CITY OF ARTS & INNOVATION
WELCOME TO
RIVERSIDE,
CALIFORNIA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A Message from Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson 1
Ripe for Innovation 3
Demographics 5
Riverside’s Leading Employers 6
Quality of Life and Competitive Advantages 7
Ecosystem of Excellence 19
Riverside Airport 20
California Air Resources Board 21
UC Riverside 22
UC Riverside School of Medicine & Medical Center and Teaching Hospital23 UC Riverside Life Sciences Incubator 24
UC Riverside Center for Environmental Research and Technology 25 UC Riverside Plant Transformation Research Center 26
SoCal OasisTM Park 27
Northside Agriculture Innovation Center 29
Innovation Corridor 31
Riverside ExCITE 33
̌͛ͩˏͩͷͩʍ 35
March Air Reserve Base 36
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Corona 37
Inland Empire Tech Bridge 38
Visit Riverside 39
MAYOR PATRICIA
LOCK DAWSON
A MESSAGE FROM
Welcome to Riverside, California
Located in the heart of California’s fastest-growing region, Riverside offers a unique blend of affordability, innovation, and quality of life. With top-tier universities, ࢷthe City is built for both residents and
businesses to thrive.
Riverside is powering a sustainable future as home to the headquarters of the California Air Resources Board, and produces over 80,000 students across leading institutions such as California Baptist University, California State University – San Bernardino, La Sierra University, Riverside Community College District, and UC Riverside, providing a steady pipeline of skilled talent in business, science, and technology. Our award-winning K-12 schools, including Riverside STEM Academy, make education a cornerstone of our community.
Riverside controls our own energy future and is investing over $700 million to modernize our electric grid, while maintaining the lowest water and power rates in the state to power your business—ideal for energy and water-intensive industries.
With convenient access toࢫ
three ports, Riverside is well-connected to global markets.
Key industries like advanced manufacturing, aerospace & defense, arts & tourism, biotech & medical, and green technology are rapidly growing here.
Global companies such as GreenPower Motor Company, Hyundai Rotem, Ohmio and Voltu have already made Riverside home.
With a streamlined permitting process, business-friendly services, and wonderful quality of life, Riverside is the perfect place to invest, grow, and innovate.
We look forward to welcoming you.
RIPE FOR
INNOVATION
RIVERSIDE
Riverside’s economic ascent began in 1873 with the arrival of two Brazilian navel orange trees sent to local resident Eliza Tibbets. Thriving in the region’s climate, these trees sparked a citrus boom that made Riverside the heart of California’s navel orange industry. By 1895, with innovations like refrigerated railcars and advanced irrigation, Riverside had become the wealthiest U.S. city per capita.
That legacy is preserved at the California Citrus State Historic Park—a 250-acre living museum honoring the City’s role in transforming American agriculture. The City is also home to an ࢷcomprising 4,600 acres of land.
3 Today, Riverside continues to build on a foundation of agricultural excellence, evolving from green belt to green tech, never losing sight of our agrarian roots. Home to the U.S. plant patent of the Tango Mandarin Orange, Riverside is positioning itself as a global leader in green and agricultural technologies, leveraging its climate, infrastructure, and proximity to top-tier research institutions such as UC Riverside.
