because of its diverse and highly skilled talent pool, collaborative spirit, and unrivaled quality of life.

Interested in investing in San Diego?

EDC and WTCSD work directly with companies—free of charge—to help them grow in San Diego. Contact our team today:

Emily Irion
Emily Irion

Manager, Economic Development

Learn more here

San Diego’s Good News of the Week – June 28, 2024

By Kyle Winnick,

Every week, ‘Good News of the Week’ features a curation of positive headlines from San Diego, delivered straight to your inbox. A blend of aggregated stories from San Diego’s most trusted news sources and original EDC-created content, GNOTW provides a comprehensive recap of the region’s best stories from the past week. GNOTW is sponsored by Manpower San Diego.

Get Good News of the Week in your inbox every Friday. → Sign up

For the week of June 28, 2024, here’s what we’re reading:

…and here are some events and opportunities:

From our partners:

EDC, Apprenti partner to grow local talent pipeline

Amid a nationwide talent shortage, EDC has partnered with Apprenti to invite San Diego companies with advanced manufacturing operations to hire registered apprentices.

Learn More

 

Business information and resources page

Be in the know – sign up below to receive future editions of GNOTW.

Want to submit your event or news update to our weekly newsletter? Contact us for more information.

sign up for gnotw

Liz Muthoni
Liz Muthoni

Coordinator, Economic Development

San Diego’s Good News of the Week – June 21, 2024

By Liz Muthoni,

Every week, ‘Good News of the Week’ features a curation of positive headlines from San Diego, delivered straight to your inbox. A blend of aggregated stories from San Diego’s most trusted news sources and original EDC-created content, GNOTW provides a comprehensive recap of the region’s best stories from the past week. GNOTW is sponsored by Manpower San Diego.

Get Good News of the Week in your inbox every Friday. → Sign up

For the week of June 21, 2024, here’s what we’re reading:

…and here are some events and opportunities:

From our partners:

Report: Lack of sufficient training a key challenge in hiring entry-level business talent

EDC’s Talent Initiatives team analyzed the region’s talent pipeline for entry-level business roles, leveraging insights from 126 companies in San Diego County with a total of 24,000 employees. With findings around hiring challenges, job growth, and more, the Talent Demand Report serves as an industry guide for education providers on the skills students need to access quality, in-demand jobs in the region.

Read the Full Report

Business information and resources page

Be in the know – sign up below to receive future editions of GNOTW.

Want to submit your event or news update to our weekly newsletter? Contact us for more information.

sign up for gnotw

Liz Muthoni
Liz Muthoni

Coordinator, Economic Development

San Diego’s Good News of the Week – June 14, 2024

By Liz Muthoni,

Every week, ‘Good News of the Week’ features a curation of positive headlines from San Diego, delivered straight to your inbox. A blend of aggregated stories from San Diego’s most trusted news sources and original EDC-created content, GNOTW provides a comprehensive recap of the region’s best stories from the past week. GNOTW is sponsored by Manpower San Diego.

Get Good News of the Week in your inbox every Friday. → Sign up

For the week of June 14, 2024, here’s what we’re reading:

…and here are some events and opportunities:

From our partners:

Last call: EDC’s Annual Dinner

Together with more than 900 business and community leaders, EDC invites you to join us next week at our Annual Dinner at Petco Park on June 18.  We’ll enjoy a brief program honoring our Life. Changing. awardees followed by dinner and networking at the new Gallagher Square.

Buy Ticket Here

Business information and resources page

Be in the know – sign up below to receive future editions of GNOTW.

Want to submit your event or news update to our weekly newsletter? Contact us for more information.

sign up for gnotw

Liz Muthoni
Liz Muthoni

Coordinator, Economic Development

San Diego’s Good News of the Week – June 7, 2024

By Liz Muthoni,

Every week, ‘Good News of the Week’ features a curation of positive headlines from San Diego, delivered straight to your inbox. A blend of aggregated stories from San Diego’s most trusted news sources and original EDC-created content, GNOTW provides a comprehensive recap of the region’s best stories from the past week. GNOTW is sponsored by Manpower San Diego.

