AGENDA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE
AUGUST 27, 2026
PUBLIC MEETING 5:00 P.M.
MEMBERS
Tyron Hampton, Chair District 1
Jessica Rivas, District 5
Steve Madison, District 6
Jason Lyon, District 7
STAFF
David Klug, Economic Development Director
Dion O’Connell, Assistant City Attorney
Betty Gao, Recording Secretary
MISSION STATEMENT
The City of Pasadena is dedicated to delivering exemplary municipal services, responsive to our entire community and consistent
with our history, culture and unique character.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Assistive Listening Devices are available from the City Clerk’s Office with a 24-hour advance notice.
Please call (626) 744-4124 to request use of a listening device.
Language translation services are available for this meeting by calling (626) 744-4124 at least 24 hours in advance.
Habrá servicio de interpretación disponible para éstas juntas llamando al (626) 744-4124 por lo menos con 24 horas de anticipación.
Items on the agenda may not be called in order listed.
Agendas and supporting documents are available on the Internet at https://www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/city-council-economic-development-technology/
Materials related to an item on this Agenda submitted to the Economic Development and Technology Committee after distribution of the agenda packet will be posted online and listed as: “Supplemental Agenda Material Received after the Posting of the agenda”
PUBLIC COMMENT AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY
COMMITTEE MEETING FOR
AUGUST 27, 2026 AT 5:00 P.M. WILL BE ACCEPTED IN-PERSON AND BY VIDEOCONFERENCE/TELECONFERENCE.
Link to City Meeting Policy:
cityofpasadena.net/CityCouncilMeetingPolicy
TO VIEW A LIVE STREAM OF THE MEETING:
https://pasadena.granicus.com/player/camera/6?publish_id=181&redirect=true HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/@PASADENAMEDIATV/STREAMS
AND
WWW.PASADENAMEDIA.ORG
In order to facilitate public participation at meetings the City will accept public comment in the following manner:
1. Whether participating in-person or virtually at the meeting, members of the public may provide public comment by submitting a speaker card prior to the start of public comment on that item, at the following webpage:
www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/public-comment/
If a public comment speaker wishes to speak on more than one agenda item, please indicate which items on the online form (multiple item speakers will be handled according to the process posted on the agenda and as specified in the City meeting policy). Public comments are limited to 3 minutes each, and the Chair and Committee may limit this time if reasonable under the circumstances.
2. In-person Meeting Participation: Complete an online speaker card at the following website: www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/public-comment/ After submitting a public speaker card, members of the public may attend the meeting in-person by coming to the Pasadena City Council Chamber, Room S249 at City Hall at the date and start-time of the posted meeting.
Virtual Meeting Participation: For virtual participants, you may attend by connecting to the meeting using a computer, other electronic device, or by telephone. Please review the agenda to identify the published start time for the meeting and connect to the meeting just prior to, or at the start of the meeting.
To participate in public comment for an item and to be recognized to speak, it is required that the speaker login to the meeting using the same name or telephone number used on the Speaker Card form. This will allow City staff to locate and promote the speaker into the meeting when it is time for their public comment.
Participants’ phone calls to the Committee meeting will be recorded as part of the Committee meeting. By staying on the line and making public comment during the Committee meeting by phone, you are agreeing to have your phone call recorded. Following is the connectivity information for virtual participation:
Computer or electronic devices, join the meeting at: cityofpasadena.net/cczoom Telephone only dial-in: 1-669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 161 482 446
3. Speaker Card Help Line: If a public comment speaker needs assistance in completing a speaker card, please call the City Clerk’s Office at: (626) 744-4124.
Help line will open 30 minutes prior to the posted start time of the meeting.
4. Members of the public may submit correspondence of any length prior to the start of the meeting, at the following email address:
Correspondence will be forwarded to the City Council prior to the start of the meeting, posted online, and made part of the legislative record for the item.
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IF YOU NEED A REASONABLE MODIFICATION OR ACCOMMODATION PURSUANT
TO THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
BECAUSE YOU ARE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE ELECTRONICALLY AS SET FORTH ABOVE, CONTACT THE CITY CLERK’S OFFICE
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AT (626) 744-4124 OR
[email protected].
