Global Competitiveness
 Global competitiveness and talent attraction / retention efforts
San Diego competes in a global market for customers, investment and a talented workforce. EDC is engaged in a multi-faceted program to strengthen our global identity to enhance our global competitiveness. Through our partnership with the Brookings Institution, the region’s strengths and assets are being touted in a variety of forums and media outlets. For example, San Diego was profiled in a recent video and story featured in Politico and next month Mark Cafferty will join Brookings’ Global Cities Initiative for a forum and corporate meetings in Munich, Germany. The program includes tools such as a new website, Amazingsd.com, to attract talent to the region. Within the site “My San Diego” video vignettes capture the live, work and play aspects through the lives of San Diegans such as Christy Schmidt, an office manager at a landscape architectural firm who lives at Civita in Mission Valley and Phil Blair, executive officer at Manpower San Diego, who shares his views on career opportunities here. Retaining the talent that is graduating from our region’s universities is also a key component of the program. UC San Diego created iTrends, a series of industry panel discussions from biotech to cybersecurity for students across all academic disciplines to learn about careers in these fields. This fall, we are expanding the program to campuses around the region under the name Link2.
When it comes to the impact of cities, it's not about population. It's about innovation. The Brookings Institution believes that San Diego is one of those cities fulfilling its innovation quota. It's San Diego's ability to collaborate - especially in R&D - which has helped it become an economic powerhouse. That is the basis of a video, produced by JP Morgan Chase, that ran on The Atlantic this week featuring EDC's Mark Cafferty, Genomics Pioneer Craig Venter and Brookings Economist Bruce Katz. "San Diego is the 17th largest metropolitan area in the U.S., but when you look at what matters — talented workforce, patents and other signs of innovation — they’re consistently in the top five or the top ten," said Bruce Katz.
Boots on the ground: defending our military assets
Accounting for 22 percent of all jobs throughout the region, the military is a cornerstone of San Diego's vibrant economy. In an effort to defend these valuable assets, EDC completed work with the California Governor’s Military Council to draft a comprehensive analysis and strategy surrounding Navy and Marine Corps installations throughout the state. The report will be used as the foundation of the state’s strategy to support and defend installations and assets in California. EDC also took its advocacy efforts to D.C. During the Chamber's D.C. trip, EDC partnered with SDMAC to lead a robust track on military issues and their impact on the region.
 Earlier this year, San Diego was selected as one of six cities in the U.S. by the Brookings Institution to participate in its foreign direct investment (FDI) pilot program - an initiative aimed at helping cities "Go Global" and engage with international markets. Over the last quarter, EDC has worked with Qualcomm, Biocom, UC San Diego, the City of San Diego, and the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to assess our region's FDI capacity. Sean Barr and Efrem Bycer participated in a Brookings hosted session in late September to discuss the findings from San Diego’s assessment and the strategies to increase our global share of foreign investment.
San Diego celebrates MFG Day
There are more than 2,900 manufacturers throughout San Diego County and Tijuana. Twenty-eight of them - including Illumina, Taylor Guitars, White Labs and D&K Engineering - opened their doors as part of National Manufacturing Day to give San Diego a glimpse of what is made in our region. The day began with a panel made up of Bob Cassidy (ViaSat), Kevin Graney (General Dynamics NASSCO), Dave Klimkiewicz (Sector 9), Carlos Nunez (CareFusion), and Guillermo Romero (3D Robotics) where they discussed some of the advantages and challenges of manufacturing throughout the mega region. San Diego had more company tours than any other region in California.
78 Corridor collaboration
The cities of Oceanside, Carlsbad, Vista, San Marcos, and Escondido have partnered with EDC to develop and execute a comprehensive strategy and position the 78 Corridor as a destination for innovation, business expansion, and relocation.
| Job Growth in the Region
 HealthCentrix, a wireless health company, will move its operations from Miami, Florida to San Diego in 2015. In order to attract the innovator to the region, EDC facilitated introductions to key stakeholders and companies in San Diego which have the potential for strategic partnerships with the company. In addition to San Diego's unmatched expertise in wireless health, the company was drawn to the region because of the strong talent pool and collaborative environment. The company will employ more than 70 software engineers and other highly-skilled workers in San Diego and Northern Baja.