As the birthplace of a global agricultural movement, Riverside remains a strategic destination for innovation, investment, and sustainable growth. 4 DEMOGRAPHICS
Fastest
Growing Region in
California
33.6 Median Age
319,190 Riverside
Population (2024)
10 Year
Income Growth
$52,697
$88,575
20232013
68%
Increase
Destination
for Millennials
According to
Time Magazine
#1
5 RIVERSIDE’S
LEADING EMPLOYERS
6 The City of Riverside’s park system includes almost 3,000 acres of park land, consisting of 49 developed parks, 6 natural or wilderness parks, and 7 undeveloped ࢫࢶ
UC Riverside Botanic Gardens
The UC Riverside Botanic Gardens is a 40-acre living museum featuring over 3,500 plant species from around the world, with an emphasis on Mediterranean and arid ࢫ
resource for ࢶIts varied elevation and
subtropical climate create unique microclimates that support diverse plantings and abundant wildlife
Popular Destinations
• Fairmount Park
• Mt. Rubidoux
• Santa Ana River Trail
• Hunter Hobby Park
• Sycamore Canyon
Wilderness Park
280+ Sunny Days
per Year
7 Golf
Courses
Mediterranean
Climate
144 Miles of
Bike Lanes
QUALITY OF LIFE
7 ACCESS TO
WORKFORCE
HOUSING
Zillow, 2025
Santa Monica
$1,700,000
Rancho Cucamonga
$800,000
Anaheim
$940,000
Newport Beach
$3,400,000
Riverside
$650,000
San Diego
$1,000,000
Pasadena
$1,200,000
8 15
91 BUILDING
THE FUTURE
RIVERSIDE ADVENTURE
ࣙ
USE TOWN CENTER
$200M
KAISER PERMANENTE EXPANSION
$735.4M
RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
$1B
RIVERSIDE ALIVE
$200M
MUSEUM OF RIVERSIDE
$45M
9 215
60 UCR MEDICAL
SCHOOL HOSPITAL &
RESEARCH CENTER
SOCAL
OASISTM PARK
$63M
FARMHOUSE
COLLECTIVE
$6.7M
RIVERSIDE SPORTS AND
ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT
NORTHSIDE AG INNOVATION CENTER
$12M FOR PHASE 1
10 PREPARING TALENT, POWERING PROGRESS
• Materials Science & Engineering
(BS, MS, PhD) – nanotechnology,
electronics, biomedical,
aerospace, green energy &
environmental applications
• BS in Biomedical Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering Minor
• BS in Sustainability Studies
Program
• BS in Biological and
Biomedical Sciences
• BS in Business and Marketing
• AS in Biological and Physical Sciences
• Health-Related Sciences Pathway
• Automotive Hybrid & Electric
Vehicle Program
• Heavy/Medium Duty Clean
ࢫ
Achievement
• BS in Computer Engineering,
Computer Science, Bioinformatics
• BS in Information Systems and
Technology
• BA in Environmental Studies
• College of Natural Sciences
11 COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
TAX SAVINGS
Caps property tax to 1% of the
property’s assessed value at the
time of purchase.
CA PROPOSITION 13
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$18,000
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$15,688
12 LOW ELECTRIC
AND WATER RATES
ANNUAL AVERAGE COMMERCIAL RATE COMPARISON
RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES
The comparisons use 2024 published rates to analyze electric bills for representative commercial customers of varying sizes and industries across Riverside Public Utilities, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas and Electric. These analyses include the ࢫࢶ
8.7M
$4.3M
$9.4M
Large High
Voltage
Manufacturing
$1.5M$1.4M
$776K
Large Standard
Voltage
Manufacturing
$506K
$364K
$227K
Medium Industrial
High Tech
Manufacturing
$483K
$345K
$216K
Large
Class A
Ìʱёɲʍ
San Diego
Gas & Electric
Southern
California Edison
Riverside
Public Utilities
13 $3,000$2,000 $4,000$1,000
Corona
Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD)
San Bernardino
Ontario
Western Municipal Water District (WMWD)
$4,119
$4,102
$4,044
$3,725
$2,810
$2,433Riverside Public Utilities
INLAND EMPIRE MARKET | Monthly Bill
Riverside Public Utilities $2,433
$3,000$2,000 $4,000$1,000
Anaheim
Pomona
Pasadena
Burbank
Glendale $3,979
$3,937
$3,755
$3,436
$2,879
LOS ANGELES METRO MARKET | Monthly Bill
WATER RATE COMPARISON
Comparisons based on a 6-inch meter and 750 CCF monthly average consumption. 14 ACCESS TO MARKETS
• Port of Los Angeles
• Port of Long Beach
• Port of San Diego
3 PORTS
• Riverside Airport
• Flabob Airport
• Ontario International Airport
• Palm Springs International
Airport
• John Wayne International
Airport
• Los Angeles International
Airport
• San Bernardino
International Airport
7 AIRPORTS
5 HIGHWAYS
55555 HHHHHIIIIGGGGGGHHHHW
• Interstate 10
• Interstate 15
• Interstate 215
• State Route 60
• State Route 91
15 215
215
215
15 10
215
60 91
60 Los Angeles
Ontario
Long Beach
San
Diego
Riverside
University of
California,
Riverside
March Air
Reserve
Base
UC Riverside Center
for Environmental
Research and
Technology
California
Air Resources
Board
Naval Sea
Systems
Command
Riverside
Airport
Flabob
Airport
San
Bernardino
International
Airport
Ontario
International
Airport
þöÌþėĊ
ACCESS TO MARKETS
The Arts &
Culture
District
Riverside Sports
and Entertainment
District
Cal Baptist
University
La Sierra
University
16 Santa Monica
Redondo Beach
Long Beach
Huntington Beach
Anaheim
Santa Ana
FOREIGN
TRADE ZONE
FTZ #244
The entirety of the City of Riverside is
located within Foreign Trade Zone #244.
