Early Spanish settlers called this region Valle de Oro, the golden valley. They saw it as a land of beauty, abundance, and opportunity--qualities that have endured and continue to make the Tri-Valley a highly desirable area in which to live and work. Today’s entrepreneurs have found golden opportunities here, enjoying the regional benefits of a highly educated workforce, a strong support system, and an enviable quality of life.
Small business is one of the key forces driving area job growth and it is establishing the Tri-Valley as a center for innovation and entrepreneurship. Local homegrown firms generate about 60% of total regional economic revenue—more than any other source. Eighty percent of those firms have five employees or less. Patent production here is about three times greater than in the state as a whole.*
Innovation has fueled growth in a number of industries including: automotive services; winemaking, viticulture, and agriculture; business services and information technology; biomedical products and services; retail and hospitality; and scientific research and development. In all of these businesses, there is one single most important asset—the people who work to live their dreams in this golden valley.
Photo by Michael Jay
One look at the steady stream of vehicles on Tri-Valley freeways illustrates the need for a strong automotive industry—from sales to service. Las Positas College supports this industry by offering a state-of-the-art Automotive Technology Program.
The program qualifies students to work at entry-level jobs and offers degree and certification opportunities for those who hope to manage a shop or own their own automotive-related business. Learning in small classes and receiving individual attention, students work with the latest technology to diagnose and repair today’s complicated computer-controlled vehicles. The U.S. Bureau of Statistics consistently points to a growing demand and increasing job opportunities for automotive technicians.
Photo by Karen Wilson-Bonnar
Agricultural roots run deep through the Tri-Valley’s history. As one of California's oldest wine regions, the Livermore Valley now boasts about 38 wineries set amidst rolling farm and ranch lands that coexist with growing business and residential communities. The Tri-Valley Conservancy and the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association are just two organizations working to protect this delicate balance of agriculture and development.
Las Positas College supports this regional specialization with its Viticulture and Winery Technology Program designed to prepare students for careers in the wine industry. With support from local wineries, the College has created Campus Hill Vineyard, a three-acre, state-of-the-art wine growing vineyard that functions as a working laboratory and features the latest innovations of viticulture technology. After the stock matures, students will use some of the grapes to produce demonstration wines.
The region’s predominant entrepreneurial
focus is in specialized business consulting and
general business services. Consulting service
concentrations include scientific and technical
disciplines, management, engineering and design,
and computer systems. General business needs
are addressed by firms offering financial, insurance,
legal, facilities, and administrative support.
The demand for these services increases as larger
companies outsource and smaller companies buy
services rather than add employees. Information
technology is highly concentrated in the Tri-Valley
and is a vital part of the regional economy.*
Las Positas College provides educational support
through its many programs including the Business
Program and
Computer
Information Systems.
The Tri-Valley’s fastest growing specialization is scientific and biomedical products and services, having increased approximately 80% over a 10-year period. Key sectors in this area include pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing, medical equipment and supplies manufacturing, scientific instruments design and manufacturing, health care providers, and medical testing and diagnostic labs.* Close proximity to educational resources at colleges and universities, and to world-class medical centers such as ValleyCare Health System support growth of this valuable industry.
Photo by Karen Wilson-Bonnar
Retail and hospitality industry growth is keeping step with the Tri-Valley’s increasing population and its many attractions that draw more than 500,000 visitors each year: charming downtowns, wineries with popular wine tasting events, restaurants for every taste, parks, golf courses, spas, and the new Livermore Valley Performing Arts Center including the 500-seat Bankhead Theater featuring performances by local groups as well as artists and ensembles from across the United States and beyond. The Tri-Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau offers information and resources for visitors of all ages and interests.
Las Positas College’s Retail Management Program provides a detailed focus on marketing and retailing, and then allows the student to choose from a variety of business related options, depending on the student’s area of interest.
Photo courtesy of Sandia National Laboratories
Livermore is home to two renowned science and technology centers, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories. Both organizations promote technology transfer by partnering with industry, universities, and state and local governments. Each purchases goods and services from a diverse group of local businesses. Together, these premier national laboratories contribute to the Tri-Valley’s reputation as a center of innovation and technology.
* Information based on Tri-Valley Business Council reports.