Get Good News of the Week in your inbox every Friday. → Sign up

For the week of June 7, 2024, here’s what we’re reading:

…and here are some events and opportunities:

From our partners:

EDC’s Annual Dinner: June 18 at Petco Park

Together with more than 900 business and community leaders, EDC invites you to join us at our Annual Dinner at Petco Park on June 18.  We’ll enjoy a brief program honoring our Life. Changing. awardees followed by dinner and networking at the new Gallagher Square at Petco Park.

Buy Ticket Here

Business information and resources page

Be in the know – sign up below to receive future editions of GNOTW.

Want to submit your event or news update to our weekly newsletter? Contact us for more information.

sign up for gnotw

Liz Muthoni
Liz Muthoni

Coordinator, Economic Development

Reflections on San Jose: EDC Leadership Trip

By Mark Cafferty,

As I was sitting on my Southwest Airlines flight back from San Jose, I looked into the rows ahead of me to see a scene that has become synonymous with our EDC Leadership Trips: Our former chair and the National Head of Commercial and Industrial Banking at Western Alliance Bank Julian Parra leaning into the aisle to have a discussion with our current vice chair for inclusion and the CEO of Lifeline Community Services Lisette Islas. Also leaning into the conversation were Neighborhood House Association President and CEO Rudy Johnson, and the COO of Connect Christie Marcella. Meanwhile, a row behind them, ResMed’s Head of Global Inclusion and Diversity Sarah Hassaine was in a deep and enthusiastic conversation with Chief Innovation Officer for the City of Carlsbad David Graham. All smiling and laughing. All heading home after two and a half days of deep thinking, work, and reflection in another California city and region dealing with many of the same challenges and opportunities we have back home. All recommitted to an inclusive economic development agenda they helped to create.

Getting 35 local business, higher education, nonprofit, and civic leaders to set aside time to travel, learn, and grow together is difficult. Finding the kind of leaders who can carry all of their knowledge and expertise into every conversation while checking their egos at the door might even sound impossible. But here we are once again, returning home with even more energy, enthusiasm, and focus than we had when we left.

Our time in San Jose reminded us of just how far we have come since we took our first leadership trip to Nashville almost nine years ago. Hearing the stories of employer engagement and commitment to inclusion, learning about deep and meaningful public-private partnerships, sitting in on an hour-long conversation between San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and San Diego City Councilmember Raul Campillo, and enjoying our time together at Mexican Heritage Plaza and the Google HQ Campus all made for meaningful and inspirational moments. Sharing it all with such a special and committed group of San Diego leaders and friends makes it almost magical.

But it isn’t magic that that will move the needle to ensure that we train enough skilled workers, support the development of enough quality jobs within our small businesses, and create the conditions that will ensure more resilient and thriving households throughout our region. It is hard, focused, intentional, and purposeful work. It requires an unwavering commitment to the belief that inclusion is a true economic imperative. And it only happens when we continuously find, leverage, and support this group of thoughtful, committed citizens who together can help our region meet our 2030 goals.

For those of you who have been a part of this journey with us over the last several years, thank you for your investment, leadership, and support. And for those of you who would like to be a part of the most meaningful, intentional, and inclusive economic development work in the nation, reach out, lean in, and join us in endorsing and advancing these goals. You will absolutely gain more than you give. I guarantee it.

Returning home with clearer eyes and a fuller heart—Mark

Mark Cafferty
Mark Cafferty

President & CEO

Endorse the 2030 goals

See our progress

San Diego’s Good News of the Week – May 31, 2024

By Bree Burris,

Every week, ‘Good News of the Week’ features a curation of positive headlines from San Diego, delivered straight to your inbox. A blend of aggregated stories from San Diego’s most trusted news sources and original EDC-created content, GNOTW provides a comprehensive recap of the region’s best stories from the past week. GNOTW is sponsored by Manpower San Diego.