CITY OF PASADENA
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026
PUBLIC MEETING 5:00 P.M.
PASADENA CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBER
100 NORTH GARFIELD AVENUE, ROOM S249
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the regular meeting of the Economic Development and Technology Committee, will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber to discuss matters on the attached agenda.
_____________________
Tyron Hampton, Chair
Economic Development and
Technology Committee
I HEREBY CERTIFY that this agenda in its entirety, was posted on the Internet at https://www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/city-council-economic-development-technology/ and on the Council Chamber Bulletin Board, Room S249, and the Bulletin Board in the rotunda area; City Hall, 100 North Garfield Avenue, this 26
th day of August 2026 by 5:30 p.m. and that copies hereof were emailed or delivered to each member of the City Council and to each local newspaper of general circulation, radio or television station requesting notice in writing, all of which recipients are identified on the distribution herein below.
Katrine Panoyan
City Manager’s Office
DISTRIBUTION:
City Council Los Angeles Times
City Manager Pasadena Journal
City Attorney Pasadena Now
Public Information Officer Pasadena Star News
Pasadena Weekly La Opinion
Pasadena Independent
SPECIAL MEETING
AGENDA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE
THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 2026
Public Meeting: 5:00 P.M.
Council Chamber, Pasadena City Hall
100 North Garfield Avenue, Room S249
The Committee may take action on any item listed on this agenda as it deems appropriate following consideration and discussion of the matter.
PUBLIC MEETING – 5:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• JUNE 16 , 2026 – REGULAR MEETING*
• JULY 21, 2026 – CANCELLED MEETING*
OLD BUSINESS
1. PASADENA RETAIL FOLLOW UP*
2. DEEP TECH CAMPAIGN RESULTS YEAR 2 AND PROPOSED MEDIA PLAN*
INFORMATION ONLY
3. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE BY DAVID A. KLUG, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR*
ADJOURN
*Attachment
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• JUNE 16, 2026 – REGULAR MEETING*
01 06/16/2026
CITY OF PASADENA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE MINUTES
JUNE 16, 2026 – 5:00 P.M.
MEETING
OPENING The Chair called the meeting of the Economic Development and Technology Committee to order at 5:07 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Staff:
Councilmember Tyron Hampton, Chair
Vice Mayor Jessica Rivas
Councilmember Steve Madison
Councilmember Jason Lyon (Absent)
David Klug, Director of Economic Development
Jason Mikaelian, Acting Director of Planning and Community Development
Guille Nunez, Principal Planner
Dion O’Connell, Assistant City Attorney
Betty Gao, Recording Secretary
PUBLIC COMMENT Yadi, Pasadena resident, advocated for continued transparency, accountability, and public engagement in technology procurement and the City Council and staff’s decision-making processes.
Humaira, Pasadena resident, expressed concerns regarding technology procurement practices and oversight of emerging technologies.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES It was moved by Vice Mayor Rivas , seconded by Councilmember Madison, to approve the minutes of January 20, 2026, and May 19, 2026, as submitted. ( Motion unanimously approved) (Absent: Councilmember Lyon)
OLD BUSINESS CONTINUED DISCUSSION ON A POSSIBLE EXPANSION OF THE
EATON FIRE REBUILD PERMIT FEE WAIVER PROGRAM TO
INCLUDE STANDING HOMES WITH DOCUMENTED DAMAGE
David Klug, Director of Economic Development, provided introductory comments, and Guille Nunez, Principal Planner , summarized the staff memo as part of the PowerPoint presentation on the item, including providing information on damage assessments, the existing program, programs by jurisdiction, report analysis, and evacuation zones, with both responding to questions.
Jason Mikaelian, Acting Director of Planning and Community Development, provided information on jurisdiction programs, and clarified that the budget cap is for the whole fee waiver program and not just standing homes program, and responded to questions.
In response to Councilmember Madison’s inquires on subrogation, Dion O’Connell, Assistant City Attorney, stated that the City intends to pursue recovery of eligible waived permit fees, and responded to questions.
Councilmember Madison emphasized the importance of recovering available funds where appropriate.
02 06/16/2026
Betty Gao, Recording Secretary, reported that 2 letters were received by the City Clerk’s Office, which were distributed to the Committee, posted online, and made part of the record for this item.
