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NOVEMBER 2015
FEATURE STORIES
San Jose USPTO Ribbon Cutting 10152015
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/ USPTO OPENS SAN JOSE PATENT OFFICE
#sjdowntown
On October 15, 2015 USPTO Director Michelle Lee officially opened the San Jose United States Patent and Trademark Office in San Jose's City Hall Rotunda. "This is a win for Silicon Valley's leading technology companies and early-stage entrepreneurs, who generate more patents than any other region in the country," said San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo. "With the addition of the USPTO's West Coast Regional Headquarters in Downtown San Jose, our City has gained another big win. We are thrilled they are here."  In addition to offering local entrepreneurs easy access to information on patents, the USPTO will offer events and programs at its Fourth Street location, which is open to the public. Welcome to San Jose, USPTO!  For more information, click here, or contact Chris Burton, Senior Business Development Manager
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"What is a Future Ready Economy"
/ SAN JOSE REGION RANKED #1 FUTURE READY ECONOMY IN THE U.S. 
#sjplace
The San Jose Metropolitan Region is ranked #1 in the nation of the Top 25 Future Ready Economies at the 2015 Strategic Innovation Summit by Harvard University and Dell. A Future Ready Economy is one that has sustainable economic output and growth. To determine readiness, 300 metropolitan areas were evaluated based on three key enablers: 1) attracting and nurturing human capital 2) fostering collaborative, growth-oriented commercial environments; and 3) building an enabling foundation of technology, telecom and physical infrastructure. The report noted, "Today workers care more about what they work on and who they work with than whom they work for."  People are attracted by continuous opportunities to collaborate together and to experience culture in all its diversity. From this fertile talent pool emerge the innovators who will ultimately transform industries and create significant opportunities for economic growth. According to the report, future-ready cities understand the need to create a collaborative business environment, supporting not only established firms with their employees and growing numbers of independent contributors, but growth-oriented entrepreneurs. Accordingly, "...entrepreneurs drive 50% of GDP and 75% of new jobs. Creating public-private partnerships with shared risks and rewards is one important tool that future ready economies can use to spur innovation." The report notes that infrastructure that serves citizens must be robust and offer more than transportation, such as mobile networks, broadband connections and open data platforms that allow value creators to work on their own terms and businesses to provide public services with limited public funds. "We're very confident these cities will grow faster in the next five to ten years than most other cities," said James Diffley, IHS Economics Group Managing Director for U.S. Regional Services. The top four cities overall were also the top four with the highest percentages of undergraduate and graduate school degrees. San Jose stood out as a leader in labor force participation, productivity, wages and growth. To read more, click here, or contact John Lang, Chief Economist. 
 
DOWNTOWN
Rendering of Planned Sobrato Development
/ SOBRATO SUBMITS PLANS TO BUILD 23 STORY APARTMENT TOWER DOWNTOWN 
#sjdowntown
Sobrato Organization recently submitted plans to build a 23-story, 399-unit apartment tower at 150 S. Second Street., in Downtown San Jose. The building is adjacent to the Downtown Safeway Market store. According to Rob Hollister, Sobrato's President of Real Estate, "The building being adjacent to the Repertory Theater is intended to create a more active urban edge..., so we have space for a restaurant and some other shops."  Welcome Downtown, Sobrato! For more information, contact Teri Killgore, Downtown Manager.

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for more information.
/ VOLTAIRE COFFEE HOUSE 
OPENS DOWNTOWN
#sjdowntown
Voltaire Coffee House is now open at 360 S. Market Street in Downtown San Jose taking over the ground floor retail space at the 360 Residences, a high-rise residential tower in the SoFA District. Voltaire Coffee strives to use organic products. Their mission is to provide the top quality specialty coffee and tea, great service, and amiable hospitality. "I selected Downtown, because it's where technology and art interact," said owner Christine Kim. "The residents are extremely environmentally conscious with high standards in terms of quality of food and drinks. I felt there weren't enough coffee shops offering specialty coffee here and wanted to provide the best experience as possible." "Voltaire Coffee House is a great addition to Downtown," said Teri Killgore, San Jose's Downtown Manager. For more information about Voltaire Coffee House, click here, or contact Tina Kapoor, Downtown Lead.

