Tag: Innovate78

8 reasons we love things #MadeInSD

By Kaylee Hudson,

San Diego is home to a vibrant manufacturing cluster that spans many industries, including defense, shipbuilding, medical devices, cleantech, craft brewing, and sports and active lifestyle. And thanks to a highly-skilled workforce, robust training programs, and close proximity to Mexico, the San Diego region boasts nearly 3,150 manufacturing companies currently supporting more than 108,000 jobs. More on the industry here.

In celebration of National Manufacturing Day 2021, here are just a few reasons everyone can benefit from the goods/services made in San Diego:

1. To up our sports game

Skateboarding, surfing, biking, golfing…you can do it all with San Diego’s best sports tech.

Check out: Solid Surfboards, Xterra Skate, Juiced Bikes, ElliptiGO, Callaway Golf, TaylorMade Golf

2. To set trends

It’s easy to support San Diego manufacturing and set trends, with companies like Nixon, Pura Vida, and Knockaround designing fashion-forward accessories.

Check out: Nixon, Blenders, Knockaround, Allett, Pura Vida

3. To enjoy the outdoors

It’s hard not to spend time outdoors when you live in year-round sunshine. Luckily, San Diego companies have you covered, whether you need to capture your adventures on camera or protect your skin for a day in the sun.

Check out: GoPro, Coola, Sun Bum, Amavara Skincare, Lotus Sustainables

4. To improve our homes

One product, dozens of uses… San Diego manufacturers like WD-40 and Dr. Bronner’s are big believers in efficiency when it comes to household products.

Check out: WD-40, Dr. Bronner’s

5. To make music

San Diego manufacturing is music to our ears with beautifully crafted guitars and banjos made right here in our own backyard.

Check out: Taylor Guitars, Deering Banjos

6. To help planet Earth

With San Diego’s proximity to beautiful beaches, mountains, and parks, our companies know how important it is to care for our planet through thoughtful sustainable products.

Check out: Lotus Sustainables, Verity Case

7. To taste something delicious

San Diego knows how to deliver on taste, whether you’re in the mood for craft beer or something sweet. Though North County leads the way with its many breweries and Bitchin’ Sauce, there are plenty of treats to go around no matter where you are in the region.

Check out: Stone Brewing, Bitchin’ Sauce, Suja Juice, White Labs, Modern Times, GelatoLove, Maya’s Cookies, The Mulk

8. To make the world a healthier place

From research to medical device manufacturing, San Diego is a thriving hub for biotech in all its forms. Device companies like BD and Illumina are leading the way when it comes to both preventative health and effective care.

Check out: BD, Illumina, DermTech, NuVasive, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Dexcom

More on manufacturing:

Does your San Diego manufacturing company need help finding resources, or just want to know more about San Diego’s thriving manufacturing scene? Click here to learn more, and get in touch with EDC for custom help. 

More on MFG Day 2021

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AAPI owned and operated businesses in San Diego

By San Diego Regional EDC,

In recognition of Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, EDC’s brands pulled together the below blogs on AAPI innovators across the San Diego region. Check them out here:

Innovation at work: 5 AAPI-owned companies to know in San Diego 

Featuring:

  • Menon Renewable Products/Menon Biosensors
  • Mesa Biotech
  • MicroQ
  • Microtek
  • Seatrec

AAPI-owned and led businesses in North County

 

Featuring:

  • Seatrec
  • Carlsbad Strawberry Company
  • Applied Membranes
  • Girl & Dug Farm
  • Yasukochi Family Farms
  • Menon Renewable Products

Study release: North County’s manufacturing industry poised for recovery, growth

By EDC Research Bureau,

A marketing initiative of EDC and the five cities along the 78 Corridor, Innovate78 serves to spotlight the businesses and innovators that make our region competitive.

Today, Innovate78 released a new report, The Future of Manufacturing in North County, which finds the industry will continue to prove its resiliency and positive economic impact in the region—even amid trends in automation, globalization and COVID-19 ramifications. According to the study, manufacturing accounts for $18 billion annually (or seven percent) of the area’s economy, and while many of the 813 local manufacturing firms were impacted by coronavirus, 58 percent of survey respondents are looking to increase their space.  

The study analyzes trends in employment, which is concentrated in high-value goods like computer and electronic product manufacturing. This sub-industry specifically accounts for nearly one-third of all manufacturing jobs in North County, with 12,746 employees of the total 40,151 jobs reported in the study. This number is expected to grow nearly six percent in the next five years—continuing to position manufacturing as a key driver of North County’s economy.  