Aurore Blossom Wright, Pasadena resident, thanked the department for the comprehensive report and inquired wh ether permit fee waivers would include fees associated with required code upgrades.
Following public comment, Ms. Nunez stated that staff will reach out to Ms. Wright to address her concerns.
Following discussion, it was moved by Councilmember Madison, seconded by Vice Mayor Rivas, to approve the staff recommendations and forward the item to the City Council for consideration and further discussion. ( Motion unanimously approved ) (Absent: Councilmember Lyon)
INFORMATION ONLY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE BY DAVID A. KLUG,
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
David Klug, Economic Development Director, summarized the staff memo as part of his oral presentation, including providing information on new business developments, business updates, outreach and small business support, and community events and responded to questions.
Following discussion, on the order of the Chair, and by consensus of the Committee, the information was received and filed.
ADJOURNMENT On the order of the Chair, the meeting of the Economic Development and Technology Committee was adjourned at 5:56 p.m.
_________________________________
Tyron Hampton, Chair
Economic Development and Technology Committee
ATTEST:
____________________
Betty Gao
Recording Secretary
• JULY 21, 2026 – CANCELLED MEETING*
01 07/21/2026
CITY OF PASADENA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE MINUTES
PASADENA CITY HALL
100 NORTH GARFIELD AVENUE
COUNCIL CHAMBER – ROOM S249
JULY 21, 2026
MEETING
The regular meeting of the Economic Development and Technology Committee, scheduled for Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., was cancelled as ordered on July 16, 2026, and was posted.
ATTEST:
____________________
Betty Gao
Recording Secretary
__________________________
Councilmember Tyron Hampton, Chair
Economic Development and Technology Committee
NEW BUSINESS
1. PASADENA RETAIL FOLLOW UP*
Pasadena Retail
Follow Up
Economic Development & Technology Committee
August 27, 2026
2 Supporting Retail Health
Retail occupancy is influenced by many factors. The following action steps prioritize the areas where the City can have the greatest impact on supporting retail health.
Common Industry Assumptions
“That space has been vacant forever. Nothing’s happening.” “If landlords are penalized, vacancies will disappear.” “If rent goes down, businesses will fill vacancies.”
3 The Retail Iceberg
Vacancy is a complex market
issue
• Some vacancies reflect normal
tenant turnover
• Leasing often involves long
timelines and behind-the-scenes
negotiations
• Retail viability depends on
consumer demand, not just rent
• In some areas, retail supply
exceeds demand
• Many spaces require significant build-
outs, many small businesses are
undercapitalized
• Time to market is influenced by
permitting and entitlements
• Buildouts can often take 12-24 months
• Foot traffic, access, and visibility
influence business success
• District conditions play a role in
viability
Staff reviewed strategies and best practices and identified three action areas to further support commercial occupancy.
This work aligns with E conomic Development Strategic Plan principles
2.0 - Invest in Neighborhoods & Small Business and
0.0 - Build Systems & Partnerships for Success
4 Retail Occupancy Action Framework
→
Improve
Pathways
to Occupancy
◉
Strengthen
Market
Intelligence &
Partnerships
$
Support Business
Investment
5 Improve Pathways to Occupancy
Plan Check Review Process –
6 Improve Pathways to Occupancy
PERMIT TYPE FY 2019 FY 2026 % DIFF
Building Permits
Residential 2,225 2,676 20.3%
Multi-Family 364 636 74.7%
Commercial/MU 706 484 -31.4%
Temporary 105 109 3.8%
Express 0 567 N/A
Sub- Trade Permits
Counter 4,892 3,338
6.6%
Express 0 1,879
Other Permits
Zoning 266 187 -29.7%
TOTAL: 8,558 9,876 15.4%
COUNTER VISITS FY 2019 FY 2026 % DIFF
Building 7,807 5,006 -35.9%
Design & HP 2,262 1,376 -39.2%
Zoning 10,635 5,996 -43.6%
Fire 2,309 629 -72.8%
Public Works 2,482 1,284 -48.3%
Permitting 10,692 6,568 -38.6%
Cashier 9,577 0 -100.0%
Other Visits 2,216 1,926 -13.1%
TOTAL: 47,980 22,785 - 52.5%
• Shift from to in-person to online/electronic
• Increase in number of permits issued
• Growth is from residential activity
• Continue monitoring trends
Why? - Reducing the time, cost, and uncertainty of opening can improve the business experience and help owners occupy space more smoothly.