NORTH SAN JOSE
SMTC Company Logo
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/ SMTC RELOCATED HEADQUARTER OPERATIONS TO NORTH SAN JOSE 
#northsj
SMTC, a global electronics manufacturing services company, has relocated their headquarter operations from Markham, Canada to North San Jose to better serve their global customers. Founded 30 years ago, SMTC has expanded within its existing building footprint on Trade Zone Boulevard by an additional 45,000 sq. ft.  "The move by SMTC signals the strong hardware and Internet of Things sector that exists in San Jose and the Southbay," noted John Lang, Chief Economist for the City of San Jose. For more information about SMTC, click here or contact John Lang, Chief Economist.
 
TALENT

Click here to read our blog post about
Cogswell College.
/ LIVING LAB "COGSWELL COLLEGE" OPENS NEW DIGITAL CAMPUS IN NORTH SAN JOSE
#sjtalent
Known as a "fiercely collaborative, living laboratory," Cogswell is the region's first digital arts college.   Congratulations, Cogswell College! For more information, click here, or contact Reena Brilliot, Business Development Officer. 
 
INNOVATION
Knight Foundation Logo
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/ KNIGHT FOUNDATION OFFERS GRANTS TO LAND THE NEXT BIG IDEA!
#innovatesj
The Knight Foundation is awarding $5 million in grants across the country to implement bold ideas through the Knight Cities Challenge. The organization is looking for ideas to make cities more vibrant places to live and work in 26 Knight Cities including San Jose. Ideas should focus on one or all of the three key drivers of a city's success: talent, opportunity, and engagement. The grant opportunity is open to everyone. To apply, click here. Applications are due by October 27, 2015. For more information, contact Tina Kapoor, Downtown Lead.

INTERNATIONAL
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/ LUFTHANSA ANNOUNCES FIRST NONSTOP FLIGHT TO EUROPE FROM SJC
#sjplace
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo recently announced new nonstop service on Lufthansa Airlines between Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) and Mineta San Jos� International Airport (SJC), marking the first European carrier to offer nonstop flights from Silicon Valley to Germany. The service will begin April 29, 2016, and tickets can be purchased at LH.com. Lufthansa will offer five weekly flights on the Frankfurt-Silicon Valley route, operating the Airbus A340-300. The aircraft can seat up to 298 passengers, and travelers have three seating classes to choose from - Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy. "It's an exciting time at Lufthansa as San Jose is one of several new, important destinations that we plan to add to our network in the coming months. Furthermore, we will be the first European airline to offer direct flights from San Jose to Germany, Europe and beyond, which emphasizes the importance of this region to our airline," said Juergen Siebenrock, Vice President The Americas at Lufthansa German Airlines. "Passengers from the Silicon Valley area will now be able to experience the quality service and premium products that Lufthansa has always been known to offer, including our brand new Premium Economy Class that offers extra space for comfort and relaxation, as well as an elevated experience." Congratulations, Lufthansa! For more information, contact Joe Hedges, International Affairs Manager.

DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
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/ ART AND LIGHTING BRIGHTEN UP DOWNTOWN'S COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS
#sjamenities
Downtown San Jose's commercial districts recently received City Council's approval to add "bright lights, sizeable art displays and expanded retail." Murals and other art displays measuring 20 feet high by 25 feet long will be permitted, and lighting displays can run for up to three days in parking lots. After obtaining a permit, ground floor retails uses may now include auctions, arcades, photography studios, weight-loss centers, interior decorating services, community centers, and auditoriums. The types of goods sold in Downtown's second-hand stores has also expanded. To learn more about expanded uses and the associated permit process, contact the San Jose Permit Center at 408.535.3555, or Cheryl WesslingPublic Information Officer for the Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement. 
 
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