Every week, ‘Good News of the Week’ features a curation of positive headlines from San Diego, delivered straight to your inbox. A blend of aggregated stories from San Diego’s most trusted news sources and original EDC-created content, GNOTW provides a comprehensive recap of the region’s best stories from the past week. GNOTW is sponsored by Manpower.
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For the week of March 21, 2025, here’s what we’re reading:
EDC’s impact is made possible with and through the investment of more than 150 public agencies, private organizations, companies, and developers. We sat down with EDC investor Breakthrough Properties to learn more about the developer’s work to help grow San Diego’s globally-renowned Life Sciences ecosystem—and why it invests in EDC.
As a nonprofit, San Diego Regional EDC is supported by the investment of more than 150 public agencies, private organizations, companies, and developers like Breakthrough Properties.
With these investments, EDC provides direct support, aligned with regional Inclusive Growth goals, to companies of all sizes to drive economic prosperity and global competitiveness across the binational mega-region. EDC sat down with the Breakthrough Properties team, which shared more on the developer’s work to help grow San Diego’s globally-renowned Life Sciences ecosystem.
Read more about Breakthrough Properties’ success in San Diego and support for EDC below.
Tell us about Breakthrough Properties and its mission.
Breakthrough Properties, a joint venture between Tishman Speyer and Bellco Capital, is a global Life Sciences real estate developer, owner and operator of research and development facilities for mission-driven companies. With a portfolio of approximately six million square feet across nine markets in the US and Europe, Breakthrough is uniquely positioned to provide solutions for Life Sciences companies at all stages of their development cycles.
The company was started almost six years ago with the mission of reimagining the environments where the world’s leading scientists and innovators feel inspired to pursue their boldest ideas. Each one of our projects reflects a focus on best-in-class infrastructure and design, creative placemaking, and exemplary operational excellence. From multinational firms to Life Sciences startups, we are building leading research campuses to support the ecosystem and communities we serve.
Why San Diego?
San Diego is a world-leading center for innovation and has a thriving life sciences ecosystem. Proximity to world-class research institutions such as UC San Diego, Scripps Research, the Salk Institute, and Sanford Burnham Prebys, as well as a deep talent pool and robust startup culture contribute to an environment that fosters innovation.
Over the last decade, San Diego has also attracted investment from almost every major pharmaceutical company, evolving into a robust Life Sciences ecosystem that spans the full spectrum of biopharma from early-stage biotech firms to established big pharma. The combination of leading early-stage research, a highly skilled workforce, access to growth capital, and a deep base of companies has established San Diego as one of the leading Life Sciences markets in the world.
Breakthrough prides itself in fostering this ecosystem by bringing both clients and the local community together by hosting, with our partners at Bellco Capital and Tishman Speyer, a range of content-driven events and programming to foster collaboration and unlock further innovation. We also provide a variety of spaces within our portfolio to accommodate the full range of client needs, including our StudioLabs program, which offers fully furnished lab/office suites with enhanced services and amenities for high-growth, early-stage companies.
How has Breakthrough Properties collaborated with other partners in San Diego to support breakthroughs in innovation?
One example of how we collaborate with other leading Life Sciences organizations is our partnership with Pfizer Ignite, which started in San Diego. Through this collaboration, Breakthrough is able to connect innovative biotech firms with Pfizer’s R&D infrastructure to help accelerate the development of their assets. By leveraging Pfizer’s R&D infrastructure these companies can push the boundaries of what they can do with their science. We kicked off this partnership at Torrey Plaza and have included a link to the Biotech TV announcement here.
Why has Breakthrough continued to invest in EDC over the years?
San Diego Regional EDC plays a pivotal role in the fabric of the region’s vibrant business landscape, including access to talent, local leadership, education and multiple key tangible benefits to investing. EDC is a strong advocate for the Life Sciences community in the San Diego region, working to help ensure businesses and local City and County leaders are aligned in the opportunities this sector brings to San Diego.
What is on the horizon for Breakthrough Properties?
Breakthrough is a strong believer in the continued growth of the San Diego ecosystem. Our current San Diego portfolio and pipeline totals more than 1.6 million square feet, and we plan continued investment in the community as we partner with leading companies across the market. In 2025, Breakthrough will deliver our Governor Pointe project in UTC, comprised of 160,000 square feet of Class A lab space including a 38,000 square-foot StudioLabs offering. The fully redeveloped campus will offer an on-site café, an indoor/outdoor gym, more than two acres of open space, and freeway signage directly off the I-805.