Items Completed
• Streamline the development review process:
o C ompleted Specific Plans (FOOG underway and E ast Pasadena remaining) o R evised Predevelopment Plan R eview process
o U pdated design review & sign review thresholds
o Restaurants with alcohol sales, walk - up windows & outdoor dining o V ariances for Historic Resources
o Entitlement extensions
• Simply development standards :
o Standardized parking requirements
o A daptive R euse Ordinance & R & D Ordinance
o Objective D esign Standards for urban mixed- use
• Permit C enter Improvements :
o Permit Tracking, Plan Check & Customer Queuing Programs o E xpress permits, online submittals & payments
7 Improve Pathways to Occupancy
→
8 Improve Pathways to Occupancy
Items Underway
• Zoning Code Updates:
o Master Permitted U se Matrix –
R eview list of permitted uses & definitions
o U pdate the A lcohol Overlay D istrict
• Plan C heck R eview Improvements :
o Restaurant TIs –
A B 671 requires 20 business days for initial reviews and 10 business days for rechecks (City already in compliance) Staff goal to reduce to 15 and 5 business days
o All TIs –
238 last year and 171 this year (to date)
R eview times reduced from 131 to 95 calendar days ( - 27% ) o All Multi- D epartment R eviews –
2,979 last year and 1,568 this year (to date)
On- time reviews increased from 86% to 89%
9 Improve Pathways to Occupancy
Items Proposed
• Ground Floor Commercial Requirements:
o R eview recently approved Specific Plan for effectiveness Qualifying uses, applicable corridors & minimum commercial depths • E xpanded B usiness C oncierge:
o F l ag past- due plan checks
o Continue trouble shooting projects that are in the process o Work closely with City Council L iaisons and business community o Function as a hub for cross - department project coordination o D evelop business - friendly guidance materials for tenant improvements • Performance Metrics :
o U pdate and track performance standards for different departmental reviews • C A L E D Permit Streamlining A cademy:
o Participate for fall 2026
Why? - Better information helps the City understand market dynamics and proactively facilitate connections among businesses, developers, and property owners.
Continue
• Track chronically vacant properties
• Conduct Commercial District Needs Assessments
• Maintain broker and property owner relationships
Expand
• Convene a Commercial Property Owner & Broker Forum, Fall 2026 • Attend International Council of Shopping Centers conference, Sept. 2026 • Build property-level commercial inventory in Bludot
Explore
• Commercial occupancy cost analysis
• Catalytic site & market opportunity analysis
10 Strengthen Market Intelligence & Partnerships
◉
Why? - Connecting businesses with technical assistance, financing, and other resources can help make projects more feasible and support long- term investment.
Continue
• Business attraction and retention services
• Referrals to financing and 1:1 service providers
• Partnerships with business development organizations and PBIDs • Connections with owners of properties feasible for adaptive reuse Expand
• Grow programs and partnerships with Small Business Development Center, Women’s Business Center, LEEAF– e.g. Procurement Accelerator • Implement corridor-specific strategies informed by CDNA (Sep. 2026) • Expand targeted business recruitment
Explore
• Tenant improvement funding assistance
• Additional funding partnerships and grant opportunities 11 $
Support Business Investment
Market Outcomes
• Citywide retail occupancy
• Retail occupancy by PBID
• Number of chronically vacant properties (5+ years)
• Number of new business openings
Business Experience
• Average permit turnaround time for tenant improvements • Average plan check review time
• Number of businesses assisted through concierge services Business Development
• Number of broker/property owner engagements
• Number of recruitment proposals or site packages sent • Number of prospect meetings
• Number of Commercial properties inventoried in Bludot 12 Potential Performance Measures
13 Policy & Program Considerations
Potential Action Staff Direction / Funding
Improve Pathways to Occupancy
Continue with existing resources
• CALED streamlining academy, Fall
2026
Strengthen Market Intelligence &
Partnerships
Continue with existing resources
• Broker Forum, Fall 2026
• ICSC Conference, Sep. 2026
• Complete CDNA, Sep. 2026
• Build Bludot property inventory, Oct.
