Tag: resources

Now open: California Competes Tax Credit

By San Diego Regional EDC,

APPLY for up to $215M in Tax Credits

Is your business considering expanding outside of the state or in need of assistance relocating or retaining jobs in California over the next five years?

You may be eligible for up to $215 million in Cal Competes Tax Credit from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). Applications for this round will be accepted through August 12.

GO-Biz bases awards on several factors relative to the State of California, including:

  • Number of jobs created or retained
  • Anticipated amount of new capital investments
  • Overall economic benefit
  • Opportunities for future growth and expansion
  • The extent to which the tax credit influences the applicant’s decision to relocate jobs from states that have enacted laws that permit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression; or deny or interfere with women’s reproductive rights

For more information on eligibility and assistance, visit the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) website.

need help applying?

Since 2015, EDC has supported 39 companies in winning $86,371,700 in credits. EDC’s expert team is available at no cost to San Diego companies seeking business growth services, including permitting, site selection, and economic incentives like Cal Competes.

CONTACT EDC

learn more & Apply BY AUG 12

“Creative Electron is very pleased with the support received from CMTC and EDC. We are constantly thinking of our growth goals and how to get there. We believe our people and diversity make us great, and by providing them with the tools to expand their skill set, we are confident we will be able to exceed our ambitious goals.”
–Mariem Ortiz, VP of Operations at Creative Electron, which secured a California Competes Tax Credit of $446,700

MORE RESOURCES

CONTACT EDC FOR OTHEr business sUpport

Best practices for AI in higher education

By Olivia Jones,

takeaways from Advancing San Diego’s AI Best Practices event

In a regional economy where one in four local firms utilizes Artificial Intelligence (AI), it is essential that San Diego students be prepared with the skills necessary to maximize the use of AI. To address this need, Deloitte and San Diego Regional EDC convened nearly 50 faculty and administrators from Advancing San Diego’s Verified Programs to collaborate and workshop the future of AI implementation in higher education.

Six THINGS WE LEARNED:

  1. Personalize learning and content

    AI can revolutionize personalized learning by analyzing student performance data to identify areas where students need more support and adjust curriculum accordingly. Additionally, AI enables educators to quickly adjust to student needs by creating lecture materials, interactive learning modules, and more. This dual capability expands educators’ ability to create tailored content and saves time on resource creation, enhancing both the learning experience and instructional quality.

  1. Streamline administrative tasks

    AI tools can manage routine administrative tasks such as scheduling, grading, and responding to common student questions. This can reduce the administrative burden on educators, allowing them to concentrate more on teaching and mentoring, thereby improving overall efficiency.

  1. AI literacy and prompt engineering

    Understanding prompt engineering, the skill of constructing the right questions, can significantly enhance the utility of AI in educational settings. The way questions are framed can drastically impact AI responses and, if done properly, reduce the risk of “hallucinations,” AI-generated information that may be incorrect or outdated. This literacy ensures that these tools are used to their full potential, providing accurate and relevant information that supports learning objectives. It also effectively prepares students for jobs in San Diego’s innovation economy, which is already adopting AI at staggering rates .

  1. Emphasize higher-order thinking

    The integration of AI in education is shifting instructive approaches, emphasizing higher-order thinking skills outlined in Bloom’s Taxonomy. With AI handling lower-order tasks such as remembering and understanding information, educators can focus on fostering analysis, evaluation, and creation in students. This shift encourages deeper learning and critical thinking, preparing students for complex real-world challenges.

  1. Establish effective governance frameworks

    Integrating AI into education will require strong governance frameworks to address ethical concerns like bias and privacy, clear policies and guidelines for its use in assignments and assessments, and a regular process for evaluating and updating these frameworks to keep pace with the evolving AI landscape.

  1. Mitigate bias and protect privacy

    Addressing bias in AI training data is important for fair educational outcomes. Ensuring AI models are trained on diverse, representative datasets can improve accuracy and inclusiveness. Privacy concerns are also paramount; public AI tools can inadvertently use any input data for retraining, risking exposure of sensitive information. Enterprise-specific models, which do not learn off of private data, might offer a more secure solution for educational institutions.

To learn more and get involved in EDC’s work, contact:

Olivia Jones
Olivia Jones

Coordinator, Talent Initiatives

aPPLY TO BE A VERIFIED PROGRAM

sEE edc’S AI series

Create diverse talent pipelines with apprenticeships

By Olivia Jones,

EDC, Apprenti partner to grow local talent pipeline

This is a developing story; last update was made July 2024.

