As a key stakeholder in the City of San Jose it is our duty
to fight against any policies that may impact the economic
health and future of our city. When we speak up, the City of San Jose listens. elected. We believe that when business succeed, communities thrive
“The SVO partnered with Google after learning about our approach and perspective, and was ultimately able to effectively provide advocacy support. The SVO advocated at various community and city meetings, gathered letters supporting Google’s presence in San Jose, and rallied support from San Jose-based small businesses and community organizations."
"The SVO is a critical resource for our business when it comes to fostering an environment that continues to attract and retain the best and brightest in Silicon Valley. The cost of housing is just one of the many issues we face in maintaining our global advantage. Educating policy makers, City staff and neighbors on the issues has never been more important. We appreciate the SVO's advocacy and leadership on issues that directly impact our residents’ ability to afford a home like development impact fees, workforce standards and land use policies. The SVO was instrumental in moving forward the City of San Jose’s recently adopted co-living ordinance at the speed of business and we couldn’t have done it without the SVO’s support.
"In 2015, The SVO was integral in advocating in support of state funding being allocated to the East Side Union High School District (ESUHSD) through the California Careet Pathways Trust (CCPT) program. Since then, The SVO has partnered with the school district through its STRIVE San Jose initiative and the San Jose Works program to provide paid summer internships to local high school students, thus preparing them for college and career. California currently faces a crisis of an estimated 1.1 million college-educated worker shortage by 2030, and this partnership helps to address this issue through a comprehensive and strategic education and workforce development initiative."
The SVO promoted the arrival of Google and their investment in the City of San Jose as an incredible opportunity to add thousands of new good paying jobs that will grow incremental tax revenue, in turn supporting essential city services for all local residents. The SVO advocated for this by urging the Mayor and Council to approve council items regarding Google’s arrival to San Jose, as well as supported city staff recommendations regarding Google.
A program dedicated to housing homeless individuals by constructing 80 emergency sleeping cabins with the intent to provide an immediate housing solution. The SVO recognized the importance of ensuring homeless individuals with basic necessities such as shelter, hygiene services, and case management as a way to combat homelessness. The SVO advocated and partnered with city staff to engage in policy exchange and advocated for this short term solution with hopes that it will translate to a permanent housing policy.
Federal tax reform lowers the corporate interest rate with the intention to support job creation and encourage further corporate investments in the American economy. The SVO advocated for this, and other principles through advocacy letters, highlighting the importance of a nuanced tax structure that also supports small business and property owners.
A fee reduction program that works to waive certain fees associated with building to promote and streamline the construction of High-Rises in the downtown core. The SVO is committed to the implementation of the program through active advocacy that showcases the tangible benefits of creating housing stock in the downtown core.
Under scoring the urgency of the issue facing the community, Matt Mahood, executive director of the Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Ben Field, Chief Officer of the South Bay Labor Council, were appointed leads in a new Task Force that finds immediate solutions to help our growing homeless population find housing. The Task Force worked to find opportunities to expand the region’s emergency shelters, provide transitional housing, and create permanent housing.
A grant that funds programs which blend academic and career technical education, connect employers with schools, and train students for jobs in high-demand fields, such as health care, advanced manufacturing, information technology, and software development. The SVO is committed to helping offer work-based learning experiences to students by; sharing contacts among our growing network of partners and serving on the MetroED Consortium business partner advisory council to give input on all issues related to education, jobs and training.
The U.S. Patent Office is an organization that processes and formalizes patents. The SVO advocated for the establishment of the office in the Silicon Valley by emphasizing the competitive advantages of the valley as a top producer of patents along with the unique concentration of engineers, multinational corporations, and technological sectors that drive innovation.
The SVO testified and coalesced support for Signature Flight Support, a global leader in FBO and flight support services, to be awarded a 50-year lease on the Airport’s West Side to develop and operate a 29-acre, $82 million facility. This support rains from the resources that Signature Flight Support can offer to further business and general aviation needs as Silicon Valley continues to expand.
Apple proposed to create Apple Campus 2 - an integrated, unified and secure 21st Century campus surrounded by green space where innovation and creativity come together. The SVO supported Apple’s endeavors through advocacy letters, and highlighted the importance of companies like Apple in local economies.