2026
Support Business
Investment
Continue with existing resources and
partnerships
→
◉
$
14 Potential Action Staff Direction / Funding
Commercial Occupancy Cost
Analysis Future funding required
Catalytic site & market
opportunity analysis Future funding required
Implement corridor-specific
CDNA projects & partner
programs
Future funding required
• Complete CDNA, Sep. 2026
Tenant Improvement Funding
Assistance Future funding required
Commercial Vacancy Registry Not recommended at this time Commercial Vacancy Tax Not recommended at this time
$
◉
◉
$
Policy & Program Considerations
End of Presentation
Thank you!
OLD BUSINESS
2. DEEP TECH CAMPAIGN RESULTS YEAR 2 AND MEDIA PLAN*
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INFORMATION ONLY
3. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE BY DAVID A. KLUG, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR*
1 MEMORANDUM
Date: August 27, 2026
To: Economic Development and Technology Committee
From: David A. Klug, Economic Development Director
Subject: Economic Development Update
The Economic Development Division is committed to supporting a thriving local economy. This memo provides an update on market conditions and the Division’s efforts.
1. Awards and Recognition
a. Pasadena's Deep Tech Campaign Wins National Gold Award The Economic Development team is excited to share that it has received the 2026 Excellence in Economic Development Gold Award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for its “Create Futures, Not Fads” Deep Tech campaign. Developed in partnership with Pasadena-based Echo Factory, the campaign spotlighted the groundbreaking innovation happening right here in Pasadena from Caltech and NASA JPL to Xencor, Motiv Space Systems, and Eli Lilly, showcasing breakthroughs in sight-restoring technology, Mars robotics, quantum computing, and more. The campaign also earned strong praise from IEDC judges, they shared, “the ads are bold and unique,” “I appreciated the research approach to utilizing the marketing campaign as a perception – very appropriate for deep tech marketing,” and “the brand lift study built into the KPIs is genius.” EconDev will be recognized at IEDC’s 2026 Annual Conference in New Orleans this October, as IEDC celebrates its 100th anniversary.
2 2. Business Development
a. Notable Openings & Successes
i. Milk Brew is a new coffee shop located on
263 E Colorado Blvd, specializing in coffee
steeped in milk overnight. They offer a wide
range of unique drinks and ingredients,
including corn milk and banana milk. The
café held their grand opening during the
weekend of August 1 and 2.
ii. Levant Mediterranean, a restaurant serving
fresh shawarma, falafel, hummus, and
more, held their grand opening on July 8.
Guests enjoyed stone-fired and flame-
grilled meals at 117 W California Blvd,
bringing new business to the Orangewood
Center.
iii. The Daily Catch, a Sicilian style seafood restaurant on 927 E Colorado Blvd, had their ribbon cutting on July 16. This is the Boston based company’s first West Coast location, importing fresh seafood from New England to Pasadena multiple times a week, providing guests with an authentic East Coast experience.
iv. Mammoth Coffee Roasting Co, a sustainability
rooted coffee company based in Mammoth Lakes,
opened their first franchise location in Pasadena on
July 20. Customers can enjoy coffee beverages,
pastries, and more at their storefront, located at 183
N. Fair Oaks Ave, Suite 40.
v. Dalah is a new, contemporary Thai restaurant on
851 Cordova St. This cozy dining spot offers both
lunch and dinner service, with menu highlights
including curries, noodle dishes, and mango sticky rice. vi. Tierra Caliente, a new restaurant in Old Town,
soft opened on July 24. Located on 115 E
Colorado Blvd, they serve authentic Mexican
food, provide warm service, and live mariachi
on occasion.
vii. Mehfil Co, Pasadena’s newest chai spot, is
now open on 82 S Lake Ave. Tea enthusiasts
can sip on warm chai, refreshing iced teas,
and decadent lattes.
3 b. 2026 Net New Businesses
From January
through July 2026, a
total of 199 new
businesses opened
across the City’s top
industry sectors. These sectors are 1. Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, 2. Health Care and Social Assistance, 3. Other Services (except Public Administration), 4. Retail Trade, 5. Finance and Insurance, 6.