With a nationwide talent shortage, companies are challenged to maximize growth. In San Diego, this issue is exacerbated by a declining working-age population coupled with job growth, making it difficult to find qualified talent. To build a strong workforce in this climate, companies must explore alternative talent acquisition pathways.

Join San Diego Regional EDC and Apprenti to explore how registered apprenticeships can help employers create a pipeline of critical, diverse, emerging talent, and support our local workforce. Together with Apprenti, EDC invites companies with advanced manufacturing or information technology operations to hire registered apprentices. Apprentices will tentatively begin in Summer 2024, with training completed and full-time onboarding in Winter 2026.

THE PARTNERS

EDC recognizes talent as the cornerstone of economic growth and works to leverage employer engagement, work-based learning, and unique company solutions to broaden San Diego’s pool of diverse, qualified talent. In complement, Seattle-based non-profit Apprenti provides the resources to support employers in developing a strong apprenticeship pipeline. Through this partnership catalyzed during EDC’s Leadership Trip, the Apprenti program sources, assesses, trains, and places talent for participating companies. The program also manages the administrative process of registering through state and federal systems, including access to braided funding to support program investments.

WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?

Companies that require a workforce with advanced manufacturing or information technology related technical skills but not a traditional degree. Roles include:

Advanced manufacturing

  • Optics manufacturing technician
  • Electromechanical technician
  • Precision machinist
  • Automation and controls technician
  • Instrumentation and controls technician
  • CNC operator and programmer

Information technology

  • Software developer/analyst
  • Cybersecurity analyst
  • CRM/CMS developer
  • IT support professional
  • IT business analyst
  • Systems administrator
  • Cloud operations specialist
  • Technical sales specialist
  • DevOps specialist
  • Web developer
  • UX designer
  • CRM administrator
  • Data analyst

WHY PARTICIPATE?

SAMPLE TIMELINE

  • Summer 2024: Apprentices begin training in the classroom half-time, and working on the job half-time.
  • Winter 2026: Apprentices complete classroom training, apprenticeship ends, and employers bring individuals on full-time.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT FEE

  • EDC investors: $3,000 per apprentice
  • Non-investors: $3,500 per apprentice

Fee covers services by Apprenti and EDC in sourcing talent, tests screening candidates, completing state and federal administrative requirements, providing ongoing apprenticeship programmatic support, and coordinating with training partners around funding and qualified curriculum. It does not include the cost of related technical instruction (which could be as low as $0) nor wages for the apprentice, which must be at least 60 percent of the employer first year wage paid to employees in this role at your company.

To learn more or join the cohort, contact:

Olivia Jones
Olivia Jones

Coordinator, Talent Initiatives

 

Open now: California Competes Tax Credit

By San Diego Regional EDC,

ABOUT THE California Competes Tax Credit

Is your businesses growing in the state of California over the next five years, or at risk of leaving California? Applications are now open for companies seeking a tax credit to offset state income tax liability. The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) has $85 million in tax credits available for your company in this funding round.

Awards are primarily based on the following factors, including:

  • Number of jobs created or retained
  • Anticipated amount of new capital investments
  • Overall economic benefit to the state
  • Opportunities for future growth and expansion

For more information on eligibility and assistance, visit the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) website.

Apply by March 20

Get help applying

Learn about the application process via California GO-Biz’s on-demand webinars:

Fill out the form linked below to request application assistance from EDC staff, free of charge.

HELP MY BUSINESS APPLY

“Creative Electron is very pleased with the support received from CMTC and EDC. We are constantly thinking of our growth goals and how to get there. We believe our people and diversity make us great, and by providing them with the tools to expand their skill set, we are confident we will be able to exceed our ambitious goals.”
–Mariem Ortiz, VP of Operations at Creative Electron, which secured a California Competes Tax Credit of $446,700.

MORE RESOURCES

EDC’s business services

Four San Diego programs helping Latinx professionals thrive

By San Diego Regional EDC,

Originally published on San Diego: Life. Changing.

September 15 kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States—a time to honor and celebrate the diverse cultures, rich heritage, and endless contributions of Latinx and Hispanic people in our country.

As a binational region, this community has long shaped, built, and led San Diego. And in observance of the month, we’ve compiled just a few of the many programs helping Latinx professionals thrive and climb in San Diego.

