Issue link: http://read.insidecustommedia.com/i/667096
l SPECIAL REPORT NORTH COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL x SPRING 2016 x sdnedc.org will be available to the public. "We're really in need of this parking garage," Oceanside Economic Development Manager Tracey Bohlen said. "Then, of course, the residential units will bring more evening population downtown." Several miles east, sprawled across the rolling hills between Oceanside Boulevard and Mesa Drive, the city's business park continues its upward climb: FedEx hub will bring more than 300,000 square feet and 500 jobs to the city in late summer; Magnaflow is expanding its Ocean Ranch plant by 100,000 square feet; Coca-Cola is expanding by nearly 200,000 square feet and bringing its Monster energy drink operation to Ocean- side; and Genentech will add "at least a cou- ple hundred more jobs" after building a 4.8-megawatt solar panel system to facilitate a second product line. "We're one of the last places that had some available land – and it was still rela- tively inexpensive, compared to other com- munities," Bohlen said. "Oceanside has come into its own." ESCONDIDO >> Much of Escondido's economic devel- opment efforts this year will revolve around the Citricado Parkway district anchored by the new billion-dollar Palomar Hospital and one of North County's legendary breweries, Stone Brewing Co. Nearby, a private developer this year will open a new 72,000-square-foot medical office building, the Escondido Research & Technol- ogy Center, said Director of Economic Devel- opment Joyce Masterson. In the heart of Escondido, opportunity also presents itself in the form of a vacant hospital, Masterson said. The former Palo- mar Hospital building off Valley Boulevard and East Grand Avenue is expected to close this year, creating "a very exciting redevel- opment opportunity at the eastern edge of our downtown." CARLSBAD >> Christina Vincent, economic develop- ment manager for the City of Carlsbad, re- ported that all five of the city's key industry clusters are growing. She said the city's eco- nomic development efforts are largely fo- cused on supporting the industry growth and making sure every company that wants to grow in Carlsbad has "a path to success." And, if recent moves in speculative real estate by brokers and developers are any in- dication, demand for square footage will re- main intense in 2016: "Economic activity over the last 18 months has shown that Carlsbad's existing employers are willing to reinvest in Carlsbad, and that is attracting more strength to each of our industry clus- ters," said Vincent. VISTA >> In Vista's thriving business park, some 800 companies and 23,000 employees are driving the economy, with vacancies de- clining and lease and sale prices on the rise, according to Kevin Ham, the city's director of economic development. In 2016, brewing will remain an important growth industry in Vista, with 15 micro- breweries either open or ready to open – plus three more, potentially, by the end of the year, said Ham. "We also continue to have a great deal of "We're hoping to attract quality, unique businesses to the area, and we really want to see it succeed. " – TESS RADMILL, San Marcos Economic Development Manager Escondido Research Tech Center. fi