Accommodation and Food Services, 7. Real Estate and Rental Leasing, 8.
Construction, and 9. Educational Services. Some of the new businesses are popular restaurants such as Ry’s Poke Shake or Lunasia Signature entertainment destinations like Escapology, and wellness centers like Nova Lagree. During the same period, 65 businesses closed, resulting in a net gain of 134 new businesses during seven months of 2026. The Economic Development Division will continue outreach efforts to sustain a consistent level of net new openings and support business growth among a variety of sectors.
4 3. Small Business Support and Outreach
a. Construction Procurement Accelerator Bid Day
On June 15, Economic Development staff joined participants, industry partners, and community stakeholders for Bid Day, celebrating the completion of the 9-week Construction Business Development Program. Led by the Pasadena Women’s Business Center, this program was designed to help small construction firms including general
contractors, subcontractors, and specialty
trade to strengthen their ability to compete
for public and private sector contracts. The
program provided practical training in
estimating, bid and RFP development,
compliance requirements, market research,
and business growth strategies. The
program concluded with a Bid Day
Presentation where participants showcased their capabilities to create valuable opportunities for networking and future contract opportunities.
b. Rooted and Rising Breakfast
On June 23, Economic Development staff kicked off the first Rooted and Rising Breakfast, an initiative focused on supporting emerging business leaders and engaging those interested in contributing to the continued development of Northwest Pasadena. The breakfast is part of the Commercial District Needs Assessment (CDNA) initiative currently underway in Northwest Pasadena, which includes canvassing efforts to better understand and address local business needs. The inaugural breakfast brought together a select group of community and business leaders to learn more about their work, identify opportunities for support, and begin building meaningful relationships and dialogue around the future of the area.
c. Gran Coramino Fund Grant Awards
Two Pasadena small businesses, Monarca Sol Collective and Scalp Sanctuary, were selected as recipients of a $10,000 grant through Kevin Hart’s Gran Coramino Fund. The competitive
national grant opportunity selected only 20
businesses nationwide, including seven
businesses from the Los Angeles region. The
Gran Coramino Fund, launched in 2022,
supports small businesses in under-resourced
communities by helping them create jobs,
increase revenue, and strengthen their ability
to serve their communities. Economic
Development staff supported the funding
5 opportunity by providing Monarca Sol Collective with a recommendation letter for its application and assisting with recommendations for local businesses.
d. 2026 Quarter 2 Economic Development Division Outreach Data The Economic Development Division
utilizes Bludot, the team’s customer
relationship management system
(CRM) that provides a database of all
Pasadena businesses, to track
business and community outreach
efforts. Throughout Quarter 2, 2026,
the team conducted 114 meetings
with businesses and organizations. In
addition to business attraction and
retention meetings, this number
includes community partner meetings,
with organizations like the Pasadena
Center Operating Company, the Small Business Development Center, Innovate Pasadena, and many others to foster new and ongoing collaborations in support of increasing economic activity. As the software’s capabilities evolve and staff continue to explore the full utilization of the tracking system, and analyzing its data, these figures represent only a portion of the team’s engagement. Bludot also tracks email communications between staff and businesses. In Quarter 2, staff sent
approximately 500 emails highlighting direct
correspondence with local entrepreneurs.
Additionally, the Division sent 8 targeted emails to
different industry clusters notifying business
owners of relevant local opportunities, such as the
Los Angeles Economic Equity Accelerator &
Fellowship’s Access to Capital Program and the
Pasadena Women’s Business Center’s
Construction
Procurement
Accelerator, among other resources.
