2026-2030 Economic Development Strategic Plan

• Business-Friendly Environment: Riverside County is generally recognized by the business/development community as a business-friendly alternative to Southern California’s more costly and land-constrained coastal counties. This positive image (which was confirmed by stakeholders participating in the EDSP process) stems from both market realities (less expensive real estate) and broader community/political support for quality growth. From a municipal government standpoint, Riverside County and its incorporated cities offer streamlined permitting and targeted incentives to support business growth. The County Office of Economic Development proactively coordinates with 75 organizations to deliver workforce training and site selection assistance. However, perceptions about business friendliness in Riverside County vary from city to city, with each municipality following its own practices for development entitlement, permit processing, etc. A potential role of RivCoED (through the EDSP) is to provide technical guidance to its partner cities to ensure that Riverside County as a whole can present a unified front of business friendliness as part of Countywide economic development messaging. • Innovation: As documented in the CJF planning effort, Riverside County stands out as the innovation core of Inland SoCal, with a concentrated set of high-impact assets that contribute to regional economic growth. Home to 20 higher education institutions, leading environmental science research facilities, and the state headquarters for air quality programs, the region has underlying strengths in innovations related to climate or clean tech action – in energy systems, emissions, and materials. Research activities take place primarily at UCR, which also fills critical institutional capacity roles in regional economic development. Adjacent to the UC Riverside campus stands the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Southern California Headquarters, one of the world’s most advanced facilities for vehicle and mobile-source emissions testing. Strengthening connections and capabilities among these and other assets can help the region make the most of its innovation ecosystem.

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