Viva CalleSJ will open San Jose streets twice in 2019
March 22, 2019 by Elisabeth Handler | Blog
Responding to the ever-growing crowds of walking, biking, scooting and skating participants, the open-streets event Viva CalleSJ will be held in May and September in 2019. “Downtown and Eastbound” will take place on Sunday, May 19, covering a route from St. James Pa…
Continue ReadingOED hosts well-attended forum on Foreign Trade Zones
March 22, 2019 by Elisabeth Handler | Blog
As a Foreign Trade Zone grantee, the 18th in the country, San Jose’s Office of Economic Development held an event to provide Silicon Valley companies insights into the advantages of operating within an FTZ. The Forum was held at City Hall on March 5, and attract…
Continue ReadingNext steps — San Jose Wayfinding Project
March 21, 2019 by Salvador Alvarez | Blog
OED has been working with other regional entities including SFO and SJC, VTA (others) on developing an integrated way-finding approach that provides block-by-block guidance to visitors to Downtown San Jose while also relating to way-finding initiatives throughout the Ba…
Continue ReadingCity’s housing crisis workplan update
March 20, 2019 by Elisabeth Handler | Blog
In a February, 2019 presentation to the Community & Economic Development Committee (CEDC) of the San Jose City Council, OED outlined the City’s major initiatives that address the need for housing in San Jose, including progress on existing initiatives and planned …
Continue ReadingSilicon Valley workforce shortage addressed in new alliance of manufacturers, educators
March 20, 2019 by Elisabeth Handler | Blog
Guest blogpost by Emily McGrath, Deputy Director, Workforce Development, Education & Training, NextFlex; and Brynt Parmeter, Director, Workforce Development, Education & Training, NextFlex Creating a deep talent pipeline that will fuel the technology sector’s …
Continue ReadingOED Business Development Team takes a field trip on the Peninsula
March 19, 2019 by Elisabeth Handler | Blog
Led by Chris Burton, OED Deputy Director, and Blage Zelalich, OED Downtown Manager, seven members of OED’s business development team toured noted development projects in San Mateo County. Taking the train from Diridon Station to Redwood City, we were amazed at how clo…
Continue ReadingOED welcomes Development Facilitation Officer Emily Lipoma
March 11, 2019 by Elisabeth Handler | Blog
Moving to OED’s Business Development Division, Emily Lipoma is bringing her services as Development Facilitation Officer to the group, utilizing her extensive experience managing complex projects in the City of San Jose Planning Department. Now located within Bu…
Continue ReadingSan Jose implements changes in construction tax effective March 31, 2019
February 22, 2019 by Chris Burton | Blog
What’s in your office? The Silicon Valley workplace has changed significantly over the past two decades. You’re now more likely to see open collaboration spaces and fire pits than you are closed door offices or even cubicles. Also gone are many of the traditional la…
Continue ReadingOED kicks off City of San Jose Opportunity Zones dialogue
February 22, 2019 by Nathan Donato-Weinstein | Blog
There’s a lot of buzz right now around Opportunity Zones – a new federal tax incentive for investment in lower-income communities. With 11 designated Census tracts, San Jose has the most Zones in Silicon Valley, and investors have responded by looking for deals thro…
Continue ReadingCity completes sale of iconic Hayes Mansion
February 20, 2019 by Elisabeth Handler | Blog
In February, 2019, the City of San José announced the successful completion of the sale of Hayes Mansion to JMA Ventures LLC, for $30 million. The City Council approved the sale on June 26, 2018, and escrow closed on January 5, 2019. The sale allows the City to elimina…
Continue ReadingSJPL Works for job applicants and entrepreneurs
February 15, 2019 by Elisabeth Handler | Blog
A guest blogpost by Rick Jensen, Communications Director, San Jose Downtown Association SJPL Works is just one of the assets that makes San Jose Public Library one of the top libraries in the country. San Jose librarians saw a need to provide dedicated support to job-se…
Continue ReadingSan José Clean Energy: Energy and Innovation for Businesses
