Manufacturing Series: SurfaceInk, the brains behind the gadget
March 16, 2017 by Nathan Donato-Weinstein | Blog
Perched in a display case inside the downtown San José office of SurfaceInk is a hit parade of consumer electronics: Palm devices, Apple iPhones, Amazon Kindles, and enough routers, printers – even a few toys – to stock a Fry’s megastore. They’ve all been she…
Continue ReadingManufacturing Series: Velodyne LiDAR Drives into San José
February 27, 2017 by Nathan Donato-Weinstein | Blog
You might not know the name Velodyne LiDar Inc., but there’s a good chance the technology the company pioneered will radically change the way you get around in the not-too-distant future. And a new factory it’s establishing in South San José will help accelerate th…
Continue ReadingAC Hotel Opens in San Jose
February 7, 2017 by Nathan Donato-Weinstein | Blog
If you have tried to get a weekday room in Silicon Valley over the last couple of years, you’ll know the following rules: Book early. Cast a wide net. And be prepared to pay up. But now a little rain has fallen on the long drought of hotel construction in downtown San…
Continue ReadingWoman-Owned Naprotek Is Electronics Manufacturing Success Story
December 22, 2016 by Donovan Lazaro | Blog
The Bay Area has long been the epicenter for advanced electronics manufacturing. Predominantly concentrated in the San Jose metro, the industry is buoyed through its proximity to both incumbent and up-and-coming hardware companies, decades of intellectual capital…
Continue ReadingSVMR panel: Manufacturing training available, but where are the students?
December 13, 2016 by Donovan Lazaro | Blog
Last week OED hosted Silicon Valley Manufacturing Roundtable 2016. One of the panels was planned to highlight the need of Silicon Valley companies for trained manufacturing workers . The panel consisted of Michael Chissell, who runs training programs for San Jose-base…
Continue ReadingWhen is local manufacturing right for hardware startups?
December 13, 2016 by Nathan Donato-Weinstein | Blog
Local manufacturing is a hot topic these days. So it’s no surprise it took center stage at a recent convening of the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Roundtable held at Samsung Semiconductor USA in North San Jose. As moderator, I had a chance to engage with four emerging …
Continue ReadingSan Jose is Key to Bay Area’s Manufacturing Ecosystem
December 2, 2016 by Donovan Lazaro | Blog
It is unusual for the mayors of the Bay Area’s four largest cities to appear together publicly. However, On November 17, San Jose’s Mayor Liccardo was joined by his counterparts from San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont to support local manufacturing at the Inaugur…
Continue ReadingInside BriteLab, San Jose manufacturer of high-tech skateboards and 3D printers
November 22, 2016 by Nathan Donato-Weinstein | Blog
A one-wheeled electric skateboard that zooms along at 14 mph. A mobile telepresence robot with a friendly “face.” A high-end 3D printer that can link up to up to dozens of its siblings, creating a massive, automated production line. Very different products, to be su…
Continue ReadingHigh-Tech-Employees Turned Artisinal – The Wood Connection Hand-Crafts Custom Cabinets in San Jose
November 14, 2016 by Donovan Lazaro | Blog
The perception of Silicon Valley is tech, tech and more tech. But some thriving businesses in San Jose focus on artisanal skills, even if their founders started out in tech. One of these is part of a thriving little community of custom cabinet-making, in the Mo…
Continue ReadingTherma Success Based on Quality, Service and Employees
October 31, 2016 by Donovan Lazaro | Blog
When Joe and Nicki Parisi established Therma Corporation in 1967, they could sense that the region was poised for considerable growth. Yet even they had little idea that the relatively quiet Santa Clara Valley would one day be home to the economic engine it is today. To…
Continue ReadingEighth Downtown Broker Tour Draws 200 Real Estate Professionals
October 25, 2016 by Tina Kapoor | Blog
On October 5th, the Office of Economic Development led the 8th edition of the Downtown Real Estate Tour. The purpose of the tour is to showcase recent downtown success stories, highlight projects in planning and under construction, and reveal investment opportunities. …