Riverside County is the administrator of
FTZ #244. For more information, please
scan the QR Code.
17 Lake Forest
San Clemente
Murrieta
Menifee
Corona
Riverside
Hemet
Perris
Banning
FOREIGN TRADE ZONE
FTZ #244
18 ECOSYSTEM OF
EXCELLENCE
AEROSPACE
& DEFENSE
ARTS &
TOURISM
GREEN
TECHNOLOGY
MEDICAL &
BIOTECHNOLOGY
GENERAL
TECHNOLOGY
THRIVING CLUSTERS
19 RIVERSIDE AIRPORT
• CBU Flight School
• NextGen Flight Academy
• Riverside Flight Academy
• ATP Flight School
• California Flight Services
• AvTech Exams
• Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University
FLIGHT ACADEMIES
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Y Y HIHIHIHIGHGHGHGHLILILILIGHGHGHGHTSTSTSTS
The busiest municipal
airport with a contracted
FAA tower
451-acre campus
2 runways, 1 helipad
170 hangers
Competitive leasing rates
͛ɲ˂̛̛˵͛
20 CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD
Riverside is the Southern California
headquarters
450+ employees
State agency responsible for
protecting public health, welfare,
and ecological resources by
reducing air pollution
Sets air quality standards,
ࢫࢷ
ࢫ࣭
compliance, and
researches the causes and
effects of air pollution
Largest vehicle emissions
testing facility in the
world
21 Spanning over 1,200 acres and home to more than 26,000 students and 1,100 faculty members, UC Riverside is a vibrant and dynamic institution where individuals push boundaries and pave the way for innovation, both on campus and beyond. The university is home to the Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) and the SoCal Oasis Park, and is strategically located near the California Air Resources Board. This proximity enhances UC Riverside’s position as a leading hub for green innovation, sustainability, and the development of talent in the environmental and clean-tech sectors.
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Key Highlights
• Top 1% Worldwide: UC Riverside
ranks among the top 1.3% of
universities globally. — Center
ࢬ
Top 6 Public University: Ranked
by Princeton Review among the
Best Schools for Public Impact
No. 1 in the U.S. for Social
Mobility: Recognized by U.S.
ࢬ
Recognized as a 5-Star University:
UC Riverside is one of only 54 recognized as a
5-star public university, ranking among the top 7%
ࢬ
Top 4% in Plant and Animal Science: U.S. News
ࢬ
No. 9 for Sustainability:ࢬ
•Faculty: 2 Nobel Prize Winners
• No. 22 for Innovation: U.S. News & World Report
22 UC RIVERSIDE
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE &
MEDICAL CENTER AND
TEACHING HOSPITAL
Programs
• Doctor of Medicine
• MS/PHD in Biomedical
Sciences
• Master of Public Health
• 364 Medical students
• 69 Biomedical sciences
grad students
• 127 residents and fellows
As home to a growing School of Medicine,
UCR is advancing its commitment to
healthcare and education by developing a
new medical center and teaching hospital.
Leveraging UCR Health’s network to support
School of Medicine students, this new
facility will feature teaching spaces and
clinical services. The project will begin with
a 20-acre site near State Route 60 and will
include an outpatient center,
280-bed hospital, parking, and
ࢶ
23 UC RIVERSIDE
LIFE SCIENCES
INCUBATOR
Equipped for innovation
Designed to support startup
companies in life sciences,
agriculture, biotechnology, and
medical technologies
3,000 square feet of incubation space
State of the art equipment
24 UC RIVERSIDE CENTER FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
AND TECHNOLOGY
5 Research Areas – Renewable
Energy Production & Integration,
Emissions and Fuels, Pollution
Formation in the Atmosphere,
Transportation Systems: Vehicle
& Infrastructure Interaction,
Exposure & Health Effects
World’s Largest Indoor
Atmospheric Chamber
Sustainable Integrated Grid
Initiative (SIGI)
Vehicle & Emission Testing
Laboratories
Shared, Electric,
Connected, and
Automated Vehicle Testing
ࢫ
Laboratory
CalTestBed25
UC RIVERSIDE PLANT TRANSFORMATION
RESEARCH CENTER
ࢫ
procedures for
transforming plants
ࢫ
industrial interest
Supports species of
economic importance
in agriculture and
model systems for gene
function research
Facilitates research on genes involved
in metabolic, physiological, and
developmental processes
Provides cost-effective access to
biochemical and molecular methods for
ͅ˵Ʉ̌ͩ͛
Serves as a resource for student
training and development
26 • OASIS: Opportunity to Advance Sustainability,
Innovation, and Social Inclusion
• Center for research in climate change, air
quality and mobility
• Collaboration between UC Riverside’s
Bourns College of Engineering Center for
Environmental Research and Technology
ࢫ
Entrepreneurship, and the University Extension
•͛ͅɄɲʍ and
will include clean tech labs along with a maker
space for prototyping new technologies
• Opportunities currently available for tenants
seeking state-of-the-art incubator space.