MAAC

MAAC helps local families achieve self-sufficiency through its pathways of service—advocacy and leadership development, economic development, education, health and wellbeing, and housing. The nonprofit offers multiple high-quality programs like its Unidos in Finance program to help kickstart your career in financial services with online training and job placement assistance.

Explore MAAC’s full menu of services and save the date for its upcoming Soirée.

MANA de San Diego

MANA de San Diego is part of a National Latina Organization that serves to empower Latinas through education, leadership development, community service, and advocacy. Its four-month Latina Success Leadership Program takes aim at the glass ceiling and addresses the problem of under-representation of Latinas in leadership roles through a series of sessions focused on leadership development, building resiliency, and increasing civic engagement.

Learn more about the program and stay tuned for the announcement of its next cohort’s application round in January 2023. And, if you’re a Latina in business, join MANA de San Diego for its Latina Success Conference in October.

SD2

Interested in a STEM career? San Diego Squared (SD2) focuses on helping underrepresented students enter careers in STEM by providing access to education, mentorship, and resources they need to thrive. Made possible through partnerships with San Diego companies like Illumina and Neurocrine Biosciences, SD2 connects educators and high school and college students to funding.

Explore its funding opportunities and check out its STEM Capsules for a series of inspiring videos highlighting BIPOC STEM professionals’ stories and advice for you.

San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

As San Diego’s largest business association representing the Hispanic community with over 500 members, San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s events and programs are a perfect way to grow your network and market your business.

Want to start your business and don’t know where to start? Connect with like-minded individuals at the Chamber’s monthly Cafecito and networking events with Latino business owners and leaders.

How can you support Latinx San Diegans?

Learning about Hispanic heritage, amplifying diverse stories and voices, and shopping at Latinx-owned businesses are just some of the many ways we can support all year round. This month and every month, we celebrate the accomplishments, resiliency, innovation, and leadership of San Diego’s Hispanic and Latinx community.

Open Now: California Competes Tax Credit

By San Diego Regional EDC,

ABOUT THE California Competes Tax Credit

Is your businesses growing in the state of California over the next five years, or at risk of leaving California? Applications are now open for companies seeking a tax credit to offset state income tax liability.

Applications are also open for the California Competes Grant, which has $120 million in funds available for eligible companies.

Awards are primarily based on the following factors, including:

  • Number of jobs created or retained
  • Anticipated amount of new capital investments
  • Overall economic benefit to the state
  • Opportunities for future growth and expansion

For more information on eligibility and assistance, visit the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) website.

APPLY by JANUary 24

Get help applying

Learn about the application process via California GO-Biz’s on-demand webinars:

  • January 5, 9:30–10:30 a.m. PST | Register
  • January 13, 4:00–5:00 p.m. PST | Register
  • January 18, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. PST | Register

Fill out the form linked below to request application assistance from EDC staff, free of charge.

“Creative Electron is very pleased with the support received from CMTC and EDC. We are constantly thinking of our growth goals and how to get there. We believe our people and diversity make us great, and by providing them with the tools to expand their skill set, we are confident we will be able to exceed our ambitious goals.”
–Mariem Ortiz, VP of Operations at Creative Electron, which secured a California Competes Tax Credit of $446,700.

HELP MY BUSINESS APPLY

Foreign investment and San Diego companies: 3 things you need to know

By Javier De Leon,

In September 2021, World Trade Center San Diego (WTCSD) hosted its quarterly Global Competitiveness Council (GCC) meeting in collaboration with the San Diego Cyber Center of Excellence (CCOE) and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). We were joined by David Rader, Deputy Director in the Office of Foreign Investment Review at the Department of Defense, who presented on the national security implications of foreign investment in the United States.

Here are three things we learned from the session about foreign investment into San Diego:

1. FDI is a positive for the United States, but requires caution

Foreign direct investment (FDI) provides American companies with valuable capital to grow and prosper. However, it is critical to exercise caution and conduct  proper due diligence when considering investment from foreign countries. There is always a chance rogue actors could undermine American companies like yours by way of theft of intellectual property.

2. U.S. companies are losing out on American-made innovative technologies to adversaries 

Foreign countries are increasingly leveraging FDI as a means to gain access to new technologies via control of intellectual property. One way adversaries do this: By raising venture capital and early stage funds to target innovation hubs like San Diego.

Unsurprisingly, the United States and its partners comprise the vast majority of innovation hubs around the world, making them and their homegrown innovation companies high-value targets. The majority of threats have been toward companies in the emerging technology space, including 5G, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and unmanned systems. But recently, improved due diligence and private capital has allowed CFIUS and its partner organizations to minimize these threats toward American companies and technologies.

