Opinion: How Riverside Is Becoming a Hub for the Jobs of Tomorrow

In my State of the City, I spoke about how Riverside is leveling up our economic opportunities. Our economy is growing in new ways with new opportunities.

I often share that I am the only one in my family who stayed in Riverside. Everyone else had to leave to pursue careers that weren’t available here at the time. That experience stayed with me, and it is one of the reasons I ran for Mayor. I wanted to ensure that the next generation of Riverside residents would not have to leave home to build meaningful careers.

Today, we are no longer waiting for opportunities to find Riverside, we are creating clear pathways for them.

Last year, I attended the SelectUSA Investment Summit with our Community and Economic Development Team. At this event, thousands of international investors gathered to decide where to locate their businesses in the United States and Riverside was there, proudly sharing our story.

The organizers were so impressed with Riverside’s momentum and vision that they selected our city as one of the host locations for the SelectUSA Roadshow in Southern California. This two-day event on April 29^th and 30^th will highlight Riverside’s industry-ready sites, public-private partnerships, and workforce programs, making it a prime destination for international businesses. 

This work is critical because the United States is facing growing global competition, particularly in the energy and transportation sectors. Demand for advanced manufacturing, including electric vehicles, hydrogen rail, energy storage, and power infrastructure, is accelerating worldwide. Cities like Riverside are at the center of that competition.

Mayors across the country are actively working to attract manufacturers in emerging industries, while federal priorities around energy independence, artificial intelligence, and expanded power supply are creating both new opportunities and new challenges. Riverside wants to be part of the solution.

And we already are.

In the past two years, Riverside has successfully attracted six international manufacturers in green transportation industries, including electric bus manufacturing, autonomous vehicle technology, hydrogen rail development, battery supply, and EV charging infrastructure. These investments are helping position Riverside as a hub for next-generation manufacturing.

Alongside our growing green technology sector, we are also building momentum in aerospace and defense manufacturing; industries that create high-quality, high-paying jobs.

Earlier this year, we hosted an industrial real estate forum in partnership with commercial real estate brokerage firm SVN Vanguard, where we shared a clear message: Riverside represents one of the best values in California for advanced manufacturing investment. Our focus is not on expanding traditional warehouse logistics, but on attracting advanced manufacturing companies that bring innovation, skilled jobs, and long-term economic value.

One of the reasons companies continue choosing Riverside is because we offer practical advantages that help businesses succeed from day one. The ENTIRE city of Riverside is a Foreign Trade Zone which is a huge incentive for international businesses because it allows them to reduce tariff costs and operate more competitively. We also operate our own municipal utilities, providing one of the lowest rates in the state and giving us greater flexibility to streamline development timelines and support industry growth.

And at the heart of every successful industry is one critical ingredient: talent.

Cities across the country are facing a growing challenge known as “brain drain,” where talented young people leave their hometowns in search of opportunity. Riverside is working to reverse that trend.

The growth of green technology, aerospace, and defense manufacturing in Riverside is helping us retain and attract talent at every level. Our universities provide cutting-edge research and produce engineers and innovators. Our community colleges prepare students for careers in skilled trades and technical manufacturing. Our high schools are building career pathways that connect students directly to industry opportunities.

Riverside is not only pro-business, we are pro-workforce.

To continue building on this momentum, we must also think strategically about how we position Riverside in an increasingly global economy.

As we continue welcoming international companies, we are beginning to explore ways to better support foreign direct investment, often referred to as FDI.  If you’d like to learn more about foreign direct investment, or FDI, visit the FAQ on the City’s website. 

We’ve already seen the benefits of international investment, and taking a more coordinated approach to attracting and supporting global investment will help us better understand where opportunities exist. 

Riverside is working to become only the third accredited economic development organization in California through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). This accreditation represents the highest standard of excellence in the economic development profession and demonstrates that an organization meets rigorous benchmarks for performance, transparency, and strategic alignment.

IEDC accreditation provides international recognition of excellence, strengthens stakeholder confidence, and enhances our ability to attract investment. Most importantly, it signals that Riverside is committed to continuous improvement and delivering best-in-class service to businesses and residents alike.

The decisions we make today will shape the opportunities available in Riverside for decades to come.  We are growing our economy and building opportunity:  Creating careers that allow our children and grandchildren to stay here, build their futures here, and contribute to the continued success of our city.