Flux Power, a company represented in the study that manufactures advanced lithium-ion battery for industrial and commercial equipment, increased both their staff and revenue in 2020 amid the pandemic. With more than 100 employees, the Vista-based company is now looking to increase both its production and nonproduction space within the region.  

“The need to be efficient, safe and environmentally-conscious is high, especially now, as businesses plan for post-COVID-19 recovery,” said Chuck Scheiwe, chief financial officer of Flux Power. “Manufacturing products that empower others to improve their day-to-day efficiencies will be critical in our industry and region’s future growth, and we’re proud to be part of it.”  

The study reports that during COVID-19, North County manufacturing companies were undoubtedly impacted by the pandemic, with 43 percent of respondents reporting a loss of revenue in 2020. Looking at net growth, however, there was a reported one percent increase in manufacturing jobs, with 186 manufacturing jobs lost and 956 gained as noted by respondents. Most job losses were in medical manufacturing, while most job gains were in machinery manufacturing.  

One company that reported job gains is Quik-Pak, an Escondido based computer and electronic manufacturing company. In addition to anticipating upscaling facilities in the future, during COVID-19 Quik-Pak hired staff and reported increased revenue.  

“The strength of the manufacturing industry in North County San Diego is one of the reasons we wanted to expand here,” said Rosie Medina, vice president sales and marketing of Quik-Pak. “The talent pool is rich, and there is space to grow. We appreciate that not every region has both of these critical components that are needed for our industry to thrive.”    

Automation, globalization and COVID-19 are obvious pressures affecting North County’s manufacturing industry. However, as Quik-Pak and Flux Power note, the need for innovation and talent remain strong. There are 9,804 manufacturing jobs with a higher-than-average risk of automation—that’s nearly 24 percent of all North County manufacturing jobs. Investment in upskilling and re-training will be needed to help move these workers into other quality jobs over time.  

“From craft beer to surfboards, to life-changing medical devices and technology services, manufacturing has long been a pillar of the region’s economy, with impacts spanning beyond our community,” said Jordan Latchford, research manager of San Diego Regional EDC, the study author and managing entity of Innovate78. “This study confirms the manufacturing industry in North County is poised for a strong recovery, and will remain a significant economic driver for the San Diego region.”  

READ THE FULL REPORT

LEARN MORE ABOUT SAN DIEGO’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

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Innovate78 launches new website

By Kierstin Rielly ,

North County has changed a lot over the past six years when we launched the five-city collaborative partnership, Innovate78. And the work has changed with it.

We wanted to make sure our digital presence reflects how we’ve evolved. That’s why we launched the new Innovate78 website, with a fresh new look to our brand.

Here, you’ll find detailed information on what it’s like to live and work on the 78 Corridor, how we can assist local companies, as well as detailed information about each of the five cities involved in the partnership. 

At the same time, we remain committed to telling North County’s story. From interactive dashboards on our economy to information about investing in our region and resources for startups, we will constantly be providing you with the most relevant, up-to-date information for this region we call home.

Check it out!

Innovate78 hosts first-ever virtual Innovators Dinner

By Kierstin Rielly,

As the world was forced to pivot to full-time remote and online in Q2, the Innovate78 quarterly in-person Innovators Dinners successfully transitioned to a virtual event.

Innovate78 brought together a group of local business leaders to share advice and best practices on running their companies and cities virtually. As this event took place in mid-May, there was much discussion on how we can safely and quickly reopen the economy. Utilizing Zoom breakout sessions, we were able to curate intimate conversations with local businesses and the cities along the 78 Corridor.

The consensus from the attendees was overall positive and appreciative for continuing to hold these meaningful events. Attendee feedback echoed sentiments like, “Thank you for keeping this going and keeping the spirit alive!” The businesses along the 78 Corridor may have experienced initial setbacks with the shutdown, but they are bouncing back stronger than ever.

Innovate78 supports the business ecosystem of the 78 Corridor by further elevating the region’s reputation and assisting businesses as they evolve. The partnership between Carlsbad, Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos and Vista helps businesses prosper in place for the betterment of all who work and reside here. The multi-city partnership furthers innovation with a shared vision to boost economic prosperity.