3. It pays to proactively reach out to CFIUS 

CFIUS is an interagency committee authorized to review certain transactions involving foreign investment in the United States and certain real estate transactions by foreign persons, in order to determine the effect of such transactions on the national security of the United States. Companies that are considering leveraging foreign investment are encouraged to reach out to the team at CFIUS for no-charge advising to ensure your intellectual property will remain safe. CFIUS will need your company name, technology, and foreign investor information to determine if the transaction necessitates review through its due diligence process.

To get started with no-cost advising from the CFIUS staff, please reach out to David Rader, Deputy Director, Office of Foreign Investment Review at Department of Defense – david.m.rader.civ@mail.mil

Interested in growing your business internationally?

World Trade Center San Diego operates as an affiliate of the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation. WTC San Diego works to further San Diego’s global competitiveness by building an export pipeline, attracting and retaining foreign investment, and increasing San Diego’s global profile abroad.

Do you want to know more about the work of World Trade Center San Diego? Click here to receive our monthly Global Brief Newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

Interested in more? You may also like:

Looking to export to China? Here’s what you need to know

By Javier De Leon,

World Trade Center San Diego (WTCSD) partnered with the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Shanghai and San Diego Sport Innovators (SDSI) to host a business roundtable centered on the opportunities and challenges of exporting to China. Whether a small to mid-sized San Diego business or a more experienced San Diego corporation, all businesses can leverage the opportunity to export to a growing Chinese market, even amid COVID-19 challenges.

Here’s what you need to know.

1. You’ll need to locally register your business

Local officials in China have enormous say in terms of registration, policies, and enforcement. Be proactive in reaching out to the local U.S Commercial Service and AmCham teams—these experts support businesses like yours every day and can help keep you from running in circles.

2. Find the right international partner to minimize challenges and delays

It’s crucial for your business to identify suitable business partners in China or in the international space to help you understand and overcome non-tariff barriers. COVID-19 restrictions have made this process extremely difficult and global partners anticipate that pandemic-related delays and challenges will persist for the next 12-24 months. Especially now, companies should make sure to seek out and lean on local partners to increase your chance of successfully breaking into the Chinese market.

3. Leverage target demographics and Gen Z trends

China’s Gen Z are increasingly driving social trends…and consumer purchases, thanks to their disposable income. While much of their focus remains on domestic Chinese brands, their digital savvy opens up opportunities for your company to get in front of a growing market that isn’t necessarily loyal to the brands of their parents’ time. SDSI also notes that Gen Z has driven particular interest in premium consumer goods, with a focus on action sports like skating following the 2020 Olympics.

Strategizing opportunities to promote your brand to the right audience on popular digital platforms like WeChat or leveraging the right polarizing figures can help drive your successful marketing.

4. Do the work to understand consumers and cultural differences

Understanding consumer demand at the tactical level (on the ground) is critical to your company’s success. To be seen as an attractive option for your customer base, keep in mind cultural and social norms outside the U.S. For example: Understanding and leveraging Chinese holidays and special events can mean success for your company, with the opportunity for high interest and ability to reach a large demographic…if you do your research.

With some preparation, San Diego companies can succeed in the current business climate.

Businesses that have had success in exporting to China tend to do the following five things:

  • Determine whether your company is ready to export.
  • Work with local, in-country partners that can help your company navigate COVID-19 and understand local restrictions.
  • Leverage local networks to provide guidance on legal issues, and introductions to vetted service providers.
  • Identify and connect companies with distributors and industry consortiums.
  • Obtain market intelligence that helps gain perspective on overall market climate for example, understanding China’s digital landscape.

Interested in growing your business internationally?

WTCSD is now accepting applications for its flagship export assistance program, MetroConnect. 15 companies will be selected to receive a $5,000 export grant, 7 curated export workshops, access to mentors, complimentary translation software, international flight discounts, PR and marketing support from WTCSD staff, and the chance to win a $25,000 grand prize. For questions, please reach out to Lucas Coleman (lc@sandiegobusiness.org). Apply by November 15

About:

WTCSD
Founded in 1994 by the City of San Diego, Port of San Diego, and San Diego International Airport, World Trade Center San Diego (WTCSD) operates as an affiliate of San Diego Regional EDC. WTCSD works to further San Diego’s global competitiveness by building an export pipeline, attracting and retaining foreign investment and increasing San Diego’s global profile abroad. sandiegobusiness.org/wtcsd

AmCham Shanghai
The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, known as the “Voice of American Business” in China, was founded in 1915. AmCham Shanghai was the third American Chamber established outside the United States, and now has 3,000 members from 1,300+ companies. As a non-profit, non-partisan business organization, AmCham Shanghai is committed to the principles of free trade, open markets, private enterprise and the unrestricted flow of information.