Breakthrough also recently acquired the Muse campus in the heart of Torrey Pines, which includes two fully leased, modern lab buildings and a third building totaling 95,000 square feet that will be repositioned to lab and deliver in the second half of 2026. The Class A campus was recently upgraded with a new exterior glass façade and enhanced amenity offering including a new fitness center, indoor/outdoor conference center, activated landscaping with outdoor seating and games, and a full-service café.
Torrey Heights by Breakthrough Properties
Read more about EDC’s investors in our investor spotlight blog series and join Breakthrough Properties and 150 investors committed to supporting the region’s inclusive economic development by becoming a member of EDC.
Interested in publishing an investor spotlight? Contact our team:
Every week, ‘Good News of the Week’ features a curation of positive headlines from San Diego, delivered straight to your inbox. A blend of aggregated stories from San Diego’s most trusted news sources and original EDC-created content, GNOTW provides a comprehensive recap of the region’s best stories from the past week. GNOTW is sponsored by Manpower.
Get Good News of the Week in your inbox every Friday.→ Sign up
For the week of March 14, 2025, here’s what we’re reading:
Inclusive Growth Spotlight: Commute with Enterprise
To celebrate and inspire the efforts of regional employers, EDC published a spotlight on Commute with Enterprise and its efforts to support new and thriving households—one of three pillars of the 2030 Inclusive Growth goals.
To celebrate and inspire the efforts of regional employers, EDC’s Inclusive Growth blog series highlights San Diego companies helping to drive progress on the 2030 Inclusive Growth goals. Below we feature the nationally recognized commuter vanpool service operated by Commute with Enterprise.
Launched in 2018 and informed by a partnership with the Brookings Institution, the Inclusive Growth initiative sets 2030 goals for San Diego related to increasing: 1) the supply of talent, 2) quality small business jobs, and 3) newly thriving households. The goals inform San Diego’s economic priorities and make the business case for economic inclusion.
Decreasing affordability in San Diego has threatened progress toward newly thriving households. Increasing cost pressures disproportionately impact communities of color who historically do not have the same rate of homeownership, a key driver of upward economic mobility. By the end of the decade, EDC estimated the region would need to add 75,000 newly thriving households. As of 2023, San Diego has added 49,916 newly thriving households bringing the total number of San Diego’s thriving households in the region to 610,983.
Commute with Enterprise supports companies and households
Commute with Enterprise operates the nation’s largest vanpool service and provides affordable commuting solutions, which contribute to EDC’s 2030 thriving households goal by reducing travel costs for workers.
Commute with Enterprise established its first vanpool in San Diego 25 years ago, which still operates today and has since served numerous local employers across industries including healthcare, manufacturing, tech and biotech startups, universities, and more.
In San Diego, 20-30 percent of the population commutes more than 60 miles each day. Annually, households in San Diego spend more than $13,000 on transportation costs, representing a 73 percent increase since EDC began tracking progress toward the 2030 goals. As housing costs have increased, households have opted to move to more affordable areas, often further away from their jobs creating longer work commutes.
Companies like Dr. Bronner’s have leveraged Commute with Enterprise to launch a pilot program to support its workforce as well as contribute to a more sustainable future. In addition, SANDAG supports employers and employees through its vanpool program which offers subsidies to offset vehicle lease costs.
Benefits for Dr. Bronner’s:
Employees pay $50 per month, compared to $285 for solo commuting (IRS, 2024).
Emergency ride credit of $500 per car provided by SANDAG covers three emergency rides home per year, per participant.
One vehicle with five employees commuting an average of 25 miles round trip reduces CO2 emissions by more than 10 metric tons per year compared to individual driving.
Program aims to save 25 parking spaces at Dr. Bronner’s site with future growth.
Commute with Enterprise gives employers a competitive edge when it comes to talent attraction and retention. Riders could save $10,000 per year on average by reducing costs associated with fuel, vehicle maintenance, and more.** Vanpooling can also help reduce traffic congestion as Commute with Enterprise takes more than 45,000 single-occupancy vehicles off the road each day.*** This smart, practical, and employer-led commuting solution helps alleviate rising costs and ultimately supports households.
Join the movement
Progress on EDC’s 2030 Inclusive Growth goals is only achievable with and through the region’s employers who must be committed to scaling innovative and intentional solutions in San Diego. Companies like Cultura are helping to collectively pave the way toward a more inclusive regional economy. Join us:
Endorse the goals, and be part of the change San Diego’s economy demands.
*A thriving renter-occupied household, as defined by EDC, needs at least $77,280 in household income per year while homeowner-occupied households need $124,368 per year to be considered thriving.