Furthermore, Economic Development sent 3
newsletters from April to June 2026, providing
6,451 subscribers with grant information,
small business support, spotlights on new
businesses, and updates on Pasadena’s tech
and innovation industry
6 4. Events and Conferences
a. Chamber of Commerce Board Inauguration
Economic Development staff attended the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce’s event to commemorate the inauguration of Bill Ukropina of Coldwell Banker Commercial as Chair of the Board. The event took place on June 26 and provided an opportunity for networking with the various Pasadena institutions committed to cultivating and supporting the local economy.
b. Esri User Conference
From July 15 to 16, Economic
Development team members attended
the annual Esri User Conference in
San Diego. Staff learned practical
applications of Geographic
Information System software and
spatial analysis tools for economic
development work. Some event
highlights include one-on-one
guidance from ArcGIS experts and a
panel titled “Put Your Community on
the Map” that taught staff how to use
data to drive growth in the City.
c. Wedbush One Year Anniversary
Economic Development staff attended the one-year
anniversary of Wedbush, a financial advising
company, in Pasadena. The company moved from
Downtown Los Angeles to the 225 S Lake Ave
penthouse in Pasarroyo. Wedbush is an example of a
successful institution relocating to Pasadena and
highlights the importance of the Economic
Development team’s efforts to attract quality
businesses to the City.
Photo via Kennedy Zak
7 d. Grid110 Community Business Accelerator Culmination Celebration Economic Development staff attended the Grid110 closing celebration for the participating founders of their Community Business Accelerator on August 5.
Grid110 is a nonprofit committed to equitable community and economic development and provides no-cost accelerator programs for beginning entrepreneurs. This event gave staff the opportunity to get to know local small businesses, investors across the Los
Angeles region, and other economic
development practitioners dedicated to
uplifting entrepreneurs. Additionally,
one of the participating founders who
was celebrated is Kaiy Smith-Biesman,
owner of Neighbors and Friends in
Pasadena. The team hopes to
continue to see Pasadena businesses
participate in similar programs and
connect more entrepreneurs to these
valuable resources.
e. Commercial District Needs Assessment (CDNA) Update
The City’s Northwest Pasadena
Community Needs Assessment (CDNA)
project is underway and nearing
completion. We are excited to learn from
the businesses we've engaged through
canvassing effort, and to use their
feedback to better understand community
needs and inform future programs and
resources. To date, the team has reached
407 outreach contacts, 49 completed
interviews, and 125 partial interviews.
Early findings show that 75% of
businesses had not previously received
support, 29% prefer Spanish-language
services, and 63% prefer in-person follow-up. Businesses have shared a range of needs, including access to capital, marketing support, assistance with permits and inspections, and procurement opportunities. These insights will help shape recommendations to strengthen support for local businesses in Northwest Pasadena. A full report detailing the findings and recommendations will be available in October.
8 f. World Cup Watch Parties
Economic Development, in partnership with Visit Pasadena, LA Metro, Pasadena Center Operating Company (PCOC), Verizon Wireless, and Angel City, hosted three free public FIFA World Cup watch parties on June 12, June 24, and July 6. The events welcomed more than 5,000 attendees to cheer on Team USA and Mexico, and featured live match screenings, food trucks, family-friendly activities, soccer games, music, and a beer garden. The watch parties also generated significant media exposure. Television coverage of the USA vs. Belgium watch party reached approximately 366,500 viewers, including coverage on ABC7 (84,200 and 76,400 views), NBC4 (59,400 views), Telemundo (100,900 views), and KTLA 5 (45,400 views). Across social media, content related to all three watch parties generated more than one million views, with the Mexico match watch party alone receiving 559,000 views. These events helped the City strengthen partnerships, test event operations, and build community excitement in preparation for Pasadena's role as a venue city for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
9 5. Technology & Innovation
a. Caltech Quantum Research Building
In June, Caltech dedicated its new quantum research building to Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg, whose naming gift made the construction of this lab possible. The Dr. Allen and Charlotte Ginsburg Center for Quantum Precision Measurement will host
laboratories for quantum
sensing, quantum information
and gravitational-wave
detection - in addition to labs
dedicated to cultivating new
ideas, thoughts, and
expanding the field of quantum
science. This milestone
cements Pasadena as a hub
for innovation and
technological discoveries.
Photo via Chris Flynn for Caltech
b. U.S. Department of Energy Funded Caltech Projects
Two Caltech Projects have been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy receive funding as part of the Genesis Mission. This mission promotes the use of artificial intelligence to aid scientific discovery in the United States. One Caltech team is utilizing a machine-learning algorithm to advance chemical manufacturing, while the other team uses models to predict the behaviors of microorganisms and their interactions. These projects are an example of world-changing technologies born in Pasadena.