SDSI
SDSI is a nonprofit focused on the Sport and Active Lifestyle industries. Working with Executive Chairman and NBA great Bill Walton, its 100 company membership represents the “Southern California Lifestyle” and includes leading sports and technology brands, Nutrition and Yoga, Surf, Skate, Cycling, Golf and Retail, as well as some of San Diego’s best Service Companies. It focuses on relevant and actionable C-level content that benefits its member companies. SDSI’s award winning Accelerator program features a 20 week Mentoring curriculum whose graduates have raised $86 Million and have a 82% success record. For more info go to SDsportinnovators.org

 

Interested in more? You may also like:

Apply by August 16: California Competes Tax Credit

By San Diego Regional EDC,

ABOUT THE California Competes Tax Credit

Businesses growing in the state of California over the next five years, or considering leaving California: Apply for a significant tax credit to offset your state income tax liability.

Awards are primarily based on the following factors, including:

  • Number of jobs created or retained in California
  • Capital investments in California over the next five years
  • Overall economic benefit to the state and its people
  • Commitment to remaining in California

For more information on eligibility and assistance, visit the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) website.

APPLY BY AUGUST 16

Get help applying

Learn about the application process via California GO-Biz’s on-demand webinars:

  • July 28, 9:30–10:30 a.m. PST | Register
  • August 5, 4:00–5:00 p.m. PST | Register
  • August 10, 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. PST | Register

Plus, reach out to EDC’s expert team for assistance, free of charge.

“Creative Electron is very pleased with the support received from CMTC and EDC. We are constantly thinking of our growth goals and how to get there. We believe our people and diversity make us great, and by providing them with the tools to expand their skill set, we are confident we will be able to exceed our ambitious goals.”
–Mariem Ortiz, VP of Operations at Creative Electron, which secured a California Competes Tax Credit of $446,700.

HELP MY BUSINESS APPLY

A company guide to return-to-work

By Janice Brown and Sandy McDonough,

As many companies begin to plan for a safe return-to-work to traditional offices, it can seem like there are more questions than answers: Can companies require employees to be vaccinated? What if employees refuse to return to on-site work? The list goes on…

Below, attorneys Janice Brown and Sandy McDonough from EDC investor companies Meyers Nave and Paul Plevin address some of the most common questions about the return-to-work in person. As COVID-19 restrictions ease and health guidelines permit, here’s what you should consider:

Please note: The information provided does not constitute and is not intended to be legal advice.

Can I require my employees to be vaccinated?

Yes, but consider your options.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says an employer can:

  1. Mandate that employees be vaccinated, and
  2. Keep unvaccinated employees out of the workplace if the employer determines that the unvaccinated employee poses a “direct threat” due to a “significant risk of substantial harm to the health or safety of the individual or others that cannot be eliminated or reduced by reasonable accommodation.”

Still, you’ll need to consider:

  • Medical accommodations
  • Religious accommodations
  • Business necessity
  • Team morale
  • MOUs (unions)
  • Possible objections based on vaccine’s Emergency Use Authorization status

What are my options if an employee refuses to return to work on-site?

First, work with your employees to understand the root of the issue. Is the refusal due to a lack of childcare? Is it because of safety concerns? Work with your employees to consider possible alternatives, like paid or unpaid leave and continued remote work arrangements.

What else should I know as our company outlines our return-to-work strategy?

Start by assessing your company’s needs, including updating key policies and plans, including a written COVID-19 prevention plan for return-to-work. Ensure you’re building trust with employees and lead with empathy by planning for accommodations, privacy, and health and safety needs—and communicate them accordingly. Once you have your plan, ensure the management team is trained to support.

Learn more about COVID-19 and return-to-work considerations:

Have additional or specific questions about the return to the office? Janice P. Brown (Meyers Nave) or Sandy L. McDonough (Paul Plevin) can help advise your employer.

You might also like:

For COVID-19 recovery resources and information: Visit this page, or see how we can help your company free of charge.