Why the Innovation District?

Riverside, California is a thriving city in the Inland Empire metropolitan area, conveniently situated midway between San Diego and Los Angeles in southern California. With a population around 330,000, Riverside is the 59th most populous city in the United States and 12th most populous city in the state. As a community, Riverside offers a vibrant lifestyle for both personal and professional living, punctuated by exceptional education institutions, plenty of parks and outdoor spaces, and a strong commitment to culture and the arts.

The Innovation District encompasses downtown, the East Side neighborhood, and all the way up to University of California, Riverside. The idea is to bring technology companies together in one geographic area. The catalyst was the California Air Resources Board (CARB) announcing they were relocating their headquarters to Riverside – a $500 million investment, bringing a wealth of science-related jobs to the city. Based on that relocation taking place by early 2021, Riverside is keen to position itself as the clean air technology center for the Inland Empire, which is made up of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Companies are already clamoring for property to be as close as they possibly can to CARB.

Business in the Innovation District.

Businesses choosing to locate in Riverside's Innovation District can expect to benefit from:

Retail & Culture

The energy of the 24-hour downtown Riverside. Downtown's retail and dining scene, cultural institutions, and award Main Street pedestrian mall is attracting residents and workers seeking a vibrant 24-hour downtown.


Entrepreneurship

An area with a strong history of entrepreneurship, as demonstrated by the existence of roughly 1,700 businesses, including large employers like SolarMax, Luxfer, the California Air Resources Board labs and testing facilities, and GAR Laboratories.

Transport & People

The convenience of having two Metrolink stations that provide direct access to a talent pool of more than XXX million people throughout the Southern California region.

Vibrant Community

The community heritage of the vibrant Eastside and Northside neighborhoods.


Affordability

Underutilized and affordable industrial and business properties that are ripe for adaptive re-use.

Strong Workforce

Access to a highly skilled and educated workforce coupled with lower labor and real estate costs.

Educational Resources

The intellectual resources and student talent pool at UC-Riverside (UCR), Riverside City College (RCC), the Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) STEM School, the Encore High School for the Arts and the Riverside Arts Academy; the UCR Medical School.

 

Riverside, CA

Innovation District

#1 Place

to Relocate to in California

#33 Best City

to Live in the US

#10 Small Business

Owners are Thriving

#32 Best Colleges

in America

Top Ten Metro

for Retaining College Grads

For a complete list of awards, visit RiversideCA.gov/awards.