HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-03-05; Economic Development Subcommittee; 03; Economic Development Strategic Actions UpdateMeeting Date: March 5, 2025
To: Economic Development Subcommittee
From: Matt Sanford, Economic Development Director
Staff Contact: Matt Sanford, Economic Development Director
matt.sanford@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-5987
Subject: Economic Development Strategic Actions Update
Recommended Action Receive an informational report on the implementation of current economic development strategic
actions, discuss and provide recommendations.
Executive Summary
The Economic Development Strategic Plan is a roadmap that guides the city’s economic
development activities over a five-year period, which began in 2023. The Economic Development
Strategic Actions Plan is the annual implementation of the tactical steps to achieve the goals and
objectives of the Economic Development Strategic Plan and outlines the tactical actions that are
taken to achieve its goals and objectives. This report provides an update on economic development
activities and the implementation of the approved strategic actions.
Explanation and Analysis
Current Trends
The new administration’s direction has created a period of uncertainty as businesses and
organizations work to understand the impacts of new policies and rules being put in place. Among
other areas, new directives around diversity, equity, and inclusion may impact federal contractors
and their respective workforces, while discussions of tariffs may hurt Carlsbad manufacturers that
rely on international supply chains or sell their products abroad. The broader economic implications
of tariffs have raised concerns among financial institutions and market analysts. For instance,
JPMorgan Chase has expressed apprehension that such trade policies might inadvertently become
business-unfriendly, potentially leading to economic slowdowns in North America. Further impacts
could occur as the administration has signaled halting all federal grants and have limited agency staff
members’ ability to travel and meet with external audiences. In a region like San Diego, which
receives billions in federal research grants, destabilizing funding and the ability for scientific research
to continue could have an outsized impact on the life sciences and healthcare industries.
The federal government has also demanded that all workers return to office in the coming months.
This could signal a shift in how other employers treat hybrid and remote work, although many
employers and workers have found those policies to enable higher productivity and quality of life.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUBCOMMITTEE
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The high cost of living in the area continues to be one of the main challenges for workers. High cost
and constrained supply mean that employers have to increase wages or cast a wider net to find
qualified workers. For some existing employees, these financial pressures have led to relocation or
extended commutes as they pursue more affordable options, further straining the local labor
market.
Carlsbad’s economy has trended positively despite many of these challenges. Staff remain
committed to working closely with employers to develop solutions, including facilitating
partnerships with educational institutions, advocating for workforce housing, and expanding city-led
talent attraction initiatives.
Progress on Current Actions
The following are recent highlights from the implementation of the Economic Development Strategic
Plan and reflect progress toward the approved actions.
Small Business Liaison Program Development
The Small Business Liaison Program continues to expand its efforts to support Carlsbad’s small
business community by providing direct assistance and streamlining connections to city resources.
As the program evolves, the city remains committed to providing access to resources and ensuring
small businesses have the tools needed to succeed.
Direct Business Support
The small business liaison continues to work with Carlsbad small businesses to provide direct
support and help navigate city processes. This includes helping with permitting and zoning,
workforce resources, signage guidance, and assistance in understanding city ordinances and
regulations. The Small Business Liaison acts as a single point of contact, streamlining connections
for business owners to city processes and connecting businesses with the necessary resources to
promote growth and operational efficiency.
To better serve our small business community, staff created an intake form for businesses to
request assistance. Whether you need guidance on permitting, workforce resources, signage
regulations, or city ordinances, the best way to reach us is by filling out our intake form at
carlsbadca.gov/SBL or emailing us at business@carlsbadca.gov.
Digital Resource Hub
Staff have completed the resource compilation and gathered key information to ensure the
platform provides relevant and valuable content. With this foundation in place, the city will work
with the software provider to build the website, ensuring it is accessible, user-friendly, and easy
to navigate. Businesses will soon be able to access resources directly through the platform,
streamlining support and information-sharing. Staff will incorporate ongoing business feedback
to refine and enhance the available tools and information, ensuring the hub effectively meets
the needs of Carlsbad’s small business community.
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Retail Establishments
Staff is continuing to work with UCSD’s I4x Innovation Sprint program to analyze potential Storefront
Improvement Program models. As part of this collaborative effort, we are examining 12 different
cities in California that have implemented SIPs or alternative programs, such as signage
enhancements, outdoor furnishings, and security improvements. This research focuses on program
structure, funding sources, eligibility criteria, success metrics, and strategies for enhancing business
visibility. Discussions with external city representatives are providing valuable insights into the
implementation and impact of these programs. These findings will help inform Carlsbad’s
exploration of a similar initiative to support small businesses and enhance the city’s commercial
corridors.
This aligns with the city's objectives to foster a vibrant business environment that meets the evolving
needs of our community and supports the growth and sustainability of local small businesses.
Small Business Workshop Series
The City of Carlsbad will launch a Small Business Workshop Series in partnership with the Carlsbad
Chamber of Commerce and Carlsbad Village Association. This year-long series is designed to provide
small businesses with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate key business challenges and
business continuity planning. Through a combination of city-led and community-driven sessions,
workshops will focus on equipping business owners with practical strategies to strengthen
operations, foster growth, and build stronger connections with city departments and local business
organizations.
Labor Market Information and Economic Indicators
Staff overhauled two data dashboards, one focused on labor market information, and one focused
on Carlsbad economic indicators, to be more easily accessible and understandable. The updated
dashboards provide fast visual representations of how Carlsbad’s economy and workforce are doing.
The Labor market dashboard also corresponds to updates made to the Job-Readiness Room
program.
The dashboards can be found at carlsbadca.gov/talent and carlsbadca.gov/economy. In a
corresponding move to make finding talent easier for businesses, the link carlsbadca.gov/findtalent
was created to take businesses to the candidate marketplace.
Job-Readiness Room
The Job-Readiness Room is a free offering provided through Carlsbad Libraries and allows any
resident to learn valuable skills that can better prepare them for work in Carlsbad’s key industries.
The Job-Readiness Room program has been updated to better align skills courses with industry
needs in Carlsbad. By linking to the labor market information dashboard, the program stays current
as skills demand changes within Carlsbad’s key industries.
Regional Partnerships
Carlsbad continues to participate in regional economic development and industry organizations,
establishing a presence for the city with key industry employers and leaders. As laid out in the
economic development strategic plan, participation in these types of forums establishes the city as a
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welcoming place for those key industries and businesses. Additionally, the city’s engagement has led
to a larger presence by those organizations in the city, supporting Carlsbad businesses. This includes
Connect, which hosts their marquee summer social in Carlsbad as well as industry office hours and
Startup San Diego, which hosts the opening day of San Diego Startup Week in Carlsbad.
Industry Gatherings
Over the past 18 months, staff have increased the engagement for industry gatherings, which occur
on a monthly basis. The series has evolved from 4 – 8 industry leaders discussing operations in the
city, to up to 40 attendees. In 2025, these gatherings will continue to focus on key industries and will
add industry-focused discussions, like a speaker or panel.
Fiscal Analysis
This action has no financial impact.
Next Steps
Staff will continue to implement the Economic Development Strategic Plan actions for fiscal year
2024-25 and will keep the subcommittee informed of progress.
Exhibit
None.
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