Large Companies Choose Tri-Valley as Home

The cities of California’s East Bay Tri-Valley including Pleasanton, Livermore and Dublin are attracting companies and retaining those who already call it home. Companies like Xradia, Callidus and Patelco Credit Union are moving their headquarters operations to the Tri-Valley to take advantage of its highly trained workforce, its proximity to the Silicon Valley and its low rents. Others like Supergen, CooperVision and Hatch Matt McDonald have already discovered what the Tri-Valley has to offer and are staying right where they are, renewing their leases or moving to a more attractive building nearby.

I have been the corporate real estate advisor to the Economic Vitality Committee in Pleasanton since 2005. We make it our priority to study the dynamics of the city that attract companies and take new action that keeps them coming… and staying in Pleasanton. We’ve revamped the approval process in the Planning Department and continue to make recommendations based on our research findings. As an established city incorporated in 1894,  Pleasanton officials want to see continued growth and are on the cutting edge of providing what companies need to succeed. “There are a lot of compelling reasons for companies to move to the Tri-Valley and Pleasanton,” my friend Pamela Ott, Pleasanton’s economic development director, told the Contra Costa Times. “You have the infrastructure, the highways, transit, a great location and low rents.”

Rod Browning, Xradia’s CEO, couldn’t agree more. “We are growing and and we are trying to get more reach into Silicon Valley in terms of personnel resources. We need to hire more engineers, technical staff, marketing staff.” His company will move its headquarters from Concord and nearly double in size when they occupy 37,000 square feet in Pleasanton in October.

Callidus Software made a similar move when they came to Pleasanton from San Jose. “It’s getting to be like Silicon Valley East here,” said Sheryl Hall, their public relations specialist. “You have a nice tech flavor here.” Callidus will bring 120 jobs to the Tri-Valley and absorb 32,000 square feet of office space, also in October.

And it’s not only tech companies that are drawn to the Tri-Valley. Financial giant, Patelco Credit Union is moving its headquarters here from San Francisco. “We are very excited about this move,” said Ken Burns, Patelco’s CEO. “We think it’s in our best interest in both the short run and the long run. This will benefit our members and our employees. We looked in Pleasanton, Dublin, Oakland and numerous properties in San Francisco. We were able to to find some very attractive Class A office space in Pleasanton.” On the other side of the spectrum is Alco, an aircraft equipment parts and supplies company. They are moving operations to a 35,000 square foot building in Livermore from Alameda.

Those who have been in the area for awhile have decided to stay. Supergen just renewed their lease in Dublin for 37,000 square feet, Coopervision moved their operations locally into 40,000 square feet and Hatch Matt McDonald did the same in 20,000 square feet. Slightly smaller companies like Ziltiq, Neotract, Clapp Moroney, BMC, the Mechanic Net Group and Child Care Links stayed close to home with leases larger than 10,000 square feet.

Overall, the Tri-Valley has much to offer all types of companies. Whether you are high tech, manufacturing, finance, retail, headquarters or back office, we have the transportation, properties and amenities to help you reach your company’s strategic goals. Contact me if you’d like to know more.

– All quotes as seen in the Contra Costa Times