February Innovators Dinner inspires North County entrepreneurs

By Kierstin Rielly,

Last month, Innovate78 gathered 20 forward-thinking entrepreneurs and change makers along the 78 Corridor for its quarterly Innovators Dinner.  The evening was full of solid connections and candid conversation about how we can create a stronger entrepreneurial climate among North County’s five cities.

Each quarter, the Innovators Dinner invites a guest speaker to inspire local entrepreneurs by telling their startup story. In February, entrepreneur and software manager Drew Wilson told the crowd about his experience founding Plasso, a San Diego-based e-commerce company, and offered helpful advice regarding fundraising and investing. Ultimately, Drew sold the company to GoDaddy, and accepted a position there.

The Innovators Dinner Series aims to bring together a diversity of people, engaging in meaningful conversations about how we can all grow and build a more prosperous North County. Bringing together entrepreneurs from every corner of the 78 corridor, the wide range of industries represented at each event—from technology to manufacturing to brewing to life sciences—reflects the strength of the corridor.

To learn more about Innovate78 and upcoming events along the 78 Corridor, visit its website.

 

Innovator’s Dinner: The innovation of craft beer in San Diego’s upside

By San Diego Regional EDC,

For the latest installment of the Innovator’s Dinner Series, Greg Koch, executive chairman and co-founder at Stone Brewing, joined a group of 25 entrepreneurs from North County to talk about the craft beer company’s growth story along the 78 Corridor. Now leading a 23-year-old company, Greg shared his thoughts and experience on how the company has grown, where they were able to find success, and how they’ve run into challenges in the last two decades.

The conversation showed entrepreneurs that are in the trenches of growing their business how Stone dealt with similar challenges, and ultimately, became a market leader in the craft beer industry. One underlying theme for the evening: An entrepreneur with a good idea needs grit to get through challenges, and the reward can be life-changing.

The Innovator’s Dinner series is part of the Startup78 initiative, which fosters entrepreneurship and supports the startup ecosystem along the 78 Corridor. Startups and entrepreneurs in the cities of Carlsbad, Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos, and Vista (together, Innovate78) can find out more about upcoming events at Innovate78.com.

Introducing the Innovate78 Innovators Dinner Series

By San Diego Regional EDC,

From inclusive growth to San Diego: Life. Changing., many of EDC’s most high profile initiatives have a similar origin story: they started with bringing the right people around the table. Looking to spur similar programs and initiatives on the 78 Corridor, Innovate78, a program funded by the five cities along the 78 Corridor (Carlsbad, Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos, and Vista) and managed by EDC, hosted its first Innovator Dinner in March 2019.

The Innovators Dinner Series is designed to bring together a diversity of people, engaging in meaningful conversations about how we can all grow and build a more prosperous North County. Bringing together 25 individuals from every corner of the 78 corridor, the wide range of industries represented—from technology to manufacturing to brewing to life sciences—reflected the strength of the corridor.

As the event got underway, the conversation gravitated toward natural themes of mentorship, access to capital, the viability of the local talent pool and more. The idea around remote work came up as well. With North County’s strong quality of life and abundance of coworking spaces, many have noted a rise in remote employees based in North County. However, one entrepreneur at the Innovators Dinner bucked that trend. Although his company is located on the 78 corridor, many of his employees are remote, and live as far away as the Midwest.

The Small Business Ecosystem Along the 78 Corridor

By San Diego Regional EDC,

Summary

Small businesses, which represent approximately 98 percent of all local companies, are the backbone of the regional economy. This initiative, which includes a survey of 164 businesses along the 78 Corridor, seeks to uncover insight and gain a deeper understanding of small business perceptions of the regional business climate. The end goal is to develop new and enhance existing programming and support for small businesses in the 78 Corridor. For the purpose of this survey, small businesses are defined as having fewer than 100 employees.

This study was underwritten by Innovate78.

Read the full report

Innovate78 Regional Profile

By San Diego Regional EDC,

Summary

Innovate78 is the collaborative outcome of five cities – Carlsbad, Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos and Vista – coming together with a shared vision to boost economic prosperity along the 78 Corridor. From tech startups to life sciences and communications, North County is the place where innovation and lifestyle collide. Here, in the five forward-thinking communities that comprise the 78 Corridor, creative leaders are gathering to continue this momentum of innovation and success.

Together, we represent Innovate78, a hub of innovation, that is driving talent and creative capital to the 78 Corridor.

READ THE FULL REPORT