** Estimates based on 2024 Commute with Enterprise reporting, an average 5-day/ week commute and 2024 AAA costs associated with operating a vehicle including fuel, maintenance, and depreciation. CommutewithEnterprise.com/Showmethemath.
*** Estimates based on 2024 Commute with Enterprise reporting. Assuming participants previously drove alone. CommutewithEnterprise.com/Showmethemath.
Each year when we give out awards at our Annual Dinner, I think of the two people who inspired them—Duane Roth and Herb Klein. And while we now call them our “Life. Changing.” Awards in alignment with our regional branding and communications efforts, I am reminded again that both Duane and Herb changed many lives. Mine included.
This year marks EDC’s 60th Anniversary. And while our Annual Dinner is always a big event that means a great deal to our team and the broader economic development community we work with and through, this year it feels like it means even more.
Part of what makes it more significant for me is thinking about how perfectly our award winners represent both the spirit of our work, and all that is truly special about the region we call home. As we celebrate six decades of economic development, we are really celebrating the people and the businesses who have paved the way and made this journey possible.
The first award is given to an individual who has gone above and beyond the responsibilities of their job to make San Diego a better place for all. Perhaps no person embodies this description more than Dr. Constance Carroll. Dr. Carroll served as the chancellor for San Diego Community College District for 17 years—the longest tenure of any chancellor in district history. She has served on countless local, state, national, and international boards and committees for both education and the arts. Dr. Carroll played a critical role in raising the profile of community colleges in the eyes of business and industry leaders throughout the region, and she is responsible for establishing and expanding the offerings of four-year bachelor’s degrees within the community college system. She has also done as much to advance the causes of economic equity and inclusion as any San Diegan I can think of.
The second award celebrates a business or organization that is changing the world from San Diego through science, technology, and innovation. Again, few organizations better embody this description than General Atomics (GA). A home-grown San Diego success story, GA has been a cornerstone of San Diego’s innovation economy since 1955. From aerospace and defense to electronics and energy, GA has become a global leader all while maintaining its headquarters in the heart of the Torrey Pines Mesa. GA boasts one of the region’s most talented and diverse workforces, and has significant education and workforce development partnerships with all of the region’s colleges, universities, and community colleges. GA co-owner and vice chairman Linden Blue has served on EDC’s board of directors for more than 25 years and was an executive committee member for more than a decade. GA’s impact exactly emulates the Life. Changing. Award.
So, during an iconic year for our organization, we are hoping that you can join us in recognizing the contributions of an iconic leader and company, and the ‘Life. Changing.’ roles they have played within our region.
Every week, ‘Good News of the Week’ features a curation of positive headlines from San Diego, delivered straight to your inbox. A blend of aggregated stories from San Diego’s most trusted news sources and original EDC-created content, GNOTW provides a comprehensive recap of the region’s best stories from the past week. GNOTW is sponsored by Manpower.
Get Good News of the Week in your inbox every Friday.→ Sign up
For the week of March 7, 2025, here’s what we’re reading:
Ready to take your business global but weary where to start?If you’re a San Diego small business with little to no experience in exporting, join our free webinar on March 27. Learn the fundamentals of exporting from World Trade Center San Diego’s Export SBDC advisor and a U.S. Commercial Service officer.
Key takeaways from Advancing San Diego’s Verified Program Workshop on soft skills
In February 2025, 30 regional educators gathered for the latest installment of EDC’s Verified Program Workshop series. This quarter’s focus: embedding essential soft skills into higher education curricula. This workshop was designed to provide faculty at Verified Programs, education providers recognized for aligning their curricula with industry needs, with tangible strategies to help students develop soft skills critical for career success.
The significance of soft skills
Feedback from employers that hosted Advancing San Diego summer interns in 2024 highlighted that while students often excel technically, gaps remain in communication, adaptability, and professional workplace behavior. A recent Forbes report highlights that 80 percent of employees say soft skills are more important than ever, while a General Assembly survey found that nearly half of executives and about a third of employees cite soft skills as the reason entry-level employees are underprepared for jobs. Employers noted challenges in areas like navigating team dynamics, taking initiative, and responding to emails—reinforcing the necessary role of soft or interpersonal skills in career readiness. Yet, we often overlook how these skills are developed—through upbringing, home-life, career services, and work-based learning (WBL) opportunities.
While some may think soft skills should come naturally, many take for granted the access they had to environments that developed these skills. For students without such access, learning interpersonal skills isn’t as intuitive. Inclusion plays a major role in career preparation—without the right exposure at home, school, or work, mastering these skills can be much harder.
