The City of San Diego has been awarded $1.6 million grant by the Department of Defense to craft programs designed to enhance the resiliency of the region’s defense industrial base. As part of this grant, EDC’s research team will be responsible for conducting a county-wide supply chain mapping and economic impact study in order to arm the region with the foundational data necessary to inform the creation of effective programming.

Why this matters?
The region has long benefited from strong defense companies who employ tens of thousands of San Diegans in a wide variety of industries including satellite communications, ship building, autonomous vehicles, cybersecurity and many more.

We know San Diego is a hub of innovation for globally impactful defense technology, but it can at times be forgotten how these defense companies have evolved their defense expertise to transform commercial markets. Companies like ViaSat and Cubic Corporation – who started by innovating secure satellite communications and creating world-class training technologies – have grown to become major players in satellite internet technology and transportation management.

The OEA grant will enable us to assess and create the tools necessary to help defense companies diversify their innovative technologies and services into commercial markets.

Home to the highest concentration of military in the world, the OEA grant will ensure the City and regional peers continue to think creatively about how we leverage defense innovation to create more jobs and a more resilient economy.