February 13, 2019 by Elisabeth Handler | Blog
Guest Blogpost by Mark Bachman Account Services Manager, San José Clean Energy San José Clean Energy (SJCE) is the new Community Choice Energy program providing cleaner and cheaper electricity generation services to residents and businesses in San José. Opera…
Continue ReadingOpportunity Zones get more attention in San Jose
February 11, 2019 by Elisabeth Handler | Blog
Fresh from creating and leading a City Hall presentation of the Opportunity Zone program and its implications for property owners, developers, and businesses, OED’s Nathan Donato-Weinstein will be a presenter at BisNow‘s upcoming half-day event: Silicon Vall…
Continue Reading“Future of Downtown San Jose” – SV Business Journal Event
February 6, 2019 by Vic Farlie | Blog
At a sellout breakfast summit hosted by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, developers, property owners and City officials shared their views on the future of Downtown. Mayor Sam Liccardo gave the keynote speech highlighting just how far Downtown has come over the past…
Continue ReadingSan Jose Finishes Year with Record-Low Unemployment
January 28, 2019 by Elisabeth Handler | Blog
The unemployment rate for the City of San José dropped to a historically low in 2018, finishing the year at 2.5% after hitting an all-time low of 2.3% in May. The high demand for workers continued to draw sidelined workers into the market and new housing complet…
Continue ReadingHugs and Kisses from San Jose City Hall
January 23, 2019 by Elisabeth Handler | Blog
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, the City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs is offering a free commemorative photo, taken in front of the public artwork XO at City Hall. Photos will be taken of couples, co-workers, groups, BFFs and even with a much-loved …
Continue ReadingOED Viewpoint – Business trends to watch
January 22, 2019 by Nathan Donato-Weinstein | Blog
As part of OED’s annual Business Development Update presentation to the City Council’s Community & Economic Development Committee (CEDC) on Jan 28, the staff memo included some forward-looking statements gathered through meetings, interviews, data analysis…
Continue ReadingSan Jose scores upgraded Wi-Fi service for Downtown events areas – just in time for huge sports events
January 22, 2019 by Elisabeth Handler | Blog
Just before the launch of College Football Playoff’s Championship Campus events in Downtown, San Jose was excited to inaugurate significantly upgraded Wi-Fi service in and around Plaza de Cesar Chavez. For this deployment, Ruckus Networks provided T710 outdoor access …
Continue ReadingLaunching and growing a dream – BOS events offer small business guidance
January 22, 2019 by Elisabeth Handler | Blog
A full roster of events, workshops, skills sessions, clubs and clinics are held every month courtesy of Business Owners Space, one of the City of San Jose’s economic development programs. Here are two worth noting: New Year, New Business @ Action Spot Designed for ent…
Continue ReadingSilicon Valley Foreign Trade Zone Forum – Enhancing your company’s global competitiveness
January 11, 2019 by Elisabeth Handler | Blog
OED is hosting an important business forum on the advantages of using a Foreign Trade Zone on (FTZ), March 5, 2019, 8:30-11 am, at City Hall. Foreign Trade Zones are territories within the US that are considered outside of US. Customs territory. The City of San Jose’s…
Continue ReadingSan Jose Climate Champion nominations open
January 3, 2019 by Elisabeth Handler | Blog
We wanted to be sure our readers have the chance to put forward nominations in seven categories for the first annual Climate Smart Champion Awards. The awards will recognize San José individuals, employers and organizations that have made outstanding effort this year …
Continue ReadingSan Jose ranked fastest-growing city in the world, 2019-2035
December 21, 2018 by Elisabeth Handler | Blog
A story in MarketWatch details a new report from Oxford Economics predicting that San Jose will be the fastest-growing urban economy world-wide, while New York City will retain its crown as the largest urban economy globally. Oxford Economics says in its annual Global C…
Continue Reading