Community & Economic Development Committee
March 25, 2024
Item (d)1
Carlos Velazquez, Public Information Manager,
Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs
Small Business Advisory Committee Launched
The mission of the Small Business Advisory
Committee is to advocate for the economic interests
of small business, promote entrepreneurship and
enhance the City of San José as a place to do
business.
The Committee will meet quarterly with the intention
to host additional events, seminars and
conferences. Meetings will be open to the public.
Committee work plan topics include Access to
Capital, Public Safety, Technical Support &
Education and Permitting.
Next meeting: June 6, 2024 at City Hall
November 2023
2 Small Businesses Recognized as Community and
Economic Champions
250 entrepreneurs attended OEDCA’s annual
National Entrepreneurship Month event
on November 16, 2023.
22 small businesses were honored with the
inaugural Community and Economic Champions
Awards, recognizing small businesses for making
a positive community and economic impact in
San José.
May 2024: OEDCA’s Small Business Month
networking + resources event at City Hall.
November 2023
Con Azucar
Mexico Bakery
Dulceria Mi Carnival
Coffee and Water Lab
3 Holiday San José Shop Local Campaign a Success
Goal: Raise the profile of business
neighborhoods during the holiday season and
attract people to visit and shop local.
11 unique business neighborhoods in San
José were included in the campaign.
Holiday San José pages received more than
13,500 visits, surpassing goal of 8,000 and
2022 total of 2,400.
www.sjeconomy.com/shoplocalsj will
continue as a general “Shop Local San José”
page with regular spotlights on social media,
@SJEconomy
November / December 2023
4 Emprendéte 2024
On January 20, 2024, OEDCA co-hosted
Emprendéte 2024 with Yacanex Community, a free
all Spanish-language event for San José-based
entrepreneurs and business owners.
More than 300 people attended a day full of
workshops on how to obtain a business loan, how
to start a business, and on topics such as Sales
Tax, Marketing, Human Resources, and Contractors
Licenses
Supported the City’s efforts to foster economic
prosperity in East San José by connecting small
business owners with City and partner resources
and programs.
January 2024
5 Workforce Development: Supporting Youth, Job
Seekers and Businesses
In January 2024, Sangeeta Durral was named the
new Director of work2future.
In 2023 work2future:
Secured employment for over 1,000 youth and
adult clients with 85% obtaining employment in
high wage-high growth occupations.
San José Works found subsidized employment
for over 400 youth ages 14-18.
Supported over 300 business with their hiring
and training needs.
Upcoming Career Fairs:
April 4, 2024, Emma Prusch Farm Park
April 23, 2024, San José City College
January 2024 6
Strengthening International Relationships
The Sister Cities program continues to provide
opportunities for San José residents to engage
with cities across the globe in the arts, education,
sport, economic development and other initiatives.
A reception held February 5 at City Hall for the
photo exhibition, “The Legacy of 25 Years of
Friendship: San José / Pune, India,”
celebrated San José’s relationship with Pune,
India.
The City welcomed the Lord Mayor of Dublin,
Ireland, Daithi de Roiste and a Dublin City Council
delegation in February to learn and engage in
discussions about the City’s services and
programs.
February 2024
7 Celebrating San José’s Black and Women Business Owners and Entrepreneurs
In February and March, OEDCA highlighted San
José’s Black and Women business owners and
entrepreneurs for Black History Month and
Women’s History Month.
Women-owned business growth rates, led by
Black/African American and Latina entrepreneurs,
outpaced those of men-owned businesses during
the pandemic and after.
Looking for business support? Try one of our
partner’s upcoming small business workshops:
April 1: How to Create Snazzy Graphics for
LinkedIn & Social Media (online)
April 3: Find your Targeted Customers and
Understand their needs (online)
February / March 2024
8 Creative Ambassadors to Help Lead WeCreate408 Campaign Five local artists are serving as the City’s 2024 Creative Ambassadors, producing a creative project that engages
residents in finding their creative voice and celebrates the diversity of San José’s cultural communities.
WeCreate408 is a month-long online challenge starting in April to inspire creativity and celebrate San José’s rich and diverse arts and culture.
You’re invited! Upcoming events and activities:
Saturday April 6: San Jose Day at Empire Seven
Studios (525 N. 7th Street)
Monday, April 8: Disco Connection Krunking
Workshop in front of King Library, hosted by
Creative Ambassador Alice Hur
Saturday, April 27: Fiesta de Abuelos at Parque de
Los Pobladores and MACLA, hosted by Creative
Ambassador Yosimar Reyes March 2024
9 STACK Infrastructure Data Center Breaks Ground in San José North San José is Silicon Valley’s largest tech
business center with more than 81,000 jobs and
5,700 acres of land. It is home to companies
working on emerging technologies in the fields of
biotechnology, computer programming, battery
technology, and electric vehicles.
STACK Infrastructure celebrated the
groundbreaking of their data center campus
expansion in North San José on March 13, 2024.
The campus will feature a four-story advanced
manufacturing building and two three-story data
center buildings totaling 522,000 square feet.
March 2024
10 San José Ranked #1 California City for Quality of Life U.S. News World News & Report’s
“Best Places to Live for Quality of
Life in the U.S. in 2023-2024”
measures how satisfied residents
are with their daily lives by metro
area.
11 Community & Economic Development Committee
March 25, 2024
Item (d)1
Carlos Velazquez, Public Information Manager,
Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs
12