ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

City of Carlsbad Overview

What distinguishes this charming prosperous community from many other areas in Southern California is that the City of Carlsbad combines the needs of its residents and visitors, businesses, and the environment. The City of Carlsbad, located along a scenic coastline 35 miles north of downtown San Diego, offers a myriad of opportunities for companies wanting to locate in a dynamic community.

Achieving economic prosperity and an enviable quality of life have remained as top city priorities throughout the years. A progressive city government, matched with a welcoming business climate, enables the diverse business community of Carlsbad to flourish and share a common vision. It takes a long-term commitment to keep Carlsbad ideally situated for all types of business operations. Carlsbad's award winning growth management plan has called for a combination of residential, business, and industrial development through the build out of the City to ensure that the City provides top community services and a high quality of life to its residents and visitors.

Business Overview

Apart from its picturesque scenery, coastal distinction, and high standard of living, Carlsbad has truly become an economic jewel of San Diego County. Firms such as Callaway, Taylor Made, and Cobra Golf, ViaSat, Isis Pharmaceuticals, and Beckman Coulter represent a handful of businesses already enjoying Carlsbad's attributes.

Carlsbad has enjoyed a strong local economy for many years, much of which has come from industrial development. Also known as the "Golf Manufacturing Capitol of the World", the city offers a delightful lifestyle for local residents and a spectacular economic environment for its workforce. The Carlsbad General Plan designates approximately 2,500 acres in the central corridor for planned industrial use and has embraced manufacturing companies of all types to move into this designated area. Light manufacturing, research and development, communications and corporate headquarters, as well as other types of high technology and biotechnology industries are encouraged and permitted in the corridor. Most available lots are graded with street improvements and utilities already in place.

Quality of Life Overview

Put simply, Carlsbad has emerged as one of the leading destination cities in Southern California. By virtue of location, Carlsbad exhibits natural landscapes and a beautiful coastline that extends along its western border. The city boasts green parks, graceful lagoons, and pristine sandy white beaches that can be enjoyed year round. Blessed with magnificent beaches and lush landscapes the City of Carlsbad has become reputed as the preferred destination for leisure travelers. Because of Carlsbad's diverse business culture and spectacular setting, the thriving "village by the sea" is called home to nearly 92,000 residents and attracts thousands of tourists year round.

Quality of life is a very important consideration for Carlsbad's residents, as it is to City government. Carlsbad's city leaders are open to economic growth, while remaining sensitive to ecological concerns. To preserve quality of life, the City has enacted an innovative growth management program that ensures adequate public facilities are in place concurrent with new development. Public facilities include parks, libraries, infrastructure and open space. Requirements of this program have already been addressed for the central industrial corridor.

The City has more than 7 miles of beach and coastline, and over 150 acres of developed parkland offering year-around recreation. Carlsbad is home to the La Costa Resort and Spa and has played host to a number of well-known sporting events, such as the Davis Cup, the Tournament of Champions, and the San Diego Marathon. In 1999 a new international attraction was opened to the public, LEGOLAND California, which also attracts thousands to Carlsbad year round. To complement Carlsbad's superior sport and recreational facilities, the City has planned a comprehensive system of natural open space and hiking trails. In contrast to many coastal areas, Carlsbad has retained a number of natural resources, including three coastal lagoons.

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