Now, with automation and AI reshaping our lives and our industries, soft skills like communication, adaptability, and problem-solving are more critical than ever. Simultaneously, automation and a digital-first world can mean fewer opportunities for young people to practice these skills in day-to-day life.
Four things we learned:
1. Simulating job environments can ease the classroom-to-workplace transition
To better prepare students for professional settings, classrooms should mirror workplace dynamics. Apprenti shared how its instructors integrate structured check-ins, competency checklists, and team-based projects that simulate real work environments before moving on to work-based learning. Team meetings, capstone projects, and realistic simulations—such as crisis management exercises and client presentations—offer hands-on experience in communication, teamwork, and professionalism. By treating the classroom like a job environment, students gain practical exposure to workplace expectations in a safe and controlled environment.
2. Communication and public speaking practice remain valuable
Strong verbal communication continues to be a high-demand skill. A workshop discussion led by National Foundation for Autism Research shared the value of Toastmasters-style speaking exercises, structured presentations, and improvised workplace conversations. With AI taking over routine tasks, the ability to articulate ideas effectively will determine career growth and leadership potential.
3. Teach workplace norms to bridge generational gaps
Many students lack exposure to professional etiquette, workplace expectations, and unspoken social norms. Whether this is due to changes during the COVID pandemic or the omnipresence of social media, being transparent and communicative about workplace norms can help ease the transition from student to employee. Presenting programs suggested making implicit rules explicit–responding professionally to emails, understanding office hierarchies, and navigating different workplace cultures–to ease students’ transition into the workforce.
4. Leverage alumni to engage employers in sharing real-world experience
One of the most effective ways to develop soft skills is through direct employer interaction. Industry-led capstone projects and structured mentorship programs help students develop professionalism in real-world settings. Alumni in particular can bridge the gap for students who lack personal industry connections, offering invaluable career insights and mentorship.
Next steps
Advancing San Diego’s Verified Program Workshop reinforced what many of us know to be true: Soft skills are just as critical as technical expertise in today’s workforce. By fostering adaptability, communication, and professionalism in the classroom, educators can equip students with the skills needed for long-term career success. As industry and academia continue to collaborate, structured employer partnerships, alumni engagement, and innovative teaching methods will help bridge skill gaps and shape the future workforce.
Employers: Ensure students are prepared for entry-level jobs by participating in an employer working group.
Educators: Ensure your curriculum aligns with employer needs by becoming a Verified Program.
This year marks EDC’s 60th Anniversary. And while our Annual Dinner is always a big event that means a great deal to our team and the broader economic development community we work with and through, this year it feels like it means even more.
This year’s award winners represent both the spirit of our work, and all that is truly special about the region we call home.
As we celebrate six decades of economic development, we are really celebrating the people and the businesses who have paved the way and made this journey possible. Thank you to our award sponsors CSUSM and USD.
Every week, ‘Good News of the Week’ features a curation of positive headlines from San Diego, delivered straight to your inbox. A blend of aggregated stories from San Diego’s most trusted news sources and original EDC-created content, GNOTW provides a comprehensive recap of the region’s best stories from the past week. GNOTW is sponsored by Manpower.
Get Good News of the Week in your inbox every Friday.→ Sign up
For the week of February 28, 2025, here’s what we’re reading:
To celebrate and inspire the efforts of regional employers, EDC published a spotlight on Cultura and its efforts to support local, quality jobs as a small business—one of three pillars of the 2030 Inclusive Growth goals.
Is your business considering expanding outside of the state or in need of assistance relocating or retaining jobs in California over the next five years?
You may be eligible for up to$215 million in Cal Competes Tax Credit from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). Applications for this last round will be accepted from now through March 10.*
GO-Biz bases awards on several factors relative to the State of California, including:
Number of jobs created or retained
Anticipated amount of new capital investments
Overall economic benefit
Opportunities for future growth and expansion
The extent to which the tax credit influences the applicant’s decision to relocate jobs from states that have enacted laws that permit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression; or deny or interfere with women’s reproductive rights
*Note: This is the final application period for the California Competes Tax Credit for fiscal year 2024-2025.
need help applying?
Since 2015, EDC’s expert team has supported 39 companies in winning more than $86 million in Cal Competes Tax Credits. EDC also offers San Diego companies access to services including permitting, site selection, and consulting for economic incentives like Cal Competes—available at no cost.
Cal Competes applications open February 24 and close March 10, 2025.
“EDC was an integral resource for our redevelopment. They were able to strategically bring key partners together and secure incentives that best positioned us to redevelop our headquarters in the Kearny Mesa area.” –Anshooman Aga, EVP & CFO, Cubic Corporation, which secured a California Competes Tax Credit of $8 million