SOCAL OASIS™ PARK
27 Incubator
Space
Makerspace
Company
Workspaces
Atmospheric and
Mobility LaboratoriesTraining
Facilities
Makerspace
Public Space
& Classroom
Ìʱёɲʍ͛
Labs
Labs
28 NORTHSIDE AGRICULTURE
INNOVATION CENTER
•ɲʍ̌ͩʍ͍ for climate resilient agriculture
•ࢸCity, UCR, Lamplighter
Energy, Inland Empire Food Systems Alliance, Others
• Over $12 Million for Phase 1: site acquisition and development, trails and landscaping, solar PV greenhouses, agrivoltaics • 750kW renewable energy state-of-the-art solar facilities • Workforce training in controlled environment & Ag Tech incubation center
29 30
KANSAS AVE.
UNIVERSITY AVE.
Metrolink
Station
Downtown
Riverside
INNOVATION C
INNOVATION CORRIDOR
A six-mile section of University Avenue between
UC Riverside and Downtown Riverside, the Innovation Corridor is home to several technology facilities.
Ohmio is an all-electric, autonomous vehicle company from New Zealand who has established its international headquarters in Riverside and is conducting pilot routes at UC Riverside and in Downtown Riverside. 31 Potential
Expansion
IOWA AvE.
CHICAGO AVE.
SoCal OASIS™
ParkCORRIDOR
Life Sciences
Incubator
Plant Transformation
Raise@UCR
Research Center
MARLBOROUGH AVE.
COLUMBIA AVE.
IOWA AVE.
Center for Environmental
Research and Technology
32 Riverside ExCITEࢫ
Downtown Riverside, supporting high-tech startups
through co-working space, mentoring, workshops,
and access to capital. A collaboration between the
City and County of Riverside, UC Riverside, and
local business leaders, ExCITE provides an inspiring
ࢫ
guidance through EPIC SBDC, and resources to help
entrepreneurs grow and scale.
RIVERSIDE EXCITE
33 34
UC RIVERSIDE ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH AND
ࣣ
RAISE@UCR is a new
interdisciplinary hub for AI, the
only asset of its kind across
all 10 University of California
campuses, uniting over 85
faculty members across UCR’s
seven schools and colleges.
RAISE aims to elevate UCR’s
national and international
ࢫ
intelligence (AI) by integrating
fundamental research with
ࢫ
such as machine learning,
robotics, cybersecurity,
bioinformatics, and social
sciences.
35 MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE
RCCHH AAIIRR RR
9,750+ Civilian and
Military Personnel
Strategic Military
Operations Hub
Comprehensive Training
and Development
Community Engagement
and Outreach
Rich Aviation Heritage
36 NAVAL SURFACE WARFARE CENTER,
CORONA
Roles of Warfare Centers
• Bridge between technical
ΝɄ͍ёʳ˂ͩʍ͍
• Determine and develop capabilities
ђʍʍͩ
• Verify quality, safety, and effectiveness
of platforms and systems
•ࢫ
̌ʍʍɾ͛
Key Stats
• 2,115+ Civilian and Military Personnel
• $1.2 Billion Annual Revenue FY25
• $330 Million Annual Economic
Impact FY25
• $288 Million Projected Small Business
Contracting FY25
• $575 Million Large Business
Contracting FY24
•ࢫ
̌ʍʍɾ͛
37 INLAND EMPIRE TECH BRIDGE
F_xŢűŢśĖ
INLAND EMPIRE TECH BRIDGE
F_xŢűŢśĖ
• Vision - Catalyst for the region
to develop as a national security
innovation hub and a driver for
the region’s tech-based economic
development efforts.
• Mission - Connect national
security agencies with small
business, industry, academia, and
governments in the innovation
ecosystem to drive new capability.
1 of 11 Federally
Designated
National Security
Tech Bridges
38 Greetings from
California
VisitRiverside.com
EXPLORE
Eat
Stay
Shop
39 40
RiversideCA.gov/EconDev
ideCCAA..gggoovv//EEccoonnDDev
RivEconDev
Scan the QR code to
take a Green Tech
Virtual Tour around
Riverside