EF Education First International Language School - specializing in language training and education travel - has the potential to breathe new life into the old Cabrillo Hospital building. The international education company is looking to expand its presence in San Diego through the purchase and renovation of the Midway site. Once converted, the total enrollment is projected at 1,500 students. The company will directly employ 100 individuals and is estimated to support 400 jobs. To assist the company, EDC has facilitated support and provided an economic impact analysis in order to help them better articulate the economic and fiscal benefits of their future expansion in the region.
| Policy and Advocacy
Thanks to the California Economic Summit, the Golden State is on its way to creating a shared economic agenda; one developed by private, public, and civic champions from the state's diverse regions with the goal of expanding prosperity for all. On August 12, stakeholders from around the region took a trip to Sacramento as part of the California Economic Summit's Capitol Day. During the day, Summit Action Teams met in the morning to discuss accomplishments over the past year and where to take their work in the coming year. The afternoon conversations took up three huge challenges for the state's economy: water, workforce, and creating enough housing and transit options for that workforce. Speaking in front of attendees, Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins said, " I believe one of our most important jobs in the Capitol is finding the right balance, a balance where California has a strong business climate that generates jobs and revenue, where we’re also safe, healthy, and financially able to live, work, and raise our families." Read more...
Mayor Faulconer visits San Diego innovators
City of San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer has demonstrated his commitment to economic development through tours facilitated by EDC at vital San Diego employers including:
- NASSCO: On August 13, EDC facilitated a tour of NASSCO, a crucial cornerstone of San Diego's shipbuilding industry. While at NASSCO, the Mayor explored the shipyards and spoke about the company's importance to the maritime and defense sectors. As a result of new contracts, the largest shipbuilder on the west coast is looking to add hundreds of new employees to its ranks.
- SPAWAR: Mayor Faulconer visited the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) Old Town Complex September 2 to discuss the importance of the organization to the local economy and the region's burgeoning research and development community. As an integral part of the region's innovation economy, SPAWAR employs 4,900 workers in San Diego at an average annual salary of $105,000.
$45 million in state tax credits available
 California Competes is a state discretionary tax credit available for businesses that want to come to California or expand in California. The credit is administered by the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). Now in its second round, the application period runs through October 27. In the inaugural round, San Diego and Imperial County companies received $7.43 million, which is expected to create a total of 1,144 jobs at their companies. Employers interested in learning more are invited to join EDC and GO-Biz for a free workshop on October 13. Details... | Investor Exclusives
Behind the Scenes: General Atomics
EDC investors were treated to an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of General Atomics on September 26. Guided by Vice Chairman Linden Blue, investors learned about GA's diverse technologies in the defense, UAV, and energy sectors. “It was an honor, a bit humbling but most of all inspiring to have the opportunity to meet and spend some quality time with Mr. Blue in such a low key atmosphere," said John Rigby, president of Kyocera International, who joined the tour. "What struck me the most was not his profound contributions to the aeronautical, energy and defense sciences but the depth of his convictions that spawned these accomplishments. His genuine on going concern for the quality and preservation of life, not only in America but worldwide, was actually very moving.” As one of the godfathers of aerospace in the region, Linden has pioneered San Diego's vibrant innovation economy.
Behind the headlines: case studies of San Diego competitiveness
EDC is organizing quarterly panel discussions to give our economic development committee a closer look at what goes into a company's decision to grow in the region or relocate its operations elsewhere. This quarter's panel included Jon Belmonte, former interim president at the Active Network; Curtis Staker, former president, Websense; and Keven Lippert, executive vice president , general counsel and secretary, ViaSat. Although headlines frequently tout companies being poached away from California, there is always more to the story. The panelists indicated that although a company may change locations, most of the talent - the bread and butter that drives regional innovation - stays and reinvests in our region. They concluded that just like any other region, San Diego has its challenges, but the loyal workforce, base of existing companies, and quality of life make it an ideal place for an innovative company.
Investor Spotlight series
Our new series celebrates the dynamic companies, organizations, and universities that support our economic development efforts. Not only do these companies accelerate our economy, but together, they are writing our regional narrative and illustrating how San Diego serves as a magnet for investment, talent and innovation. Check out the posts:
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Jesse Gipe is EDC's new economic development manager. A graduate of UC San Diego, Jesse joins EDC with a strong entrepreneurial background. Jesse’s recent experience with state legislative issues will support his focus on the military and other key sectors of San Diego’s economy. 
Every month, EDC takes a closer look at the California Employment Development Department's monthly employment release and analyzes what the data means for San Diego.
