Where to start
The San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC for short) serves global companies by providing them with the access to critical partners to accelerate their growth prospects. EDC provides data and research to make well-informed decisions and to open up new opportunities. Tokyo and London are the top sources of FDI by city. The San Diego region has seen a steady climb in its FDI ranking.
How EDC can help
EDC staff work every day to support dozens of local, national and global businesses thinking about their growth potential in the San Diego region. To this end, the EDC team provides services in support of key decisions being made that affect local jobs. EDC offers the following key support services:
Access
We connect you to the right people. Whether it is finding the right talent, necessary capital to grow your business or connecting you to industry peers, EDC leverages its network of partners to help companies grow in our region. We will serve as your advocate with local government agencies, facilitate introductions to industry trade associations and other private organizations throughout our region.
- As part of EDC’s efforts to increase San Diego’s global competitiveness, EDC and World Trade Center San Diego worked in partnership with the San Diego Tourism Authority to support the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority in bringing Condor’s nonstop service to Frankfurt, Germany and Zurich, Switzerland. Making the case for San Diego, WTC San Diego provided data and research on economic ties to the European innovation hubs.
- In support of Nordson Corporation’s expansion along the 78 Corridor, EDC coordinated with the city of Carlsbad to uncover site issues, expedite review and provide business liaison services to support the company’s move into a 93,000 square feet manufacturing facility, adding more than 500 regional jobs.
- Alongside cross-border partners, EDC facilitated the expansion of Thermo Fisher Scientific’s software development operations in Tijuana - just an hour from its Carlsbad operations. EDC coordinated several exploratory trips across the border to make the business case and determine availability of software talent, supporting nearly 100 new jobs.
- The city of San Diego and EDC worked in lock-step with BD – the world’s largest medication management company – to streamline processes and ensure the newly-integrated company continues to flourish in San Diego, employing more than 3,000 people in the region.
- Responding to Qualcomm's announcement of a reorganization process, EDC worked with Qualcomm's HR team to provide resources, entrepreneurial support and expedited transition for impacted employees to other San Diego employers and incubators.
Research
The foundation of good business decisions start with strong data. EDC provides customized research to local companies to give them the edge they need to make well-informed decisions. EDC also conducts research that provides a baseline of industry data to encourage and support economic investment.
- EDC releases a Quarterly Snapshot and Monthly Employment Report to analyze key economic metrics important to understanding the regional economy and San Diego’s standing relative to other major metropolitan areas in the U.S. The reports feature spotlights on specific industries, relevant legislation, an economic outlook for the year or a special topic, such as San Diego’s workforce.
- EDC responds to Requests for Information (RFI) to attract, retain and grow companies in San Diego. Each response is tailored to a company’s needs whether they require information on economic trends, data on San Diego industry clusters, material on local/state/federal business incentives, or facts about the quality of life and how it affects a company’s success in the region.
- EDC researches key industry clusters and relevant legislation to educate community and civic leaders to ensure regional growth and industry preservation. Q3 2016 saw the release of San Diego and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which explains how San Diego’s unique economic assets position the region to realize relatively greater benefits from TPP than the U.S. as a whole.
Advocacy
We coordinate and conduct outreach to discuss issues affecting companies' capacity to stay and grow in the region. EDC works with elected officials, university leadership and other policy makers to facilitate your needs whether your concern is workforce, infrastructure, transportation or housing, among others.
- Following a dense application process, EDC and the city of San Diego were awarded a $1.6 million grant from the Department of Defense (DoD). The OEA Grant will enable EDC and several regional peers to develop programs to enhance the resiliency of the region’s defense industrial base – connecting the DoD to local businesses.
- On behalf of Northrop Grumman Corporation, EDC advocated for the California Legislature to pass Senate Bill 718 which levels the playing field for aerospace tax credits for contractors throughout the State.
- EDC aided Hunter Industries, the largest private employer in San Marcos, with an application for the California Competes Tax Credit. EDC worked with Hunter to develop and position their application within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). The company was awarded $850,000 in tax credits to create more than 130 jobs, and will invest more than $58 million in the community in the next five years.
About EDC
San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation's (EDC for short) mission is to maximize the region’s economic prosperity and global competitiveness. As an independently funded non-profit organization, EDC promotes the region, facilitates corporate expansion across diverse industry sectors and supports the talent pool that drives their success.
Initiative Highlights
GO GLOBAL SAN DIEGO – EDC leads efforts to promote regional competitiveness through foreign direct investment and international trade. We organize trade missions to key markets like London and Tokyo and have granted SMEs funds to help them explore export opportunities.
REGIONAL MARKETING– EDC creates multilateral strategies to increase the region’s visibility and elevate San Diego’s distinct assets within international thought leadership spheres. We helped produce National Geographic’s “World’s Smart Cities” documentary about San Diego, which aired in more than 60 countries – highlighting San Diego as a hub for ideas and innovation.
OPERATION SAN DIEGO – With public and private partners, EDC spearheads an on-going initiative to defend, maintain and grow the $45 billion economic impact of the military through advocacy at the federal, state and local levels.
WORKFORCE AND TALENT RETENTION– Arguably the region’s best asset is its highly-skilled workforce. EDC supports STEM education, training programs and initiatives to ensure San Diego has the workforce pipeline to maintain its competitive edge.
COMPANY SUPPORT – On average EDC directly supports more than 150 companies representing about 5,000 jobs each year. From data to site selection to permitting to partnerships, we leverage our network and expertise to ensure that companies are able to grow here.
Contact EDC
Are you considering setting up your business in the San Diego Area? Don’t hesitate to contact our team if you have a specific question related to your industry or country.
Contact us by phone
Telephone
+ 1 619 - 234 8484 or
+ 1 619 - 234 8484
Contact us by e-mail
info@sandiegobusiness.org
Our address
530 B Street, 7th Floor, San Diego, CA 92101
Or visit our website
Support tools
There are several key steps to starting a business in the City of San Diego. The steps may vary according to the type of business you intend to start, but the following guide for the 10 Key Steps to Starting a Business will give you a general idea.
Ten key steps You can also download this PDF.
MetroConnect Prize
The MetroConnect Prize provides small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in San Diego with the resources they need to take their business to the rest of the world. MetroConnect provides each selected company up to $10,000 in matching funds to cover up to 50% of the costs associated with the company's next step to going global.
Thanks to support from the JPMorgan Chase & Co. Foundation, San Diego Regional EDC will award the MetroConnect Prize to a handful of companies trying to take their innovative products abroad, secure strategic partnerships, and boost international business that ultimately translates to increased economic activity in San Diego.
Read more about our Global Trade & Investment Initiative.
Home Country Support
Companies wishing to enter a foreign market can actively seek out support by the embassy or consulate of their home country in another city. Staff members are ready to help you begin.
Another source of support and information is the bilateral chamber of commerce of your
home country. The chamber may assist your company in several ways, including
consulting services regarding market research, trade-show assistance, background
verification, preparation of market entry plans and business referral services.
Find your Embassy / Consulate or Chamber of commerce for this city.
