Balboa Park is at a crossroads. This iconic regional treasure faces an estimated $1 billion in deferred maintenance — and that figure will only rise as projects are identified and costs are fully assessed. Despite its significance, there is currently no long‑term plan or dedicated funding to address these urgent needs and secure the park’s future.

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In 2022, BCCA published Preparing Balboa Park for its Next 100 Years, a comprehensive report drawing on national research, expert input, and governance best practices from peer parks. In response, we brought together park stakeholders and launched a multi-sector collaboration to identify viable, sustainable solutions.

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In 2024, we released the Balboa Park Community Progress Report, charting progress and outlining actionable next steps. The report offers a clear roadmap for modernizing governance, improving financial oversight, and ensuring Balboa Park remains a world-class asset for all San Diegans.

San Diego-Tijuana is more than a border—it’s a launchpad for innovation, culture, and economic opportunity. In 2024, BCCA and the Institute for the Americas released Seizing CaliBaja Nearshoring Opportunities and Assessing Generic and Biosimilar Manufacturing in North America, spotlighting cross-border strengths in biotech, aerospace, and essential medicines.

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We also helped bring people together through the first-ever San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival, and proudly partnered on World Design Capital 2024—a yearlong celebration of creativity and connection. Events ranged from the WDC Signing Ceremony to the unveiling of the EXCHANGE Pavilion in Balboa Park, culminating in global gatherings like the World Design Policy Conference and Convocation.
This historic binational designation is more than a moment—it’s a movement.

In a fast-changing global economy, a region’s competitiveness depends on a skilled, agile workforce. Yet even the most well-intentioned workforce programs often struggle to keep pace—with shifting industry needs, advancements in generative AI, and the evolving expectations of students and workers, alike.

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At the Burnham Center, we recognize that our region’s economic future hinges on inclusive, future-ready talent development. That’s why we are working across sectors—with employers, educators, civic leaders, and community-based organizations—to align education and training systems with high-growth, high-wage industries.

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We are proud to endorse the San Diego Regional EDC’s Inclusive Growth Metrics and support its Skilled Talent goal, which recognizes that the strength of San Diego’s innovation economy depends on cultivating a highly educated, highly skilled workforce. In alignment with this goal, we are expanding access to entrepreneurship and innovation pathways, tracking workforce and economic trends at both the local and state levels, and identifying opportunities for strategic public and private investment.

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Through this collaborative approach, we aim to build an economy that reflects the full talent of our region and opens opportunities for all San Diegans, regardless of geography, race, or background.