Get Good News of the Week in your inbox every Friday. → Sign up

For the week of May 31, 2024, here’s what we’re reading:

…and here are some events and opportunities:

From our partners:

EDC, Apprenti partner to grow local talent pipeline

Amid a nationwide talent shortage, EDC has partnered with Apprenti to invite San Diego companies with advanced manufacturing operations to hire registered apprentices.

Learn More and Join

Business information and resources page

Be in the know – sign up below to receive future editions of GNOTW.

Want to submit your event or news update to our weekly newsletter? Contact us for more information.

sign up for gnotw

Contact SDREDC
To learn more, please contact us.

San Diego’s Good News of the Week – May 24, 2024

By Liz Muthoni,

Every week, ‘Good News of the Week’ features a curation of positive headlines from San Diego, delivered straight to your inbox. A blend of aggregated stories from San Diego’s most trusted news sources and original EDC-created content, GNOTW provides a comprehensive recap of the region’s best stories from the past week. GNOTW is sponsored by Manpower San Diego.

Get Good News of the Week in your inbox every Friday. → Sign up

For the week of May 24, 2024, here’s what we’re reading:

…and here are some events and opportunities:

Webinar: New Cargo Opportunities at Port of San Diego

Together with the Port of San Diego, World Trade Center San Diego invites you to join our June 27 webinar to learn about the heavy-duty all-electric cranes recently installed and what they mean for your business. You’ll also hear updates on other inland projects that emphasize energy transition.

Register Here

Business information and resources page

Be in the know – sign up below to receive future editions of GNOTW.

Want to submit your event or news update to our weekly newsletter? Contact us for more information.

sign up for gnotw

Liz Muthoni
Liz Muthoni

Coordinator, Economic Development

San Diego’s Good News of the Week – May 17, 2024

By Liz Muthoni,

Every week, ‘Good News of the Week’ features a curation of positive headlines from San Diego, delivered straight to your inbox. A blend of aggregated stories from San Diego’s most trusted news sources and original EDC-created content, GNOTW provides a comprehensive recap of the region’s best stories from the past week. GNOTW is sponsored by Manpower San Diego.

Get Good News of the Week in your inbox every Friday. → Sign up

For the week of May 17, 2024, here’s what we’re reading:

…and here are some events and opportunities:

Get help doing business in San Diego

IIs your business looking to expand in San Diego? EDC’s expert team is available to companies seeking guidance on doing business in the region. EDC helps companies find sites, business incentives, talent, and more—at no cost.

Learn How We Can Help

Business information and resources page

Be in the know – sign up below to receive future editions of GNOTW.

Want to submit your event or news update to our weekly newsletter? Contact us for more information.

sign up for gnotw

Liz Muthoni
Liz Muthoni

Coordinator, Economic Development

San Diego’s Good News of the Week – May 10, 2024

By Bree Burris,

Every week, ‘Good News of the Week’ features a curation of positive headlines from San Diego, delivered straight to your inbox. A blend of aggregated stories from San Diego’s most trusted news sources and original EDC-created content, GNOTW provides a comprehensive recap of the region’s best stories from the past week. GNOTW is sponsored by Manpower San Diego.

Get Good News of the Week in your inbox every Friday. → Sign up

For the week of May 10, 2024, here’s what we’re reading:

…and here are some events and opportunities:

EDC, SBDC: Talent acquisition is greatest small business challenge

In a recent survey across San Diego and Imperial Counties, EDC and SBDC found that 1 in 3 San Diego small businesses plan to increase hiring – yet 55 percent struggle to recruit talent. Explore the full study, including regional small business trends, outlook, and more.

Learn More

Business information and resources page

Be in the know – sign up below to receive future editions of GNOTW.

Want to submit your event or news update to our weekly newsletter? Contact us for more information.

sign up for gnotw

Contact SDREDC
To learn more, please contact us.