​As we wrap up the year with our final newsletter. We’d like to start by thanking each of you for your contributions to making this such a successful year. Over the course of 2023, we’ve reached new milestones and accomplished even more than we could have imagined just a year ago.
Here is a snapshot of our recent news and a review of the year.

December was a very exciting month for the EDC. We officially announced that Starz Electronics, a lithium battery manufacturer from Tunisia, has expanded its business to Temecula. Starz Electronics is a company that our Executive Director, Connie Stopher CEcD, met at SelectUSA this past May.
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Starz Electronics will be housed at the TVE2 in Temecula while they finalize their search for a manufacturing location in the region. Starz plans to invest $28 million in the first year in their facility and create 60 new jobs. This is a great win for the region, and we are excited to welcome them to the region.

The Mayor’s Healthcare Idea Exchange will be taking place on February 15th in partnership with the city of Menifee. If you are interested in attending this event, please sign up here. This is a regional event for healthcare leaders and professionals. If you would like to learn more about the event or how to become a sponsor, please email Connie at [email protected]

Thank you to our guest speaker, Jennifer Contreras, from the Ontario International Airport. Jennifer shared about the correlation between economic development in the region and the airport.
Connie and Leah shared a recap of everything the EDC has accomplished this year. Here are some of this year's highlights:

• 3 International Company Recruitments
  • Deploi, Starz, Project Sun (announcement coming soon)
• 70+ Jobs and $35+ Million in Capex (Year 1)
• For every dollar contributed to the EDC in 2023, we brought in $99 in new CAPEX to the region
• 2nd Annual FAM Tour
• 1st International Trade Mission to Taiwan
• 1st Annual Board Retreat
• Featured Speaker at the International Economic Development Council
• Member of the State Delegation to SelectUSA
• Working Towards Organizational Accreditation
• Expanded our team
• Membership Growth: We’ve seen a 32% increase from Year End 2022 to today. Thank you!
• Launched 3 Google Ad Campaigns to target our commuting workforce in support of our local businesses
• Increases across all social media channels. If you’re not currently engaging with us, follow us here:
  • Instagram: @edcvalleyofinnovation
  • Facebook: Economic Development Coalition
  • LinkedIn: EDC Valley of Innovation

Thank you to each of our members for your support. It is because of your membership, commitment, and collaboration that we were able to accomplish so much this year!

Here’s to another great year in 2024!

​We will be kicking off 2024 with our board meeting on Thursday, January 4th, at 9 am. If you’d like to invite a guest to be a part of this meeting please have them sign up here.
Join us on January 9th at 3:30 for our TechSouthwest meeting, where we will be planning for our next industry-focused idea exchange. If you’d like to attend these meeting please sign up here.
 
From all of us at the EDC, we want to wish you a happy New Year!

​Connie Stopher, CEcD
Email: [email protected]
Office: 951-694-9800
Cell: 951-557-8040

For Immediate Release
MEDIA CONTACT:     
Connie Stopher, Executive Director
(951) 694-9800          
[email protected]

Temecula, CA – December 11, 2023 – Starz Electronics, an American-Tunisian manufacturing company, announced plans to develop their first U.S. manufacturing location in Southwest Riverside County.  For over 20 years, Starz Electronics has specialized in electrical and electronic manufacturing. Their new U.S. facility, Starz Energies, will manufacture lithium-ion batteries.
Starz Electronics’ Founder and CEO Ali Belakhoua shared how they chose the region for their first U.S location.
“We chose Southern California as the place to locate our cathode, anode, and electrolyte manufacturing plant.  Our battery assembly operation will be using the latest innovations in Lithium battery assembly technologies.  Starz Energies has worked for the past six years to perfect its materials processing and contribute to the region’s environmental goals.  We look forward to being part of the community.”
Starz Energies will initially be located at the Temecula Valley Entrepreneurs Exchange (TVE2) while they work to establish their manufacturing facility that plans to employ 60 employees in their first year. In addition to their manufacturing presence in the region, they are looking to establish R&D partnerships with the University of California, Riverside.
“We are very excited to welcome Starz Electronics to our region. UCR has established leadership in electric battery manufacturing and recycling research, which makes this a good match for some of the focuses of our OASIS initiative and offers a valuable chance for engagement with our faculty and students” shared UCR Vice Chancellor of Research and Economic Development, Rodolfo Torres. “The arrival of this company in Inland Southern California is a testament to the collective efforts of UCR, other institutions of higher education, government entities, the private sector, community organizations, and additional stakeholders in the region are conducting together to promote economic development and improve the quality of life for our community.”
“We are thrilled that Starz Electronics has chosen California to establish a lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility,” said GO-Biz Deputy Director for International Affairs and Trade Emily Desai. “Their expansion proves the point that California’s proactive efforts to combat climate change serve as a draw for cutting-edge companies and spur economic development. Our team looks forward to continuing to work with Starz as they grow their footprint in the Golden State.”
 
The California Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development or GO-Biz serves as the State of California’s leader for job growth, economic development, and business assistance efforts and regularly partners with local and regional economic development offices for recruitment and retention efforts.
“We are excited to welcome Starz Energies to the region. They will be a great addition to our manufacturing and R&D sector and our growing EV economy” said Economic Development Coalition Executive Director, Connie Stopher. “The local and state-wide partnerships, including the access to talent and university collaborations were key to the success of this project.
The Economic Development Coalition (EDC) works with communities in the Southwest Riverside region of Southern California to attract new businesses and grow existing industries. Advanced Manufacturing is one key sector that they have strategically targeted.
The Temecula Entrepreneurs Exchange (TVE2) is a business incubator and regional resource center that fosters business growth and economic vitality for entrepreneurs. In addition to the incubator, the TVE2 house the Inland Empire SBDC, and offices of the EDC.
We proudly extend a warm welcome to Starz Energies, an accomplished business whose success has resonated not only in their home country, Tunisia, but across borders,” says Mary Cervantes, TVE2 Manager. “Their exceptional achievements stand as a testament to the global reach of innovation and entrepreneurship. As Starz Energies joins our incubator, we look forward to fostering an environment where their insights will undoubtedly enrich and inspire our region”. 
For more information about Starz Electronics, visit their website: https://www.starzelectronics.com/
To learn more about the Economic Development Coalition and the Southwest Riverside County region, please visit us online at edcswca.com.  

About Starz Electronics
Starz Electronics is a leading innovator in the consumer electronics industry, dedicated to providing cutting-edge technology solutions from providing electronic and electrical manufacturing services to introducing design and prototyping to its expertise. Their work includes R&D and the custom manufacturing of products for their customers around the world.
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About the Economic Development Coalition
The Economic Development Coalition (EDC) is a non-profit organization that works with the public and private sectors throughout Southern California, formed to unite public and private stakeholders to leverage the region’s competitive advantage, attract business, and supporting a high-quality of life. The EDC serves the cities of Lake Elsinore, Wildomar, Menifee, Temecula, and the unincorporated areas of Southwest Riverside County.