Continue ReadingFrom the Economist’s Desk: Q3 2016 Snapshot
October 24, 2016 by Michelle Thong | Blog,
What’s happening with San Jose’s economy? Count on our quarterly snapshots to give you the scoop. Take a look at the data for yourself on our economic indicators dashboard. Strong job growth across multiple sectors San Jose added a total of 10,370 jobs dur…
Continue ReadingURBAN INNOVATION – A MAP AND A GUIDE
October 21, 2016 by Elisabeth Handler | Blog
Home to the world’s largest concentration of technology companies, San Jose leads the San Jose/Silicon Valley Emerging Technology Innovation Hub (iHUB). Designated by the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, the San Jose iHUB pro…
Continue ReadingSan Jose Welcomes Auto Innovator NextEV
October 19, 2016 by Elisabeth Handler | Blog
Adding to San Jose’s growing presence in the electric and autonomous car manufacturing market, startup NextEV celebrated its grand opening on North First Street in North San Jose, with San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and hundreds of partners, investors and media. The t…
Continue ReadingJavad EMS adds to a Thriving Electronics Manufacturing Industry in San Jose
October 7, 2016 by Donovan Lazaro | Blog
San Jose has long been home to a diverse electronics manufacturing industry. While the industry has morphed and evolved over the years in response to the demands of global market forces and changes in technological landscape, San Jose remains home to dozens of such busi…
Continue ReadingInaugural Bay Area Manufacturing Survey
September 21, 2016 by Donovan Lazaro | Blog
Economic data plays a central role in our line of work. It’s how we know what industries are growing, how residents are faring and where our actions are needed most. For example, data shows us that manufacturing is one of San Jose’s largest sectors. Manufac…
Continue ReadingSan Jose’s “coolness factor” is raised – the opening of Midtown Arts Mercantile
September 16, 2016 by Reena Brilliot | Blog
Last night we celebrated the grand opening of The Midtown Arts Mercantile project. The 40,000 square foot building at 430 Lincoln Avenue has a 98-year history deeply rooted in the canning and agricultural history of San Jose. Mayor Sam Liccardo presided, and was enthu…
Continue ReadingThe Young & The Restless, San Jose Edition
September 14, 2016 by Michelle Thong | Blog,
We brought economist Joe Cortright to San Jose to talk about why attracting college-educated young adults is so important for our city. Cortright is the Director of City Observatory, a virtual think tank and website with daily commentary that is on the “must-fol…
Continue ReadingFrom the Economist’s Desk: August 2016 Snapshot
August 22, 2016 by Michelle Thong | Blog,
Wondering how long Silicon Valley’s economic engine will keep on chugging? Read on to get the latest stats on San Jose’s economy, then head on over to our newly-launched economic indicators dashboard to take a look at the data for yourself. This is the in…
Continue ReadingMade in the Bay Area: A look at the regional manufacturing ecosystem
August 17, 2016 by Michelle Thong | Blog
What do solar panel connectors, stereo systems, t-shirts and beer all have in common? Answer: They’re all made in the Bay Area. Four businesses– Bentek, Meyer Sound, Marine Layer and Anchor Steam Brewing—representing each of these sectors were featured at the …
Continue ReadingUrban Life Transformer Jason Roberts Visits San Jose
July 28, 2016 by Elisabeth Handler | Blog
One of the advantages of working in economic development for an active, engaged city is that we get to meet creative and actively engaged people who are making amazing contributions to urban life. This week, we heard from Jason Roberts, the founder of Better Block Proje…
Continue ReadingSun Basket—The Newest Addition to San Jose’s On-Demand Economy Creates Jobs
June 14, 2016 by Reena Brilliot | Blog
E-commerce business have emerged to bring you meals any way you want them—whether it’s your weekly groceries, meal kits you prepare, meals made for you by community chefs, or your favorite restaurant dishes. You can get them all delivered to your doorstep with some …
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